Enzo Ferrari’s passion may have been racing cars, but by 1950, he had begun to accept that exclusive road cars were needed to finance the company’s growing competition efforts. Early Ferraris for the street were built in very small numbers, usually to special customer order, with little attempt made at standardization. A significant change occurred in 1954, when the Pinin Farina-designed 250 Europa debuted in Paris. It was Ferrari’s first true production model and would form the foundation for all future Ferrari 250 models. These included the second series 250 Europa GT, again designed by Pinin Farina.

At the time of the second series’ unveiling, Pinin Farina was in the process of building a new, much larger production facility and did not yet have the space to build the larger quantities of cars that Ferrari was requesting. Accordingly, in 1954 the 250 GT coachbuilding contract was handed over to the newly established Carrozzeria Boano, headed by the former chief of Carrozzeria Ghia, Mario Felice Boano. Boano executed his rival’s design faithfully, with one exception: he erased one of Farina’s styling signatures, smoothing out an “aggressive” haunch over the rear wheels, giving the finished Ferrari a stronger and lower beltline in the process. Over a two-year production run, an estimated 68-80 of these aptly named “low roof” coupes, most wearing steel bodywork, were completed.

The Boano coupe offered here, chassis number 0667 GT, was completed in April 1957. According to marque historian Marcel Massini, this car was delivered new to Milan, and shortly thereafter arrived at a diplomatic mission in Guatemala—presumably the Italian Consulate in Guatemala City for use by the fortunate staff.

In 1969 the Ferrari was purchased from British dealer Brian Classic by Robert L. Youngdahl, owner and founder of Concrete Forms Engineers in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a resident of nearby Prior Lake. Mr. Youngdahl was a well-known gentleman racing driver, who most actively drove a variety of fascinating cars at tracks both in Minnesota and near his winter home in Florida. After executing a rebuild of the car’s Columbo V-12, fitting new brakes, and sourcing a new clutch plate for the transmission, Youngdahl added this attractive Boano coupe to his active racing roster. Known for his prowess on the track, he regularly drove this 250 GT in competition, most notably at the Brainerd SCCA 100 Miles at the former Donnybrooke Speedway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on 16 June 1978. The car remained in Mr. Youngdahl’s ownership for many years; certainly, he got his money’s worth out of the Ferrari, having paid only $1,900 for it in 1969. In 2008, Youngdahl and this handsomely patinated 250 GT were documented, at length, in Kris Palmer’s book, Survivor: The Unrestored Collector Car.

In 2012, Mr. Youngdahl passed and the car was thusly acquired from his estate by the previous owner as a rust-free, example that had never had a complete, professional restoration. Shortly thereafter, this Boano coupe was sent to Italy, where several noted marque specialist shops were retained to furnish the car with its first complete and professional restoration. The paint was carefully stripped, revealing a body underneath that was in very good condition. In the course of the nut-and-bolt restoration of this car to its original condition, the electrical system was replaced by Gatta and the upholstery by Luppi, both of them renowned classic Ferrari experts from Modena. The restoration of the car’s distinctive Boano bodywork was similarly handled with tremendous skill by Italian artisans.

More recently, the Ferrari received a no-expense-spared engine rebuild by noted specialists Frank Buonanno and Matt Carfo at Black Horse Garage in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in January 2016. The very next month, it took home a Best-in-Class award from the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance. In January 2017, 0667 GT was exhibited by the consignor at Cavallino XXVI in Palm Beach, Florida. In October 2017, the vehicle returned to Black Horse Garage to receive its present, stunning dark blue and silver paint scheme.

Since 1969, this eminently attractive and rare 250 GT Boano coupe has benefitted from the careful custodianship of just three owners. Having been treated to an award-winning restoration and full engine rebuild, it remains a prime example of one of Ferrari’s most successful early production models.