FIRST WHISPER OF A SPORTING LEGEND

One of the most successful sporting models in automotive history bar none, the Ferrari 250 GT was built and developed for over a decade while forming the basis for legends like the 250 Testa Rossa, 250 GTO, and the California Spider. While the Boano-bodied coupes of 1956 are often cited as the first true production variant of the 250 GT model, and thus an originator of special merit, it is just as easily argued that the first true 250 GT arrived one model earlier, in the fascinating Europa GT.

The 250 Europa had been introduced at the 1953 Paris Salon, riding on a luxurious 2,800-millimeter wheelbase chassis, and powered by an unusual three-liter version of the Lampredi-designed “tall-block” racing engine. Realizing that the Europa was too similar to the concurrent 375 America, Ferrari unveiled an updated version in 1954 called the Europa GT. This car was built on a shortened 2,600-millimeter wheelbase chassis and equipped with a three-liter Colombo “short-block” engine, both hallmarks of the long-running 250 GT production line that presently ensued.

Just 35 examples of the Europa GT were built through 1956, although only 27 of these were fitted with Pinin Farina’s beautiful series coachwork, which featured a high-waisted sweeping beltline led by a prominent egg-crate grille, one of Ferrari’s most archetypal styling cues. Undeniably rare and aesthetically ravishing, the Europa GT was Ferrari’s first prominent step towards a regular production model, one that would prove to be the basis of a legend.

PARISIAN AFFAIR

This highly awarded, Ferrari Classiche-certified Europa GT is one of Maranello’s important period show cars, and under the current 13-year ownership the coupe has been completely restored, including a cosmetic return to its original factory color scheme. According to a deep file of documentation including factory build sheet copies and a history report by marque expert Marcel Massini, chassis number 0405 GT is the 25th example built, having completed assembly at the Pinin Farina workshop in August 1955, finished in Grigio paint by Max Meyer (15702) over an interior of Arancio (orange) Vaumol leather by Connolly.

The Ferrari was initially loaned to Paul Vallée’s Parisian dealership Autoval and displayed on their stand at the 1955 Paris Salon. Later that year the Europa GT was exported to the United States and sold to David Leopold of New York City. In 1960, following damage to the cylinder heads incurred by freezing weather, the original engine was replaced with an outside-plug 250 GT engine from a Pinin Farina Coupe, chassis number 1585 GT.

In 1966 the Ferrari passed through the purview of Luigi Chinetti Motors and was sold to Charles Betz and Fred Peters of Orange, California, the two Ferrari-collecting trailblazers based in Southern California. The Europa GT then entered a chain of six additional American caretakers over the following 20-some years before being acquired in the early 1990s by Ed Waterman’s Motorcar Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

By 1995 the Ferrari was owned by Paul Forbes of Southern California, a well-known collector who specialized in rare high-quality vintage Italian sports cars. By this time the Europa GT was trimmed with a tobacco interior, and four years later the car was sold to Stephen Block of Moraga, California.

The Ferrari next passed to the Pebble Beach-winner and world-class collector Sam Mann, who conducted a repaint in midnight blue over a tan leather interior. In August 2008, chassis number 0405 GT was reacquired by Charles Betz four decades after his original ownership, and he went on to exhibit the car at the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance a month later. In January 2012 Mr. Betz sold the Europa GT to John Barrett of Georgia, and he presented the car at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in March 2013.

Two months later Mr. Barrett sold the Ferrari to the consignor, a respected collector based in Florida, and he has exhibited the car at the Cavallino Classic on several occasions. Following an appearance at the 2014 Cavallino Classic, the Europa GT was entrusted to Mark Allin’s Rare Drive in New Hampshire for a comprehensive mechanical refurbishment. In tandem with this exacting process, Ferrari Classiche issued a correctly specified engine block, which was then delivered to the esteemed marque expert Patrick Ottis for a two-year rebuild to proper type 112 specifications.

Chassis number 0405 GT then returned to the Cavallino Classic twice, winning a Platinum Award in 2021, and earning a Platinum Award and the Finest Twelve Cylinder Award in 2023, strong measures of the car’s quality. Still wishing to take the Europa GT to an even higher level of authenticity, the consignor then commissioned a cosmetic restoration in the original factory color combination of Grigio Max Meyer 15702 over an Arancio leather interior, which has returned the car to an incredible state of correct presentation.

On the heels of this crowning work, in January 2024 the Europa GT returned to the Cavallino Classic again, winning yet another Platinum Award and taking home the Ferrari Elegance Award. A Ferrari Classiche Red Book was issued just weeks later, confirming the presence of the matching-numbers gearbox, rear axle, and coachwork, another strong endorsement of the car’s authenticity. (Note that the inspection for Classiche certification was carried out prior to the car’s cosmetic refresh, and the most recent paintwork is not reflected in the Red Book images.)

Exuding a splendid elegance in its original color combination, and authenticated with the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, this ex-1955 Paris Salon show car would make a crowning addition to any Ferrari collection or gathering of significant post-war sports cars. The striking Europa GT is ideal for presentation at marque-themed events and high-level concours d’elegance, a brilliant example of the model that heralded the coming of Maranello’s groundbreaking 250 GT.