In April 1963, a rather young financial consultant by the name of Rick Granzella strolled into the showroom of Bev Spencer’s newly minted Ferrari dealership in San Francisco. At that moment, Spencer’s inventory contained two contestants in the running to fill the Ferrari-sized hole which Granzella’s $14,000 surplus of funds had proverbially burned into his pocket. The first contestant was a slightly used 250 GTO, and the second was a shiny new 250 GTE 2+2. Though Granzella had initially set upon the GTO, his wife, Lillian, resolutely convinced him the GTE was a far more elegant, practical, and luxurious automobile for their growing family.

Built in three discrete series through 1963, the 250 GTE 2+2 remains particularly esteemed by many collectors. As documented by marque historian Marcel Massini, and David Wheeler’s book, Ferrari 250 GTE - The family car that funded the racing, Granzella’s example, chassis 4089, is the final second-series GTE built, and the sole GTE remaining within original ownership. Granzella proceeded to use this GTE as his daily transportation for the next 17 years, adding many thousands of miles of much-enjoyed use by himself, or with the whole family packed in. Rick’s daughter, Nici, fondly recounts that 4089 commonly exceeded the family-conveying utility planned by Ferrari’s engineers by way of seating one of her siblings upon “the hump”—the family’s term for the upholstered driveline shroud which extends rearward through the passenger cabin.

Between 1994 and 1999, Granzella fully disassembled the car and organized a consortium of local marque specialists to complete a thorough restoration. Originally clad in the elegant color combination of Grigio Argento (20265A) over Nero Connelly leather, during this period, 4089 was repainted in the attractive shade of Rosso Barchetta and its interior was redone in its original color. Upon the completion of 4089’s restoration in 2001, the Granzellas celebrated with a massive party at a friend’s airport hangar; the invitations, quite amusingly, made clear that the fête was being held, not for the family’s enjoyment—but rather, the car’s.

From 2001 and 2014, the newly reborn GTE featured as an acclaimed member of the local Ferrari concours circuit, and to this end, some exhibition highlights include the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, 2010 Concorso Italiano, and 2021 Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance. More recently, in 2019 the car was treated to an extensive engine rebuild and transmission overhaul by marque specialists James Hawley and Geoff Provo. In 2022, Hawley rebuilt all four of the car’s shocks, in addition to routine maintenance. Save for its restoration during the late nineties, Granzella and this GTE have never missed the Pacific Region Ferrari Club’s annual July picnic, or year-end holiday party.

As the only GTE remaining within its original ownership, 4089 presents an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a significant grand-touring Ferrari with rich, memorable, and much-loved provenance that has made it a treasured and well-known sight within the Bay Area’s Ferrari scene since new.