A Fine Fettle of Ferraris at Salon Prive

This Pinin Farina-bodied 1953 Ferrari 342 America Coupe, chassis 0246AL, (one of only six 342 America series constructed), was built to the order of wealthy shipping magnet Franco Fessio of Genova.

This 1954 Ferrari 250GT Europa Vignale Coupe, chassis 0359, was the last new Ferrari to be bodied by Vignale. Commission by Princess Lillian de Rethy the second wife of King Leopold III of Belgium, the second of five Ferrari’s used by the Royal Household.

Delivered to the Princess on the 5th January 1955, it was finished in dark metallic green with a tan leather interior and a white vinyl clad roof.

The Princess also specified that a slightly inclined round opening be inset into the instrument panel. It is not known what she used the opening for, but it makes a fine place to store a bottle of Champagne.

1968 Dino 206 GT, chassis 0136, is the 19th example constructed and was sold new by the official Ferrari dealer of Milan ‘Crepaldi’. Four years later the Dino was purchased by an American serviceman who took her home to the USA.

In 1974 she was sold to Charles Sadek of Virginia who kept the car for 30 years. She then passed through the hands of various custodians before being restored in 2016.

1957 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spyder, chassis 0769GT, is the prototype of the series and was completed in December 1957. First owner George Arents drove the car for a few test laps and then refused to race it, declaring the car to be “undoubtedly the worst car ever to wear a Ferrari badge.”

Understandably the car was sold almost immediately. The owner in Puerto Rico raced the car, successfully winning the Puerto Rico Festival race and the De Diego Trophy at the Antilles race track.

This Pinin Farina-bodied 1953 Ferrari 342 America Coupe, chassis 0246AL, (one of only six 342 America series constructed), was built to the order of wealthy shipping magnet Franco Fessio of Genova. Shown at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show, Mr Fessio ordered that the car be constructed for use in rallies, so it was fitted with a high performance engine, larger fuel tank and a rally timer.

Mr Fessio did enter the Rallye Soleil Cannes. In 1954 it was exported to the USA where it remained for many years, returning to Europe for a short period of time in the 1990s, before returning to the USA where it has recently been fully restored by Patrick Ottis and Perfect Reflections in California.

One of only 14 built, this Ferrari 365 California Spider, chassis 9849, was delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in July 1967 and has remained in the USA for most of life. The car now resides in Europe forming part of a significant collection of 1960s Ferraris. Displayed as it was originally constructed in Bianco with Pelle Nera Franzi interior.

Supplied new to Harold Samuels by Col Ronnie Hoare’s Maranello Concessionaires via John Coombes Ltd, this 1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast, chassis 8897 SF, is the last example of the 36 built, and one of only 2 of the second series constructed in right hand drive. Mr Samuels stipulated that his Superfast be capable of reaching the model’s listed top speed of 170 mph…

… so Mike Parkes was entrusted with the task of testing the car, and it was Mike who sent the telex to the Colonel confirming his success. Later the car resided in several UK and European collections before coming under the custodianship of a Hong Kong collector who retained the car for 20 years. Now Ferrari classic certified the car was recently mechanically recommissioned by GTO Engineering.

Gianni Bertoni, the co-owner of the Berco machine manufacturing Company of Milan, took delivery of this 250GT Pinin Farina Coupe, chassis 1675, on the 13th February 1960. As displayed today, the coupe was finished in Grigio Conchigilia with Rosso hide interior. In 1964 it was sold to a Swedish friend of Mr Bertoni but was subsequently impounded by the Swedish authorities who had found the car to be full of drugs.

In 1991 during an overhaul the engine was stolen which later ended up being fitted into a 250GT SWB chassis 1993. In 2012 the then owner Jonas Liden managed to locate the original engine and reunited it with its correct chassis. following which the car underwent a full 100 point concours restoration.

This Ferrari 330 GTS, chassis 9155, is the second example constructed and the first built in right hand drive. Supplied by Maranello Concessionaires to Viscount Petersham and registered in November 1966. Subsequent owners included The Right Honorable the Lord Gerald Fitzalan- Howard. Now part of a select private collection, sharing garage space with a matching color 365 GTC.

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, chassis 10403, was supplied new in Italy and later spent many years in South Africa. During its current UK ownership, the car has participated in every retrospective Tour Auto and the Modena Cento Ore, plus various other classic events and concours. It is Ferrari Classic certified and with a detailed restoration history, the original tool roll, owners’ pouch and manuals.

Known in American parlance as a SEFAC hot rod, this 1961 250GT Berlinetta Passo Corto Competizione, chassis 2845GT, is unique being the only example fitted with hinged vent doors to provide fresh air into the footwells. Delivered new in August 1962, 2845 finished third overall in the Tour de France Auto and in October was entered in the Paris 1000 km.

In 2006 whilst being in the custodianship of the late Steve O’Rourke 2845 was shipped to Ferrari Classiche and completely restored with the original lighter gauge aluminum bodywork being reinstalled, following which the car was awarded full red book classification.

250 GT SWB chassis 2209 was delivered to Jo Schlesser who, sharing the car with Andre Simon, finished 3rd in the 1960 Paris 1000 km. In November 1961 Jo, sharing it with his wife, took 4th in the GT class of the Tour de Corsa. In November of ‘62 Gianni Roghi purchased the car and campaigned it with success during 1963.

In the late 60s the car was rebodied by Drogo after Gianni had had an accident. After several French owners the car was sold in the UK and rebodied with a SWB Berlinetta body.

Chassis 3367 GT is a steel bodied 250GT SWB street car originally supplied to a Swiss owner in March 1962. In June 1967 Mr Heinz Frieden of Balerna purchased the car, keeping it until around 1970.

In 1972 the car came to the UK when purchased by Peter Sugden, who owned it for some 35 years. Being a proficient racing driver, Mr Sugden applied various upgrades to improve the performance. The SWB was purchased by the current owner in 2014 and is now fully restored back into her original specification and Ferrari Classiche certified as a matching numbers example.

This 1961 250 GT SWB, chassis 3037 GT, was the sixth right hand drive example imported by Maranello Concessionaires. Originally finished in Rosso Corsa with a black leather interior and fitted with several competition features including racing seats and an outside quick release fuel filler cap.

After being displayed at the 1961 London Motor Show it was repainted metallic grey and used by the Colonel as his road car and demonstrator and road registered as PR99. The car was repainted again in 1962, this time in blue before being sold. A further repaint several years ago returned the car to Rosso Corsa.

This 1960 250 GT SWB chassis 1993 was the first car ordered by Colonel Ronnie Hoare’s Maranello Concessionaires, and is also the first example built in right hand drive, and one of only two built in semi comp specification with all the competition features in a thin gauge steel body.

The SWB was used by the Colonel as a demonstrator and also loaned to Jaguar during development of the E type and tested by Norman Dewis at the MIRA test track.

1962 250 GT SWB, chassis 3735 GT, was delivered by the factory on the 30th August 1962 and registered on Italian export plate EE 02131. Imported into the USA by Luigi Chinetti Motors and then onto Charles Rezzaghi, the official Ferrari dealer for San Francisco.

3735 GT then remained in the USA for the next 35 years before becoming part of the Alberto Garnerone collection in Italy in 1997, where it remained until 2014 before being sold to her current custodian forming part of his impressive collection based in Ireland.