The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso is a
GT car
GT, Gt or G-T may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Games
* GT Interactive, an American video game developer
* GameTrailers, a video game website
* ''Golden Tee Golf'', golf video game
* ''Gran Turismo'' (series), a series of racing video games
...
which was manufactured by Italian automaker
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
from 1962 to 1964. Sometimes known as the GTL, GT/L or just Lusso, it is larger and more luxurious
[Lusso means "luxury" in Italian.] than the 250 GT Berlinetta. The 250 GT Lusso, which was not intended to compete in
sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing which utilises sports cars that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built prototypes or grand tourers based on road-going models. Broadly speaking, sports car racing is ...
, is considered to be one of the most elegant Ferraris.
[
][B. Laban, ''Ferrarissime'', 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, p.77]
Development
Keeping in line with the Ferrari "tradition" of that time, the 250 GT Lusso was designed by the Turinese coachbuilder
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. (short for Carrozzeria Pininfarina) is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder, with headquarters in Cambiano, Turin, Italy. The company was founded by Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930.
On 14 December 2015, the Indian mu ...
, and bodied by
Carrozzeria Scaglietti
Carrozzeria Scaglietti () was an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding company active in the 1950s. It was founded by Sergio Scaglietti in 1951 as an automobile repair concern, but was located across the road from Ferrari in Maranello outsid ...
. Although the interior was more spacious than that of the 250 GT, the 250 GT Lusso remained a two-seat GT coupe, unlike the
250 GTE. The car was manufactured for only eighteen months, from 1962 to mid 1964, and was the last model of Ferrari 250 GT generation.
Auto show
An auto show, also known as a motor show or car show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is attended by automotive industry representatives, dealers, auto journalists a ...
s often provide an opportunity for manufacturers to introduce new designs publicly. Ferrari did so at the 1962
Paris Motor Show
The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...
to unveil, as a prototype, the 250 GT Lusso.
The prototype was almost identical to the production version, and only minor details changed thereafter.
The new model was a way for Ferrari to fill a void left between the sporty
250 GT SWB and the luxurious
250 GTE 2+2,
[The 1950s were marked by the rapid evolution of road infrastructure, inducing increased demand for the faster and more balanced automobiles known as Grand Touring. Seating just two in the front and two in the rear, thus 2+2.] the Lusso met the new demands of the 1960s. Indeed, fans of sporting driving of the time became as fond of civilized designs, that is, comfortable and spacious, as they were of radical sports cars.
Ferrari did not skimp on details in the GTL, which shows on the scales; weight ranged from , depending on equipment.
[B. Laban, ''Ferrarissime'', 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, p.78]
Unusually brief for a Ferrari model, GTL's production began in 1962 and ended August 1964. According to a longstanding American expert on Ferrari,
Peter Coltrin, the construction of the 250 GT Lusso must have begun soon after the presentation of the prototype of the Paris Motor Show.
Although it was not intended to compete, the 250 GT Lusso made a few appearances in several sporting events in 1964 and 1965, such as the
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was a public road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near the island's capital of Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 ...
and the
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...
. The final iteration of the 250 GT series, 351 copies of GT Lusso were produced before being replaced by the
Ferrari 275 GTB
The Ferrari 275 is a series of front-engined V12-powered grand touring automobiles with two-seater coupé and spider bodies produced by Ferrari between 1964 and 1968. The first 275 series cars were powered by a 3.3 L (3286 cc) over ...
. (Note nomenclature change due to increase in engine cylinder capacity.)
Originally sold for $13,375, the 250 GT Lusso saw sales in 2021-2022 between $1.2 million to $2.1 million.
External appearance
![Ferrari 250 GT Lusso 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Ferrari_250_GT_Lusso_2.jpg)
Using certain aesthetic and aerodynamic features of the 250 GT and
250 GTO, Pininfarina led the design of the 250 GT Lusso,
[The 250 GT Lusso is also the first Ferrari model to have a crest on its Pininfarina body, usually maintained thereafter by the Turin designer.] regarded by many as one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made;
it attracted notable personalities of that time, such as
Steve McQueen
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
and
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...
.
As usual, the company
Carrozzeria Scaglietti
Carrozzeria Scaglietti () was an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding company active in the 1950s. It was founded by Sergio Scaglietti in 1951 as an automobile repair concern, but was located across the road from Ferrari in Maranello outsid ...
was responsible for the manufacturing of the body. The body was made of
steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...
with the exception of the doors, boot lid, and bonnet, which were made of
aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...
.
The stern of the body featured a small integrated spoiler; the 250 GTL became the first Ferrari to incorporate such aerodynamic appendages,
concluding with an abrupt
Kammback
A Kammback—also known as a Kamm tail or K-tail—is an automotive styling feature wherein the rear of the car slopes downwards before being abruptly cut off with a vertical or near-vertical surface. A Kammback improves aerodynamic drag, thus ...
rear.
[B. Laban, ''Ferrarissime'', 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, p.81]
The short rear is also characterized by a bezel that slopes down to the "tail" of the car.
The glazed surfaces, including the rear window and triangular quarter windows, provided good visibility.
[H. Lehbrink ''et al.'', ''Ferrari'', 250 GT Lusso, p.142/] The 250 GTL came with four round headlights in the front with the exception of a few versions, like an early London show car s/n 4335GT, that was used by
Battista Pininfarina
Battista "Pinin" Farina (later Battista Pininfarina; 2 November 1893 – 3 April 1966) was an Italian automobile designer and the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, a name associated with many well known postwar ca ...
himself, featuring two covered headlights and an elongated nose section, like on previous style Ferraris. Numerous details of the body are unique to the 250 GT Lusso, such as the rectangular air vent placed on the hood, curved wings, and chrome bumpers, which were mainly decorative and positioned vertically beneath the indicator lights.
