Ferrari’s 250 motorcars from the 1960s need no introduction, and enthusiasts beholding one in the flesh may wisely carry an appropriately high thread-count handkerchief. Drooling in public is generally frowned upon among the upper crust. After pleasing owners on both sides of the Atlantic, this 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso enjoyed a $300k Ferrari Classiche restoration in 2017 including a return to its original color scheme: Blu Sera (Twilight Blue) with Pelle Beige interior. Pack your Grey Poupon for Paris if you fancy owning this fabulous automobile. The immaculate blue stunner comes to market January 29th, 2006 at the Rétromobile Paris Auction as Lot 17. The 1,250,000 to 1,750,000 Euro estimated value ($1.5 to $2.0 million USD) buys one of 350 built, and one of the finest remaining. Thanks to reader Araknid78 for the tip on this curvaceous Italian.
The mid-dash binnacle makes an interesting centerpiece of the Lusso’s museum-quality interior. “Lusso,” or “luxury” in Italian, denotes a different animal from the track-owning beasts that defined Ferrari. Nothing will stop this 250 from spirited driving, though, except a healthy respect for its rarity.
The gorgeous 3.0 L 2,953cc (180 cid) V12 makes 240 HP at 7000 RPM. Treat your ears to a V12 symphony performed by this similarly powered 1961 250 GT Berlinetta SWB at Circuit Paul Ricard. While that auditory perfection yet lingers in your mind, proceed to your driveway and kick your daily driver squarely in the tire for sounding inadequate in comparison.
To take a bad picture of a Ferrari 250, you’d have to insert a tiny camera up its tailpipe. Nobody who abandoned love and fortune to own one could be called a fool. Fans of the ’60s “bubble top” GMs will find the 250’s delicate roof pillars equally sexy, or even lovelier.
Right, so the spare tire and fuel filler encroach on the 250 Lusso’s cargo capacity, but anyone who can afford a $2 million Ferrari could probably buy clothes as they go and donate their once-worn finest to Europe’s luckiest second-hand shops. If anyone spots a flaw on this Ferrari-restored gemstone, please speak up in the comments below (crickets). I won’t be bidding on this rolling masterpiece, but if I see one, I might risk a fortnight in Italian prison to discretely touch its rear end with one greasy low-brow finger, just to say I did. What’s your top bid on this beautiful blue luxury Ferrari?
Someone with good taste and a budget to match could look at spending the $2 million this will probably bring. Listening to it inside and out on the YouTube link found https://youtu.be/2HEneKuhuH4?si=K1CoJ4jMn00esadH
(yours wouldn’t open for me, Todd) makes it all the more clear why.
Great stuff for a gearhead to dream on.
Thanks, Nevadahalfrack. I fixed the link. It’s the same video but I started it where the in-car symphony begins. What a masterpiece.
That soundtrack is amazing!!! Just as exotic sounding as the car looks. And watching him pushing it through the turns ( as Ferrari had in mind building these cars) is great.
Nice one, Todd, and great find, Araknid78! What a gorgeous work of art, wowie.
(sounds of SG checking his bank account) (now he’s checking to see if there’s a Fiero knockoff of this model)
Yep. Just checked my bank account…… I’m about 1.5 to 2 million short as well. Heck, I can’t even afford a Fiero version either. But that being said this is a beautiful Ferrari. Love this shade of blue also.
Awe inspiring beauty, simply a work of art.
Recently commenting on exhaust notes the ones on this car gets you goose bumps. Wow!
In the ’60s a dealer in Reno, NV had a GM powered Lusso for sale for $5,000 that we drooled over for weeks but didn’t buy because we already had too many cars. Still regret not buying it. Beautiful cars.
Most of us will ever be able to own this, but fear not, there are plenty of other cars just as sharp and easily match the performance. Myself, I could care less about how I look in a car, so even if I had the cash, I would never buy something like this. Just a good way to get mugged and sneers from people on the street.
The people that would sneer tell you exactly who they are, bitter, petty and jealous.
Steve R
All true, but getting more and more common. People are becoming very angry about wealth distribution. I do not agree with that, but it still is a reality that would need to be addressed should you actually want to show up in public in something like this. You would be better off with a late model Mustang to enjoy, and take the rest of that cash and put it into a nice Vanguard index fund.
