Ferrari 250 GTE Series I by Pininfarina
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Automobilhersteller : |
Ferrari |
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Modell: |
250 GTE Series I by Pininfarina |
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Jahr: |
1959-1963 |
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Art: |
Coupe |
Just six months after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the 1960 Paris Salon, Ferrari formally introduced the course marshal’s car to the public. As the 250 GTE was the first four-seater ever to be “mass-produced” by the company, it represented Ferrari’s ever increasing attention to their road car division. However, the company would certainly not turn its attention away from motorsport, nor would it leave development and engineering from motorsport out of its road cars. As the 250 GTE shared the same wheelbase as the legendary 250 GT LWB Tour de France and was equipped with a similar Colombo V-12, it was capable of a top speed of just over 150 mph, proving to more traditional Ferrari clients that performance would never be compromised in a car from Maranello.
Those familiar with V-12 Ferraris of this era will notice that the 250 GTE stands slightly wider than its siblings. In order to make the car comfortable for four people, Ferrari’s engineers had to make several changes to the existing 250 platform, which included moving the car’s engine forward on the chassis and widening the track of all four wheels. This made the 250 GTE much more comfortable for those sitting in the back, as well as for those sitting in the front seat. With coachwork designed by Pininfarina, the 250 GTE’s design was not only that of stately elegance, but it was also easily recognisable as a Ferrari, making it a sporting automobile in every sense of the word.Pirelli Cinturato 185VR15 tyres (CA67) were original equipment.
Engine output was listed at 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp).
954 GT/Es were constructed by Pininfarina with prototypes starting in 1959 and continuing through three series until 1963. The model was followed by the visually similar 330 Americas.
The large production run of the GT/E was a major contributor to Ferrari's financial well-being in the early 1960s. All these changes undoubtedly lead to the 250 GTE’s success as Ferrari’s best-selling model ever at the time, helping to put the brand in the public spotlight and put Ferraris in the garages of well-heeled individuals who might not have otherwise bought a more competition-focused automobile. Over its four years of production and three slightly different model variants, Ferrari produced 954 examples.