Interior
![Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Inside](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Ferrari_250_GT_Lusso_Inside.jpg)
As a variation of the luxurious 250 GT, the 250 GT Lusso had a spacious interior, made possible by the forward position of the engine; this was an unusual design choice at the time for Ferrari, known for their sports cars which emphasized even front/rear weight distribution. As the car was only a two-seater, there was a fairly capacious boot space with a parcel shelf, covered in quilted leather.
While 250 GT Lusso was a civilized sport car, it was nevertheless "recommended in preference to young and flexible passengers" due to the fixed-position seatbacks. Despite this, the pedals were adjustable to , as in the racing versions.
[B. Laban, ''Ferrarissime'', 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, p.80] The design of the instrument panel, covered with soft and black leather was unusual; the
tachometer
A tachometer (revolution-counter, tach, rev-counter, RPM gauge) is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a calibrated anal ...
, with a red zone beginning at 8,000 rpm, and the speedometer were placed at the center slightly tilted towards the driver. Five additional gauges were positioned in front of the driver, behind the three-spoke Nardi steering wheel made of wood and aluminium, placed almost vertically.
[H. Lehbrink ''et al.'', ''Ferrari'', 250 GT Lusso, p.142]
Specifications
Chassis, brakes and suspensions
![Ferrari 250 GT Lusso 4](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Ferrari_250_GT_Lusso_4.jpg)
Contrary to the 250 GTE "2+2" which had a wheelbase of , the GT Lusso was built on a short wheelbase of , identical to that of the 250 GT Berlinetta.
The chassis was adopted from the tubular structure of the 250 GTO, but with narrower tubes.
[H. Lehbrink ''et al.'', ''Ferrari'', 250 GT Lusso, p.143]
The chassis could, according to
Brian Laban, author of ''Ferrarissime'', "brilliantly support the comparison with that of competitors".
At the level of suspensions, the 250 GT Lusso had double wishbones and coil springs at the front, while the rear suspension comprised a
live axle
A beam axle, rigid axle or solid axle is a dependent suspension design in which a set of wheels is connected laterally by a single beam or shaft. Beam axles were once commonly used at the rear wheels of a vehicle, but historically they have als ...
, leaf springs, semi-elliptical concentric coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers. Braking was provided by four-wheel disc brakes with hydraulic control, placed behind the polished aluminium
Borrani Ruote Borrani S.p.A. (established 1922 in Milan) is an Italian manufacturer of automobile and motorcycle wheels. They are known for supplying Rudge-Whitworth design centerlocking wire wheels to many Italian racing cars, sports cars and luxury car ...
wire wheels with
knock-off hubs, fitted with 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 tyres.
Engine and transmission
![1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Engine Compartment](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/1963_Ferrari_250_GT_Lusso_Engine_Compartment.jpg)
The 250 GT/L Lusso used a
Colombo-designed V12 engine with a displacement of .
This engine developed an output of at 7,500 rpm and torque at 5,500 rpm. It was able attain a maximum speed of , thus becoming the fastest passenger car of that period,
and required only 7 to 8 seconds to accelerate from .
Certain components such as the
valves
A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...
and the
crankshaft
A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating shaft containing one or more crankpins, that are driven by the pistons via the connecting ...
, were derived from the engine of the 250 GT SWB, while others, such as the
piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors, hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tig ...
s and the
cylinder block, were derived from the 250 GTE.
The engine was equally "civilized" as the interior, given that it was provided with just one overhead cam head through the cylinder bank, two chain driven valves per cylinder and three dual-barrel
Weber 36 DCS carburetors, compared to the twin-cam heads and six carburetors used on high performance models.
This V12 engine suffered major smoke emissions during high acceleration and vibrations around 3,700 rpm. This was the reason that
Steve McQueen
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
, angered by the smoke in spite of persistent engine repairs, sold his 250 GT/L in 1967.
[H. Lehbrink ''et al.'', ''Ferrari'', 250 GT Lusso, p.146] The gearbox was also subject of complaints since it was too high geared.
Heritage
Being the last representative of the
Ferrari 250
The Ferrari 250 is a series of sports cars and grand tourers built by Ferrari from 1952 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series includes many variants designed for road use or sports car racing. 250 series cars are chara ...
lineage, beginning in 1952 with the
250 S, the end of the production of the 250 GT Lusso in 1964 heralded the beginning of a new generation of Ferraris, increasingly luxurious and refined, such as the
Ferrari 275
The Ferrari 275 is a series of front-engined V12-powered grand touring automobiles with two-seater coupé and spider bodies produced by Ferrari between 1964 and 1968. The first 275 series cars were powered by a 3.3 L (3286 cc) overh ...
and
330.
The Ferrari 250 GT Lusso also marked the conclusion of a marketing strategy of
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari (; 20 February 1898 – 14 August 1988) was an Italians, Italian motor racing driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari ...
, according to which "Ferrari racing cars were sold, for car racing lined with the traffic, so that it can make the race competitive".
[B. Laban, ''Ferrarissime'', 250 GTE (250 GT 2+2), p.59] Thus, Ferrari became a fully functional car manufacturer that attracted important customers interested in funding its passion for
motor racing
Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...
.
Notes and references
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
*
External links
Video of a Ferrari 250 GT Lussoon
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
.
Gallery of the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso: Ferrari History
{{Ferrari
250 GT Lusso
1960s cars
Grand tourers
Cars introduced in 1962