Vehicle Description
While all early Ferraris by now have an interesting history, this
particular Tour De France has an intriguing story. In June of 1957,
Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Competizione chassis number 0707 was
purchased by Michel Ringoir, a wealthy amateur driver, through
Ecurie Francochamps, the Ferrari dealer in Belgium. 0707 GT was the
last of the 14-louver Berlinettas, with the further distinction of
the only one having the largest fuel tank (capacity: 137 liter)
installed. While Ringoir registered his new Ferrari for road use,
he immediately began racing, first entering a GT event on the
14-mile Nurburgring. The following week, he won at Zandvoort
(Holland). Four more victories followed, and then he went on to the
1957 Tour De France, where he DNF'd. He campaigned the vehicle in
1958 for a full and successful season, entering many hill climbs,
street races, winning in many. 1958 also marked his return to the
Tour de France, but again, he did not finish. 1959 brought one more
attempt toward conquering the Tour de France, but records reflect
that he did not start, due to a financial
downturn for the gentleman racer.
We understand that somewhere during this era (perhaps 1958) 0707
suffered a bad shunt, with Ringoir deciding that rather than repair
the body, he commissioned Scaglietti to create an entire new body,
and at the same time upgrade the front end to include the recessed,
covered headlamps with Perspex covers. Since Scaglietti was the
original body manufacturer, it was an easy, yet authentic task.
With body project nearly complete, Ringoir had a change of heart
and decide to make the necessary repairs on the original 0707
body.
This original Recommissioned body sat unmolested at Ferrari until
the 70's when noted Ferrari Collector and Dealer Joe Marchetti
bought it and had it on display as art work in his Facility in
Chicago. When he passed away it was acquired by Bob Fernando in
Kansas City who also displayed it. He sold it in the early 2000's
to Marc Spizzirri in California with a proper Elana Chassis with no
engine as a project. That is the Chassis # now on this TDF. A
proper inside plug engine and transmission were
acquired from Ash Marshall who had acquired it from Dick Merritt
out of a same year Boano that had raced in the Mille Miglia.
Spizzirri assembled the car with the idea of racing it but never
finished it completely. Car was bought by us and taken to Fast Cars
who performed a Concours Restoration to exact specifications.
Now complete; truly the LAST 14-louver 250 GT Berlinetta
Competizione built. Never damaged, never raced, and potentially, as
a no-mileage, literally new 1958 Scaglietti-bodied 250 GT Tour de
France, this will be an enviable asset and must-have vehicle for
any Ferrari collector.
