Vehicle Description
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale August 17th - 19th, 2017 at
Russo and Steele's 17th Annual Monterey, California Auction. Please
contact us for more information. The Ferrari 250 Europa was
introduced to the public at the 1953 Paris Auto Salon and was the
first road-going Ferrari identified by the now legendary 250 series
nomenclature. It was also the first true gran turismo Ferrari ever
produced. Pinin Farina designed their first Ferrari in the early
1950s and by the mid -50s, they had truly established the iconic
Ferrari look. Design cues included the long, low hood and a
signature oval radiator opening, traits that by the mid-1950s had
secured Principal Ferrari Design House status for Pinin Farina.
They were marketed as expensive, luxurious, and well-finished grand
touring machines and their advanced specifications and sleek lines
helped assure the marque's reputation for performance above all
else. With its high-waisted, crisp lines, and large oval grille,
the elegant yet sporty 2+2 coupe is now regarded as a Pinin Farina
classic and a trendsetting design for future 250s. The Europa was
the only Ferrari 250 to carry the Aurelio Lampredi-designed V-12,
which was originally designated for racing use and produced over
200 horsepower. Due to this, the 250 Europa was capable of 135-mph
top speeds and 0 to 60 times under 8 seconds. The V-12 engine was
coupled to an all-synchromesh transmission and, in conjunction with
the car's superb handling characteristics, made for an outstanding
grand touring package. In a 12-month period, only 17 Europas were
built by Pinin, 16 of them were coupes. Nearly all examples were
exported to the United States. Notable owners of the Europa
included Charlie Chaplin, Princess de Rthy of Belgium, Prince
Bernhard of Holland and even Enzo Ferrari himself. This Europa
offered was finished on December 17, 1953 and was sold to its first
Italian owner in February of the next year. It is the 9th of only
16 Europa Coupes that ever left the factory. During the 1950s, it
was bought and sold several times, all among Italian owners, and in
the 1960s it was exported to New York. Since then, it has never
left the United States. Recently, it has been the subject of a full
restoration with paint and interior done by noted marque expert
Brian Hoyt of Perfect Reflections. Hoyt finished the car in its
stunning original color combination of Blu Montagna with beige
hides and dark blue piping. The correct, outside laced Borani
wheels are on the car and are in perfect condition. Overall, this
vehicle presents as virtually new and shows no wear at all. The
original 3-liter V-12 and four-speed transmission are no longer
with the car and it has been upgraded to have the 4-liter V-12 from
the Ferrari 330 GT, making it ideal for touring and use on rallies.
Expert Ferrari mechanic, Patrick Ottis, recently rebuilt the
4-liter V-12 and rebuilt the drum brakes. Currently a five-speed
Tremec manual transmission is fitted, making this Europa even more
user friendly and even better for touring or long trips. A correct
Ferrari 250 transmission comes with the car and can be installed by
the next owner if they desire. This is an excellent driving example
that is eligible for events such as the California Mille, Copper
State 1000, Colorado Grand and countless other exciting events.