Considered by many to be one of Ferrari’s all-time greats, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta is an automobile that needs little introduction. Over sixty years since the last example departed the hallowed gates of Maranello, a pristine 250 GT SWB is a mainstay of any world-class collection and a car on the bucket list of tifosi around the world. A true dual-purpose GT car that is equally at home on the open road or the racetrack—incredibly, 250 SWBs took over 250 overall or class victories in the USA and Europe during the sixties. These victories included Le Mans class wins in 1960 and 1961 and overall victories in the gruelling Tour de France for the 1961 and 1962 editions. The 250 GT SWB Berlinetta truly represents the very best of Enzo-era Ferraris.

Completed by the factory in August of 1962, chassis number 3735 GT is amongst the last 250 GT SWB Berlinettas built, the 152nd example of just 165 built in total. As a later production car, 3735 GT benefitted from lessons learned over the first batch of cars built in 1960. These changes were very minor, consisting of a slightly brawnier chassis frame, moving the fuel filler cap from the boot to the driver’s side rear wing, visible jacking plugs on both sides, a slightly larger windshield, slightly curvier side windows, and body coloured dashboard amongst other small changes.

Originally finished just as it presents today, in Rosso Cina Chiaro over a Nero Connolly leather interior, destined for the United States when new, 3735 GT’s first private owner was S. L. Di Grazia of San Francisco. However, rather than take delivery locally, the car was collected by Mr. Di Grazia personally at the factory in Maranello and it was presumably enjoyed by him in Europe before it was shipped home to California.

Early on in its life in California, it is believed that the car found its way to Bev Spencer, a Ferrari dealer in San Francisco. In the recently published book MotorBinder written by Spencer’s son Roy, a 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, very likely to be 3735 is photographed twice. In 1962, the car was photographed with Bev Spencer and Phil Hill along the Pebble Beach Road Course. Spencer and Hill drove the famous course with the 250 SWB while Spencer used a tape recorder to capture the car’s extraordinary exhaust note while at speed. The sound was later used in a record included with each new Ferrari sold by Spencer, with the record titled A Quiet Afternoon with Phil Hill at the Old Pebble Beach Course. The same car appears again photographed alongside Spencer’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe and his 151 race car at his home in Hillsborough, California, in 1963. The book does not cite the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta in the photograph specifically as 3735 GT, but based on other cars in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time, it is highly likely that the car photographed is 3735 GT.

California is where the 250 SWB would spend the next fifteen years of its life, passing through a handful of owners, including the famed Ferrari enthusiast and author Ed Niles. Returning to Europe in the late 1990s, chassis number 3735 GT was purchased by Alberto Garnerone of Turin, Italy in 1997. Following his passing in August 2008, the car was inherited by his son and remained in his ownership until 2014. Shortly thereafter, the car was acquired by the current owner, with whom it has remained since. Ferrari Classiche certified in 2015, this confirmed that the car retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox, and rear axle. During the current ownership, this car has been shown at concours events and was part of the 250 SWB celebration at Salon Privé in 2019. Recently, the car has undergone some minor work with the Ferrari specialists at GTO Engineering in Reading, United Kingdom. Invoices for this work are on file.

Offered from nearly a decade of single ownership, this 250 GT SWB Berlinetta would be the ultimate all-rounder as either a potential concours entrant, tour participant, or prepared for some of the finest historic racing events. This wonderful Ferrari would be an exciting addition to any collection and would be a thrill to use and enjoy for whatever its owner has in store.