Almost single-handedly, the 250 transformed Ferrari. When the model was launched, Ferrari in the midst of the year during which they would produce more than 50 cars for the first time, and when the 250’s production run ended 11 years later in 1964, the company was making more than 500 cars a year. The 250 was largely responsible for this change and more than two dozen variants were made, ranging from elegant touring cars to some of the greatest racing cars of all time.
The 250 GT Lusso was among the last of these numerous variants and was a fitting culmination of the dynasty, combining stylistic and technical elements from other 250 variants, including the 250 GTO, with which it shared its rear suspension design. The Lusso’s name, which translates to “luxury” in English, reflects the bifurcation of its predecessor, the 250 GT SWB into two models: the road-oriented Lusso and the GTO. By the standards of a race car manufacturer like Ferrari, the Lusso was luxurious: it had a fully leather trimmed interior, reasonable space for occupants and luggage, and a light, airy greenhouse with slim pillars. But it was still very much a Ferrari, as evidenced by its technical specification, which included the Colombo V12 whose power peak occurred at 7,500 RPM, disc brakes all around, and the supremely elegant yet also sporting Pininfarina styling. Produced for brief 18 month period, just 350 Lussos were built and have always been regarded as among the most beautiful Ferraris ever built.
This particular Lusso was completed on the 3rd of December, 1963, finished in Grigio Notte (night gray) with black leather inteiror. It was sold new on the 30th of December by its original supplying dealer, Fontanella & C. in Turin, to Lamberto Bellani, then 36 years old, who would be the long-term President of the bank Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo. The car was serviced at the factory several times, including in February and November of 1964, and in June of 1965.
In August of 1967, the car’s Italian plates were canceled and the car was exported to the United States by Viviano Coarradini, a dealer with bases in both Milan and New Jersey. It was owned for about a decade by a New Jersey resident who painted it red. The car’s third and current owner purchased it in 1977 after seeing it advertised in the San Francisco Chronicle. He and his wife met the seller at the legendary (and now closed) Hippopottamus Hamburgers at 2025 Van Ness Avenue, and while they weren’t allowed to drive the car, the seller took them both (squeezed into the passenger seat) for a spirited ride in the city that persuaded them to buy the car.
The seller insisted on cash and so the next day, after considerable effort at the bank, the buyers produced $17,000 in cash, which the seller and his wife stuffed into their matching cowboy boots before riding off on their motorcycle.
The current owner drove the car for many years before finally embarking on a comprehensive restoration in the late 2000s. The work was performed by a who’s who of marque specialists in the San Francisco Bay Area, including paintwork by Bryan Hoyt’s shop Perfect Reflections, and Patrick Ottis Company for the driveline. Every system was restored or renewed with utmost attention to detail and correctness, down to the coiled lead wheel weights. The owner selected the timeless color combination of blu sera with red leather inteiror.
Since the restoration, the car has been used sparingly, stored in a climate-controlled environment, with regular running and servicing, and remains extremely fresh in its presentation. It comes with a binder documenting its history, Massini report, and reproduction tool roll.
