Ferrari 250 Price Guide

The Ferrari 250 is the most important model Ferrari ever made, making it one of the most important automobiles to have ever existed.

The 250 is actually a family of cars produced from 1952 to 1964 that won Le Mans, won the Tour de France Automobile, won the Mille Miglia, and produced the 250 GTO, which is not merely the most valuable car ever sold at auction but the most significant competition car of the post-war era. At its heart sat Gioacchino Colombo’s 3.0-litre Colombo V12, a 60-degree unit of such elegant design that it remained in production for nearly twenty years and powered Ferrari to victories on every circuit in the world.

The Family

The 250 designation covered an extraordinary range of body styles. The 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (1962–1964) by Pininfarina was the grand tourer; the 250 GT SWB (1959–1962) was the versatile competition car that won the Tour de France; the 250 Testa Rossa (1957–1961) was the prototype racer that won Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961; and the 250 GTO (1962–1964) is the car that every subsequent discussion of automotive value eventually reaches. Only 36 GTOs were built for Group 3 GT homologation, winning the International GT Championship three consecutive years

The Engine

The Colombo V12 produced approximately 240bhp in road tune and 300bhp in full racing specification. Three Weber carburettors per bank, bevel gear drive to dual overhead camshafts, and a character at high revs that no subsequent V12 has exactly replicated. The short-wheelbase cars weighed around 900kg with a full tank; giving a power-to-weight ratio that humiliated contemporary saloon cars and many purpose-built racers.

Buying

A 250 GTO is only ever going to be available to perhaps two dozen people in the world. A 250 GT SWB or Lusso is available to a handful more, but authentication, provenance, and expert assessment are non-negotiable prerequisites for any purchase. The Ferrari Classiche certification programme is the standard for authentication. The Ferrari marque’s own records, the Ferrari Club di Italia registers, and specialist auctioneers with specific Ferrari expertise are the resources.