Ferrari 250 GTE, the family car that funded the racing
By David Wheeler
430 pages, over 650 illustrations
Hardcover
Porter Press, Oct 2020
ISBN 978-1-913089-20-7
Review by Pete Vack
David Wheeler’s new book on the 250GTE checks off almost all the boxes which would qualify it to be one of the best single model books out there. It has (almost) everything one could imagine about the car, and I couldn’t help but smile as I read the book, the most complete, comprehensive, detailed and in depth one model book I have ever encountered. This indeed is the 250GTE “bible”.
A bit about Wheeler from the Porter Press website:
David Wheeler caught the Ferrari bug in 1961 and fell in love with the first GTE he saw at that year’s London Motor Show. It took more than 20 years for him to acquire his first Ferrari, though but following a successful career in engineering management he retired in 2005. This allowed him to pursue his real passion of researching the early Ferraris. He took over as editor and publisher of the quarterly 250 GTE newsletter in 2014 and has grown it into a full colour magazine with a worldwide circulation. The last few years have been dedicated to researching, photographing and collecting material for this definitive work on his beloved 250 GTEs.
Handsome photography abounds, such as this shot of sn 4303 by Dennis Garrity.
The idea for the book came about in 2016 when David Wheeler visited the vast Ferrari archives of Dutchman Jean Louis Bezemer, who co-founded the German Ferrari Club. Bezemer allowed Wheeler to borrow extensively from his archives; the book’s amazing depth and detail are due in large part to those files. And make no mistake, Wheeler’s book is as detailed as anything we’ve ever seen on any car. It is filled with clear descriptions, color photos, factory diagrams and build sheets, and years’ worth of knowledge accrued by 250GTE owners around the world. Hundreds of photos and descriptions of engines, transmissions, chassis, interiors, and bodywork put Wheeler’s opus in a class by itself.
Wheeler begins with the background, covering all too familiar but necessary ground, yet keeping it short and interesting. Following that he adds a multitude of sections and subchapters, each one extremely detailed.
Under Major components: engine, running gear, chassis and body Problems are highlighted, such as the infamous overdrive unit. Wheeler makes note of the oil problems associated with the four speed transmission combined with the overdrive unit. The oil needed for one was not the type needed for the other. Later cars finally solved the problem by having two different oil chambers. In the body section, we find that Pininfarina, despite a brand-new plant at Grugliasco, still made the major body panels largely by hand, using power hammers and bucks. Stampings were used for the smaller parts and often farmed out. Furthermore, PF used fiberglass for soundproofing placed between two sheets of steel which comprised the floorboards. Soon the fiberglass became water soaked and caused the floorboards to rust. Hence, few 250GTEs have their original floors.
Ferrari humor, Brockbank style.
Development: Prototypes, launches, evolution, tech info and contemporary road tests In most books of this type, prototypes are only briefly mentioned. Wheeler writes each on up with many photos, history, differences, etc., serial number by serial number. This kind of effort was not only applied to the original prototypes, but the cars that served as the prototypes for the S2 and S3 models.
GTE stories: Preservation and restoration, ownership experiences, famous owners Great stories abound about a variety of 250GTEs. One is that David Wheeler’s father bought his first Ferrari, naturally a 250GTE, at the age of 92! In the restoration section, there is an interesting chapter on how to identify the various parts of a Ferrari, where the factory stamps are, and even a guide to clearly illustrate the font of the factory stamps, so that one can better determine the numbers and letters.
Most one marque books will happily show you where the serial number stampings are. But as they are often difficult to read, Wheeler has included a font display, so that the letters and numbers will be easier to decipher. Neat!
Two famous owners of note included in the book are VeloceToday contributor Alan Boe, who often shows up at Cavallino with 3339. Another famous owner was Kirk Douglas; but in noting this, Wheeler forgot to mention Douglas’s role as Gino in The Racers.
Under The wider world of GTEs, there are sections on the GTE in racing, art and models, a separate chapter on the 330 America, Replicas and replaced engines. Then prices to date, using charts and comparisons to other Ferrari models.
Historian Alan Boe owns this immaculate GTE, sn 3339.
The all-important serial number list is included in the indexes, and is fairly comprehensive, giving the chassis number, body number, steering side, body color and code, interior color, last known and notes of each of the 954 250GTEs built. Wheeler also includes the 50 330 America serial numbers and color options and finishes of all the 250GTEs.
So, what is it missing? A chapter on maintenance and the parts associated with normal maintenance. Plugs, oil filters, air filters, lights, fuses, best anti freeze, best oil, taillight lenses, signal light switches, dash lights, gauge replacements, all hoses belts, rubber items, brake parts, etc. Points, distributor cap, generator and starting motor brushes, gaskets. Where to find them and what they cost today.
However, along with a copy of the book came the Ferrari Register and Newsletter, also edited by the industrious Wheeler. And here was another simply awesome example of depth and detail. It would be in this quarterly publication one would find information about all maintenance items, even down to what kind of sleeves were used on the inner tube! One might assume that if one has the book, one will also subscribe to the newsletter and get the latest on parts information and maintenance.
Wheeler found some great historical photos. Here we have Hill and Ginther. A free subscription to VT for the first to tell us who is in the middle.
But wait, didn’t we report on another 250GTE book just a while back? Well, yes. https://velocetoday.com/ferrari-250-gte-book-review/ but Ed Heuvink/ Yvo Alexander’s book, as stated, serves as a primer at 288 pages, and was published before Wheeler got his more complete effort to press. Wheeler, however, has created what will probably be the last word on the 250GTE, and is a whopping 430 page volume covering almost all bases.
The newsletter and register began in 1984, has plenty of information about parts and maintenance, and all back issues are available! Sign up with David@250GTE.com.
All sold out? Copies can be found at various sites and bookstores, and if you still are out of luck, get in touch with the author via vack@cox.net or David@250GTE.com.
Eleanor von Neuman is standing between Phil Hill and Richie Ginther
Hi Pete:
As you said, David Wheeler’s 250 GTE book is simply the best single model Ferrari book published, rivaled only by the brand new two volume GTO book from Porter Press in England written by James Page and Keith Bluemel. Yes, I’ve lived with a 250 GTE for 42 years and it has been a real treat. The 250 GTE is a great Ferrari that is finally having its “day in the sun”.
Alan
And you are our winner! Thanks!
Editor
I was in Seattle sometime in 1964-65 to visit my cousin Lee who had a Ferrari GTE. Two scenarios I remember while riding in the Ferrari involved trips to a service station where the car was a sensation. The first, a woman came to the driver’s window and asked if this was the new Mustang as she had seen the prancing horse in the grill. The second was another confused woman who parked her MG, walked clear around the Ferrari then told us it was the best looking Aardvark she had ever seen. She had been trick into doing that by the perfect chrome replica in Ferrari script that Lee had installed on the trunk lid. It of course said, “Aardvark.”