The Ferrari 250 GTE was not only the most stylish, comfortable, and luxurious four-passenger car of its time: Its commercial success may be the reason the Ferrari name lives on today. True to its competition roots, the 250 GTE was revealed at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans in the hands of the course marshal before its official Paris Salon debut that October.

Beneath the model’s elegant Pininfarina bodywork was a chassis much like that of the 250 GT LWB “Tour de France.” To provide space for rear seats, the 240-horsepower, 3.0-liter Colombo V-12—paired with a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive—moved eight inches forward and the rear roofline was subtly raised. Ultimately, 954 250 GTEs spanning three Series were delivered over a four-year production run. In addition to cosmetic changes, Series III cars benefitted from the addition of coils to the leaf spring rear suspension.

Per a report by Marcel Massini, chassis 4695 is the 194th Series III example built. Originally finished in Blu Sera over Marrone Connolly leather, it was completed on 30 May 1963 and delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut. Transferred to Otto Zipper Motors of Los Angeles, California, it was then sold locally to its first owner. It reportedly remained in California until 2011, when it was acquired by the consignor, an East Coast collector.

Thoroughly enjoyed and exercised regularly, this lovely 250 GTE participated in the 2012 Copperstate 1000 (Arizona), twice in Rich and Jean Taylor’s Mountain Mille (Virginia and West Virginia), the Smoky Mountain Mille (North Carolina) and numerous editions of One Lap of the Mountain (North Carolina). At the 2013 Euro Auto Festival in Greer, South Carolina, it was awarded Best Italian Car, Best Ferrari, and Best in Show, and in 2015, it appeared on the cover of the Ferrari Club of America News Bulletin.

Now presented in Grigio Argento over Mahogany Connolly hides, this 250 GTE retains its numbers-matching engine, gearbox, and rear differential. Borrani RW3801 wire wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato tires complete its wonderful period-correct appearance. Its service file details its meticulous care: In addition to regular maintenance by Sports Car Service of Snellville, Georgia and Ferrari of Atlanta, its engine was comprehensively rebuilt in 2017 by Ferrari of Atlanta. Its transmission was resealed and the Laycock electronic overdrive was serviced at this time.

This alluring 250 GTE 2+2 Series III is accompanied by a tool kit, spare Borrani wheel, owner’s manual in pouch, and service invoices spanning 2010–2019. Among the finest examples on the market, it offers ample proof that Ferrari’s earliest efforts to create a proper 2+2 also yielded one of the most enduring—and desirable—grand tourers of its era.