Vehicle Description
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Coachwork by Ellena This 1958 Ferrari 250
GT Coupe is o ne of only 50 Coupes Built by Carrozzeria Ellena.
This long-lost Ellena was r ecently discovered in 59-year
ownership, a g arage find preserved in largely original, intact
unrestored condition. D ocumented by Ferrari Historian Marcel
Massini. C hassis 0837 GT which, until its discovery last year, was
missing and presumed lost. While the engine has been reassembled
and installed in the car, it will require a rebuild and the Ferrari
will need to be mechanically recommissioned before use. A worthy
candidate, either for sympathetic preservation or as the ideal
basis for a complete concours-quality restoration, this 250 GT
Coupe is a most exciting find. According to Ferrari historian
Marcel Massini, 0837 GT was the 34th Ellena-bodied 250 GT Coupe
built. The US-market car was delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors of
New York in March 1958, finished in the handsome color combination
of Camoscio (Chamois) over light beige leather upholstery. The
exterior paint, a Lechler product known by code 1038, was named
after the Chamois, a goldish brown relative of the antelope found
throughout Europe. By the early 1960s, the Ferrari had relocated to
the Midwest and was acquired by RRR Motors Inc. in Homewood,
Illinois. Well known in sports car circles, RRR Motors was a
Ferrari and Alfa Romeo dealer, as well as a regional Goodyear
distributor. During this period, the dealership?s proprietor,
George Reed, was active in the racing scene, campaigning various
Ferraris, 300 SLs, and Corvettes under his Reed?s Race Rats banner
at venues such as Sebring, Road America, and Watkins Glen. Around
this time, RRR Motors Inc. owned 0837 GT and another Ellena Coupe,
chassis 0755 GT. For unknown reasons, the dealership swapped the
cars? identities, even going so far as to scrub the serial numbers
from the engine pads. On October 23, 1964, RRR Motors Inc. sold
this Ellena Coupe, now identified as 0755 GT, to Gerald S. Krupa of
Palatine, Illinois. Documentation on file confirms that Mr. Krupa
traded in his 1962 Pontiac Convertible, valued at $1,500, and
financed the $3,000 balance to acquire the six-year-old Ferrari.
The Ferrari was used for about a year before being parked with
engine trouble. Mr. Krupa removed and disassembled the engine, but
soon found himself overwhelmed by the task of rebuilding the V-12
and let the years pass with the car sitting static, under cover, in
his home garage. It remained there for four decades and was
rediscovered only last year, after he passed away. Purchased out of
Mr. Krupa?s estate, it has since uncovered its original identity as
it has been known, erroneously, as 0755 GT since at least 1964. The
original 0837 GT chassis stamping was found on the frame rail and
the engine was identified as original by Marcel Massini. Its
internal number (0168C) remains intact and undisturbed. The number
837 was found in several locations, including the front grille and
inside the door panels. Although the exterior was repainted red
many years ago, the dashboard and door caps are still finished in
the original Camoscio paint. The Ellena?s interior is particularly
well preserved, a result of the car?s limited use and decades spent
in storage. The light beige leather upholstery, carpeting, and
headliner remain in excellent original condition, possessing a
beautiful patina. Charming details dating from 19641965, such as
the Illinois license plates, city tax sticker, and doorjamb service
tag attest to the car?s Chicago-area provenance and last years of
regular use.Over the past six decades, a surprising number of
original Ellena-bodied 250 GT Coupes have been lost, either through
accident damage, or having sacrificed their original bodies to
build replica Testa Rossas and Tour de France Berlinettas. The
discovery of any original example missing for 60 years is
significant, let alone an example such as this, which has survived
in fine, unrestored condition. Chassis: 0837 GT Engine: 0168C The
Lost Ellena Recently Discovered in 59-Year Ownership One of Only 50
Coupes Built by Carrozzeria Ellena on the 250 GT Chassis Delivered
New to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Camoscio (Chamois) over Beige
Leather Chicago-Area Garage Find Preserved in Largely Original,
Intact Condition Never-Before Restored Documented by Ferrari
Historian Marcel Massini Price: $589,500 Firm
