PROVENANCE
Ervin and Mary Salak, North Palm Beach, Florida (acquired circa 1975)
Fernando Freire, Miami, Florida (acquired from the above in 1977)
Current Owner (acquired from the above)

LITERATURE
Hilary A. Raab Jr., , chassis no. listed on p. 60
Kurt H. Miska, , chassis no. is listed

THIS CAR
An Italian of inimitable style, the 250 GT Lusso combined the finest qualities of Pininfarina design and Ferrari performance in one exceptionally versatile package.

As the last production 250 GT model, the Lusso was the culmination of a decade of steady chassis development and benefited from a rugged yet compliant suspension, four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, and Ferrari’s brilliant three-liter V-12. Though the Lusso was designed for civilized road use, more adventurous owners demonstrated its motor-sport heritage with successful outings at the Targa Florio, the Tour de France, and the Spa sports car races.

The Lusso’s exquisite coachwork, designed by Battista “Pinin” Farina and constructed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, has always received great acclaim. As Chuck Jordan of the General Motors Styling Department famously remarked, “Pininfarina’s Ferrari Berlinetta Lusso exhibits for all time that transformation of form and function into the spiritual presence by which great art transcends mere art.”

Just 350 of these elegant Ferraris were built between 1963 and 1964. Their splendid design, outstanding driving experience, and association with some of the most glamorous personalities of the 1960s have contributed to their revered status among collectors and aficionados.

Regarded as an automotive great from the outset, the Lusso has always been a desirable Ferrari. The vast majority of examples are accounted for, most residing in major collections or long-term ownership. This universal reverence for the model makes the car presented here particularly fascinating; 5201 GT has been virtually unknown to the Ferrari community and is being presented publicly for the first time in over 40 years.

The history of 5201 GT can be traced back to November 1963, when it was completed at the Ferrari factory. According to the research of historian Marcel Massini, 5201 GT was originally finished in the rare and handsome color scheme of (Black, Italver 18929) with (Gray) Connolly leather upholstery.

In early 1964, the new Ferrari was delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors and, while little is known of its earliest years, by the mid-1970s, the Lusso had been acquired by Ervin and Mary Salak, residents of North Palm Beach, Florida. In May 1977, Fernando Freire of Miami purchased 5201 GT from the Salaks and registered the car in his company name, T.S.I. Management Corp. Last registered and regularly driven in 1978, the Lusso has been retired from use for the past four decades, vanishing from the public eye.

Gooding & Company is thrilled to present this important Ferrari at auction for the first time in its history. Today, 5201 GT remains in as-found, unrestored condition, though it was repainted silver and re-trimmed in red leather in the late 1960s or early 1970s. As a result of its lengthy static storage, this Lusso has seen little use over the past 54 years; the odometer displayed just over 32,000 miles at the time of cataloguing.

The Ferrari still retains its important major components, and the chassis and engine stampings – along with the factory data tag – present in fine original condition. The internal numbers visible on the engine (1748/62E) and rear differential (170) are appropriate for 5201 GT’s build sequence, and the chassis number is stamped in several locations on the bodywork, as well as penciled inside the door cards and on the bottom of the seat cushions.

The Lusso is offered with a partial original tool kit and several boxes of spares, and it possesses a variety of charming details including a period Blaupunkt radio, 1975-issue Florida license plate, and a large Scuderia Ferrari decal.

Significant 250-series Ferraris in this condition are incredibly rare; it is increasingly unlikely that many unrestored Lussos are still in hiding, waiting to be found. Chassis 5201 GT presents its new owner with an exciting opportunity to acquire an iconic Ferrari that can either serve as an ideal basis for a complete, concours-quality restoration or one that could be enjoyed in its current cosmetic condition following a careful mechanical recommissioning.

For the collector who has been searching for a distinctive, fresh-to-market Lusso, this is that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.