I’d ask if the gauges in that center pod came out of the Nova we just saw, but the snark potential is blunted by the fact it’s well known that Enzo raided the parts bins of equally humble Fiats in those days when Racing was Everything and the road cars were just to pay the bills.
I thought Fram filters are a no no…
Yes, I can’t believe it either. After all the experiences I have had with Frams. I will never use them. AND after taking one apart, it just verified what I knew. None for me thank you very much!
We use Wix or Wix built filters. Wix builds the NAPA Gold filters. Use them on race and street cars.
As a beginning shade tree mechanic working on mostly British sports cars in 1968 , 2 opportunities passed before my eyes. The local Jaguar dealer had a 427 Cobra that had been traded in on a new E-Type and it was offered around to the local crowd for 4500.00. The local Pontiac dealer who was also into exotics had a Lusso for sale for 7500.00. Sadly those prices were as far out of range for then as the 1.5 million is today. Whatever rich guy gets this one will see his investment continue to grow, because it is a true classic beauty.
Yep, Gippy, a new Pontiac GP Convertibile was around $5500, an astronomic sum for 20 year old me. I’ve mentioned before that I worked in a Chevy dealership in 1967. A professor at the college died and his widow brought in his MB 190 SL to trade on an Impala. The sales manager offered it to me for $500. I worked 2 jobs all summer long between semesters from 7am to 9:30pm and managed to save $500 towards the Fall tuition. In my first job out of college I made $5000 a year plus room and board. When compared to the prices today, the prices then were equally unobtainable, just as you wrote. Also not sure that this Lusso qualifies as a ‘barn’ find….more like an ‘estate’ or ‘mansion’ find.
That was a lot of money back then.
I saw a Lusso when they stayed overnight
in Eureka,on the way to Pebble Beach a few
years ago.It was a gorgous Burgundy color.
One of the best looking cars ever.
I owned one of these exact Ferrari’s, back in the 60’s. Mine was green, and came in it’s own enclosed box.
Yes, but what was the exhaust note like?
I suspect one would have to watch the video and look at the car at same time to know the imagined answer to that. It’s kinda like me making a model of a ’40 Ford convertible model in high school in ’68 without ever having actually seen one much less actually being able to drive one. ;-)
Just wow. A curvy old Ferrari with wire wheels and a V12, in dark blue. I think I’m in love.
When I saw this, I thought I was on the wrong site! (BAT). I’m used to seeing dusty barn finds, not something like this beauty. 99% of Barnfind people like me, can only drool at these.
99%? How about 99.999%?
A beautiful restoration, but to my eyes this is the least attractive 250 model I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a number of different models, all breathtaking except this one.
JMO.
I did some research, and this is not the least attractive 250 I’ve ever seen any more. But if I had this kind of money, a 250 SWB is what I’d want.
I’ve never seen so much good said about a Lusso.
This shares some parts wit but it’s not an swb and won’t drive the the 250swb in the video.
Car in video is SWB….short wheelbase, alloy body competition car.
40 years ago Lussos were mostly unloved and didn’t sell for much compared to other 250s. Joe Marchetti commissioned 4 or 6 rebodied 250 SWBs. I know some donors were Lussos from his used car lot.
Mention of drooling reminded me of when I was working on the firstSWB for that coach builder, (not an employee) he came up to me and had noticed that i wasn’t awestruck or intimidated by Ferraris and just went to work.
Lusso looks don’t compare to GTO, SWB , California LWB and others.
I love the looks of the Lusso, always thought what if it had the gated 5speed/transaxle of the 275’s/Daytonas …..
One of my friends had this exact 1965 model and a convertible , 64 I think, and a lowly 308 GTS I could put my butt on one bumper and touch the other 2, I always told him this is the only place I could ever do this . He sold the 2 older ones to a place in Nevada that rents them to the movie studios about 10 yrs ago for $400k for the pair. He couldnt wait to get rid of them , always worrying something would happen.
Way out of my league, but what a beauty.
NOT A BARN FIND !
I could probably afford this beauty if I sold everything I own at a premium, I than would have to park this at a family member house since I would no longer have a home, lol
I could probably come up with the money somehow. BUT, I would then have to come up with the money for a,new place to live. So add several hundred thousand to the price.
About a third of my net worth, so I guess I could afford it, if I didn’t mind getting divorced. Though, a divorce would cut into my buying power. Besides, I love my wife so much more then some status symbol masquerading as an investment.