Introduced at the 1962 Paris Salon, Ferrari’s 250 GT/L was undoubtedly one of the most attractive grand touring cars ever built. Intended as a replacement for the 250 GT coupe, the “L” stood for Lusso and featured an all-new interior arrangement highlighted by a revised dash panel and leather upholstery throughout the cabin. Built to cross continents in unrivalled style while cossetting a driver, passenger, and plenty of luggage, it looked simply stunning whilst sitting still and just as beautiful at speed.

Mechanically, Ferrari’s Tipo 168 U engine was the ultimate development of the short-block Colombo 3.0-litre V-12, featuring outside-plug ignition and single-cylinder porting that had proven so successful in the 250 Testa Rossa and California Spider. Further improvements were made to the chassis including four-wheel disc brakes, coil-over shock absorbers at all four corners, and a rear Watts linkage that had been perfected on the 250 GTO.

While the bodywork itself was designed by Pininfarina, the construction of it was carried out by Scaglietti and it is truly amongst the pair’s very best work. Boasting Ferrari’s now-typical egg-crate grille, its delicately curved fenders gave way to a bright, airy cabin and flowed into a fastback “Kamm tail". Originally owned by jet-set luminaries and celebrities, such as Steve McQueen, the Lusso was built in a modest quantity of just 350 examples over roughly two years of production. The GT/L has since evolved into one of Maranello’s most collectable production models, essentially the final and most developed evolution of the revered 250 GT lineage.

The Lusso offered here, chassis number 5913, was completed as a left-hand-drive model for the United States market in Grigio Argento over Nera on 13 July 1964, and later that month delivered for sale to Luigi Chinetti Motors, the prominent distributor and importer in New York City. Its subsequent history is unknown, but it made its way West and in June 1987 was offered for sale in the Los Angeles Times by MDR Enterprises of Marina Del Rey, California, by which time, like so many Ferraris of the era, it had been finished in red with black interior.

It is next known to have been owned in 1999 by Mel Farrar, owner of Farrar Precision Engineering in Sheffield, England. in whose long-term, loving ownership it bore the cherished registrations “460 GTO” and, later, “MEL 8”. It is believed that the car was restored in England for Mr Farrar in the late-1990s, in Rosso Chiaro over Crema interior. The car would be proudly and widely shown by him at several Ferrari Owners' Club of England national meetings and concours events through the 2000s, finally being offered for sale from his ownership in 2013. Subsequently it was purchased around 2016 by an owner in London, in whose ownership it was driven in the Rallye Padre-Figlio in Monaco in October 2018.

In 2019 the car was issued its Ferrari Classiche certification with accompanying Red Book, noting that it retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine, gearbox, and bodywork. Further improving its credentials, it has recently been refinished to its striking and handsome original colour of Grigio Argento, retaining the excellent tan interior fitted in its previous restoration. Receipts are on file for the new finish as well as for additional mechanical sorting, including the fitment of a new balanced clutch and flywheel in 2019 and assorted general mechanical repairs in 2023, both undertaken by Joe Macari in London. Chassis number 5913 also benefits from a full rebuild of its matching-numbers engine, having been completed in the autumn of 2024.

A wonderful Lusso to either exhibit with pride, or to drive and enjoy, this marvellous example is fitting of the most discerning tifosi.