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Ferrari 250 Europa GT – #0427 GT

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This Ferrari 250 Europa GT will look familiar to our regular readers: we have already presented it twice, once as an example of the difference between a Ferrari 250 Europa and a Ferrari 250 Europa GT, here. And then it can also be found in our collection of 250 Europa GTs, here, at the bottom, because #0427 GT is the last 250 Europa GT built. Now it is being auctioned again, but you can see that below.

VIN: 0427 GT
Engine: 0427

Auction: Bonhams, Paris 2025, no estimate so far, with these informations: «As one of the rare, desirable, stunningly beautiful Europa GTs by Pinin Farina, chassis no. 0427 GT claims exceptional pedigree with both period racing history and as a motor show car when new. According to the extensive history report compiled by renowned Ferrari historian Marcel Massini and the Ferrari Classiche department, 0427 GT began its life as a coachbuilt Ferrari with the chassis delivered to the Pinin Farina coachworks on September 26th, 1955, to receive the beautiful Europa Coupe bodywork as seen on the car today. 0427 GT is distinguished as the last Europa GT completed, featuring the fully evolved and further advanced GT upgrades, using coil spring suspension as opposed to leaf springs. It featured the type 508 chassis, and was fitted with engine internal no. 367, as fitted in the car today. The car was painted Grigio Metallizato LC40, with a Verde LC17 (green) roof, and trimmed in Pelle Connolly VM3108. 0427 GT was delivered new to famed Ferrari racing team and importer, Jacques Swaters’ Garage Francorchamps in January of 1956, and then displayed at the 1956 Brussels Motor Show, as the hottest new model from Maranello. Copies of original factory invoice, delivery paperwork and Certificate of Origin are on file, and Swaters was charged 3,000,000 Lire. Chassis 0427 GT remained with Swaters until 1957, when fellow Belgian Mr. W. Nilens purchased the car. On May 12, 1957, 0427 GT was then raced by Nilens at the famous Belgian circuit, Spa Francorchamps, with race #30 in the Grand Prix de Spa, and lovely archival photos are offered with the car, showing 0427 GT on track and in the paddock with the crew supporting it.
Chassis 0427 GT remained in Belgium under Swaters’s watch until 1966, when he exported it to the US, where Jude Holcombe & Richard F. Merritt of Bethesda, Maryland became the next owners. 0427 GT later went to another US collector, before going back to Europe in the 1990s, where it was offered for sale by Albrecht G. Guggisberg’s Oldtimer Garage in Toffen, Switzerland in 1998. By the early 2000s, the Ferrari was back stateside, owned by noted collector of significant European sportscars, Mr. Bruce Milner of Los Angeles, California. The car later went through the hands of Ferrari broker Tom Shaughnessy, before it was acquired by noted collector Mr. Scott Kreins of Saratoga, California, and then entrusted to award winning painter Brian Hoyt and his esteemed shop Perfect Reflections for a cosmetic restoration. The white color chosen as seen on the car today, was discovered as the base layer when the body was stripped to bare metal. During this time, the car’s matching-numbers Colombo V12 engine was rebuilt by Ferrari specialist Patrick Ottis, while Ken Nemanic’s Vintage Automotive Upholstery trimmed the interior using the well-preserved original interior as a foundation for authentic color, pattern and detail.
Once the restoration was completed, 0427 GT would be displayed at various concours events for the following years, including the Quail Motorsports Gathering event and the Cavallino Classic Ferrari event in Palm Beach, Florida. 0427 GT was later owned by a noted East Coast based collector, before being acquired by the most recent owner, a noted Swiss collector, who has since maintained the car in excellent order, while using it on many classic car driving events, including the California Mille.
Accompanying documentation supporting 0427 GTs incredible provenance includes of course Marcel Massini’s history report, period paperwork from the Italian authorities, copy of the original factory invoice and shipping paperwork from Ferrari, and the lovey photos taken of the car at Spa in 1957, and later in the early 1960s in Belgium. Photos are also available of the car before restoration, showing a very original, unmolested car. A very rare, original Ferrari 250 Europa sales brochure and an original Ferrari 250 GT owner’s manual are also offered with the car, in addition to a full toolkit in a proper leather roll. It is certified by Ferrari Classiche, and is offered with its red book, confirming that the car retains its original chassis, engine, body, suspension, brakes and other major components, while the gearbox is certified as having been replaced with an original period complying unit, and has been recently rebuilt under current ownership.»

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