For Sale: 1957 Ferrari 250 in Saint Louis, Missouri

The mid-1950s were a time of critical transition for Ferrari. Enzo's racing cars were the class of the field across a wide breadth of motorsport disciplines, and the reliance on road car sales to fund the race team became increasingly important. To this point, Ferrari's road cars were little more than thinly veiled versions of racing GTs, but a more road-focused, volume production car was necessary for Ferrari to compete against its rivals.
The new 250 series intended to fill that void, attracting wealthy buyers to bask in Ferrari's motorsport glory in a stylish, sophisticated road-going package. Utilizing proven chassis architecture and the magnificent Gioacchino Colombo-designed 3-liter V12 engine, the 250 GT delivered luxury, refinement and performance, while spreading the gospel of Ferrari to critical new markets, especially in North America.
The first in the series, the 250 Europa, also marked a seismic change for Ferrari, as design favor shifted from Carrozzeria Vignale to Carrozzeria Pinin Farina (later Pininfarina), the latter bodying 48 of the 53 250 Europas produced. But as the 250 series grew in popularity, Pininfarina initially lacked the production capacity to make bodies quickly enough to meet demand. In order to keep up, Ferrari enlisted the help of relative newcomer Carrozzeria Boano to take up the slack. Founded by ex-Farina designer Mario Felice Boano, the coachbuilder enjoyed a brief but prolific period, and the Ferrari 250 Boano was by far the most famous design to roll from their shop doors. Boano and his son Gian Paolo developed a close relationship with Fiat and after some 82 cars were completed for Ferrari, the pair departed to lead Centro Stile Fiat at the end of 1957. With that, operation of Carrozzeria Boano fell to Mario's son-in-law, Ezio Ellena, who renamed the firm Carrozzeria Ellena, and completed approximately 50 additional cars under the name before production ended.
While outwardly similar to one another, subtle differences distinguish the 250 Boano and Ellena from one another, and typical of the era, design changes came about in a gradual and varied manner. The most notable design changes adopted by Ellena include a 2-inch higher roof line for greater comfort and visibility, and elimination of the door vent windows. Ferrari also improved later cars with larger brakes, a ZF steering box, conventional shift pattern for the 4-speed 'box, and single-distributor ignition. Compared to the harder-edged cars like the Tour de France, the Ellena was tuned for grand touring, with softer suspension, synchromesh gears, and luxurious trimmings. Of course, the Ferrari competition DNA was undiluted, proven by 250 Ellenas scoring some notable wins on events like the Alpine Rally and Acropolis Rally.
Chassis 0727GT is a beautifully restored example of a 250 GT Ellena "High Roof," benefitting from a recent specialist restoration. While the earliest history of this car is not currently documented, 0727GT was discovered in North America following a long period of storage. At the time of its discovery, the car was essentially complete, in need of restoration but missing the original engine which was installed in a 250 Europa in the 1970s. In the mid-2010s, the Ellena underwent a total nut-and-bolt, photo-documented restoration totaling €250,000, completed in 2017. As part of the project, a period-correct inside plug Colombo V12 was sourced, originally fitted to 250 GT 1483GT (internal no. 0556D). Photos on file show the car was stripped to bare metal and the coachwork meticulously restored and finished to a high standard. The restoration included full rebuilding and detailing of the chassis and underbody components, wheels restored by Borrani and fitted with period-correct Pirelli tires, and a complete overhaul of the V12 engine to include new bearings, forged pistons, authentic Weber 38DZ carburetors, and period correct ignition components.
A striking color scheme of black with a contrasting copper roof was chosen to highlight the Ellena's sophisticated, elegant lines. The luxurious tan leather interior was restored to concours standards by Tappezzeria Luppi, one of the world's leading Ferrari upholstery restoration specialists, located in the heart of Ferrari country in Modena, Italy. Upon its completion, 0727GT returned to the United States and in 2022 marque specialist Patrick Ottis handled some fine tuning and mechanical sorting in preparation for proper road use. It then joined an extensive private collection of significant European sports and GT cars, from which it is being offered.
Since its restoration, 0727GT has seen only occasional use and is in beautiful condition throughout, displaying excellent panel fit, finish quality, and details like proper "Ferrari 250 Granturismo" script, gorgeous Marchal headlamps, and matching fog lamps in the grille. The 250 Ellena's 2-inch higher roof, thin pillars, and single-piece wraparound rear screen make ingress a breeze, and provide an airy, spacious cabin. These cars are renowned for their long-distance ability, and 0727GT is a prime example to enjoy on prestigious driving events like the Colorado Grand or California Mille, while its striking livery and superb presentation will garner much attention in show settings.
Produced in small numbers, revered for their on-road ability and beautiful looks, and cherished by collectors, the 250 Grantursismo Boano/Ellena is a foundational model in Ferrari lore, establishing the still relatively young automaker as leader in the GT market, and highlighting the brilliance of this short-lived, but undeniably talented Italian carrozzeria.

Offers welcome and trades considered.