Vehicle Description
Motorcar Classicsis proud to offer this historically significant
1959 Ferrari 250GT Coupe, Vin #1471. This car (cited in Wikipedia
in Ferraris entry) has fully documented important history from
new.Its provenance and bespoke features arguably make this 1959
Ferrari 250 GT coupthe best example of its kind in the World.
Importance of the 250 GT coup to Ferrari: The understated elegance
of this Ferrari coup singularly saved Ferrari, because Enzo Ferrari
asked Pinin Farina to design a gentlemans car built on a racing
chassis. It resulted in this 250GT coup, which quickly garnered
praise of World leaders and industry titans, funding Ferraris
racing team.The GT Coup eschewed the fender vents, for simple,
clean lines and a notchback look with panoramic rear window. The
oval grille was replaced by a more traditional long narrow look
with protruding headlights. This elegant Pinin Farina coupon the
250GT chassis was among the earliest Ferrari series production
cars, with 350 examples handcrafted between 1958 and 1960,
occupying vin numbers 0841 to 2081. These cars could be ordered
with subtle variations accommodating discerning customers tastes,
although a very small handful such as this one was a show-cars
constructed on the 250GT chassis.Royal Pedigree: Enzo handcrafted
this Ferrari bespoke edition for his close friend, HRH Prince
Bertil of Sweden, a connoisseur of fine motorcars. #1471 first
appeared publicly at the Frankfurt Motor Show with accouterments
shared by no other early Series I, 250 GT; including four-wheel
disc breaks, a racing transmission with overdrive, and a passenger
hand-hold for his Princess Lilian.Prince Bertil considered #1471
perfect, being a Gran Turismo allowing it to accommodate luggage
while touring the Cte dAzur while vacationing at his Royal Villa
Mirage in the South ofFrance. Engine Specifications: The original
Colombo-designed Tipo 128C 3.0-liter engine was superseded by the
twin-distributor 128D, which in turn was supplanted in 1960 by the
outside-plug 128F engine, which replaced its predecessors siamesed
inlets in favor of six separate ports. The Tipo 125C engine proved
superbly capable both on the road and track, explaining its
timelessness. With its triple Weber carburetor, it produced 240
horsepower, giving the 250GT a top speed of 150 mph, making it the
fastest GT car available. Four-wheel disc brakes became optional in
1959 and a four-speed-plus-overdrive gearbox the following
year.Mancini Report: This car, chassis number 1471GT, is a 250GT
Series 1 Coup. It started life in May of 1959, when its bare
chassis was sent to the Torino factory of Carrozzeria Pinin Farina,
and clothed in Coupcoachwork. The seventh to last of the first
series128D chassis. Because of specifications fron Enzo Ferrari,
1471GT was factory equipped with four wheel disc brakes, and the
offset-lever four-speed overdrive transmission. It was finished in
two-tone livery of Grigio Argento on the top, and a Bianco on its
lower half. Inside was a contrasting Rossa hides and carpeting. The
car was completed in October of 1959, and soon thereafter, directed
to Delivery of HRH Prince Bertil of Sweden, delivered to the
official Ferrari importer and agency of Sweden, Tore Bjurstrom.
Soon after taking delivery, Mr. Bjurstrom had the car transported
to Germany for display at the 1959 International German Motor Show
- IAA in Frankfurt. After the show, the car returned to Sweden, so
that HRH Prince Bertil, could take delivery in late 1959. The Duke
of Halland, Prince Bertil Gustaf Oskar Carl Eugn was 47 years of
age when he took delivery of his new Ferrari Pinin Farina
Coup.After driving seasonally on the Cte dAzur, in 1961 1471GT was
sold to Langdon Proctor, a respected Classic Automobile collector
and highly successful European business executive residing in
Switzerland during summers. 1471GT was registered in Switzerland
specifically on Swiss canton Vaud license plate VD #106426, by
Proctor and frequently driven by Proctor who resided in Chateau Le
chteau de Bardonnex in Laussane. In November 1964, the Ferrari was
returned to the factory in Maranello, where it was serviced and
maintained at Ferraris factory Assistenza Clienti service center.
At that point in history, the car had 53,190 kilometers on its
odometer. In July 1964, Proctor had the car painted in silver in
Laussane, Switzerland. In 1966, 1471GT accumulated 70,000
kilometers on its odometer, and had its engine removed for rebuild
at Garaga Pesa SA in Lausanne, Switzerland. In the late 1960s,
Langdon Proctor sold 1471GT to John Lindsay, an American residing
in Switzerland seasonally. Mr. Lindsay gifted #1471 to his father,
Hamlin Lindsay. In 1970, #1471 car was crated and shipped on M/V
Atlantic Crown Ocean liner to NYC, New York, USA. Hamlin Lindsay
occasionally showed #1471, and it 1974 its ownership reverted to
Jon Lindsay. #1471 remained in his collection under his careful
stewardship until 1983, when a San Francisco Executive purchased
it, Marc Wilcoxen. Mr. Wilcoxen cared for #1471 for fifteen years,
before selling it in July, 1999 to William Tipton, also of
California. 1471GT remained in Mr. Tiptons stewardship for fifteen
years. During that time, 1471GT was acquired by Kevin Pauza, of
Naples and New York City in 2015, and began an extensive multi-year
restoration, returning it to its original 1959 show presentation.
Restorers in Italy, Califotrnia, and Texas participated. Ferrari
Concourse Judge James Patterson, of Norwood Auto Italia prepared
the car, restoring #1471 to its original configuration as presented
at the 1959 Frankfurt Auto Show by Enzo Ferrari and HRH Prince
Bertil of Sweden.#1471 250 GT may visit the manicured show lawns
with its next steward for the first time, with its originally
specified bianco, grigio, and contrasting rossa hides. Mancini
report, documents, original tools, jack, and spare borrani wire
remain with 1471. Your inspection is invited!