HomeMediaStunning '62 Ferrari 250 GT SWB on RM Sotheby’s Monterey docket

Stunning ’62 Ferrari 250 GT SWB on RM Sotheby’s Monterey docket

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One of the most desirable of all road-going Ferraris, a 1962 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, will be on the docket during RM Sotheby’s signature auction in Monterey, California, to be held August 15-17.

The V12-powered coupe will cross the block without reserve, and it could be among the highest-priced collector cars sold during Monterey Car Week, the massive celebration of vintage automobiles that culminates in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The Ferrari’s pre-auction estimated value: $8 million to $10 million.

Ferrari
The sleek body was created by Scaglietti

“Chassis no. 3359 GT, with coachwork by Scaglietti, is one of only 40 steel body SWB Berlinettas built in the final production run during 1962, exhibiting the desirable aesthetic distinctions of the late-production cars,” RM Sotheby’s says in a news release.

“A model only made available to Ferrari’s top clients in period, the SWB was the predecessor to the legendary 250 GTO as one of the ultimate high-speed Gran Turismo cars which could be driven to the track, win a race, and then driven home.”

The car was originally sold to Giuseppe Chiusolo of Naples, Italy, leaving the factory finished in Grigio Argento with Red Connolly Vaumol leather interior and equipped with the latest Tipo 168/61 V12 engine, Abarth exhaust and Borrani wire wheels.

Ferrari
A race-honed V12 engine lies under the hood

After going through a “handful of Italian owners,” the description says, the 250 GT was acquired in 2010 by noted Swiss collector Jean-Pierre Slavic, who commissioned a complete restoration to original spec.  The work was carried out, under the watchful eye of Ferrari Classiche, by Carrozzeria Autosport of Modena and Autofficina Bonini of Cadelbosco, an official Ferrari service agent.

Following restoration, the car received the crucial Ferrari Classiche Certification, complete with the coveted Red Book, attesting to the car’s authenticity.

In 2012, the freshly restored coupe was invited to the exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where it received the Mention of Honour award in the competitive Ferrari 250 Dynasty Class.

Ferrari
The leather interior looks very inviting

The car, now under American ownership, remains in excellent condition, RM Sotheby’s says.

“The presentation of truly one of the most exceptional 250 GT SWB examples extant at auction is a special opportunity, but the presentation of such a car without reserve is nearly unprecedented,” Shelby Myers, car specialist and global head of private sales for RM Sotheby’s, said in the release. “In 2018, we had the opportunity to sell a Ferrari 250 GTO for a world record price for any car at auction, and I believe the value gap between GTOs and SWBs is far too wide and that these cars represent tremendous value in today’s market.

“The 250 SWB is considered by many Ferraristi as one of the finest designs to ever come out of Maranello,” Myers added. “Couple that with the fact that they are extremely well-balanced and have plenty of power on tap and they represent the epitome of 1960s Italian motoring.”

For more information about RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale, visit the auction website.

Rmsothebys.com

Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen is a longtime automotive writer and editor, focusing on new vehicles, collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. He is the former automotive writer and editor for The Arizona Republic and SPEED.com, the website for the SPEED motorsports channel. He has written free-lance articles for a number of publications, including Autoweek, The New York Times and Barrett-Jackson auction catalogs. A collector car enthusiast with a wide range of knowledge about the old cars that we all love and desire, Bob enjoys tinkering with archaic machinery. His current obsession is a 1962 Porsche 356 Super coupe.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Looks like Mark Knoefler’s (sp?) car as shown in the Alain DeCadenet series "Victory By Design" back in the late ’90’s/early ’00’s. Perhaps his was a LWB, not sure. Beautiful, and the red leather interior isn’t just "inviting", it’s absolutely sensual, probably should be rated PG-13 at minimum.
    Would love to hear that thing spooled up to redline through the box. Too bad it’s worth so much $$$; the sound and experience would be hair-raising.
    Didn’t Jesus have one of these? Bwahahaha!

  2. Does it have synchro on reverse or is automatic? Asking for a friend. How much to move the steering wheel to the other side? How many years guarantee? Will it run on diesel? How about delivery to Mombasa? Cash on arrival!

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