Although Enzo Ferrari founded the marque bearing his name on competition cars, road models assumed greater importance by the late 1950s as a means of financing the Scuderia’s many racing commitments. Developed to entice buyers seeking a fast, handsome, and luxurious grand touring car with seating for up to four, the 250 GTE is historic as Ferrari’s first 2+2 road model. Sharing a 2,600 mm wheelbase chassis with Ferrari’s contemporary two-seat Berlinettas, the 250 GTE featured a wider front and rear track and forward engine placement, yielding enhanced comfort. Powered by the famed Colombo V-12 engine delivering 240 factory-rated hp with three Weber twin-choke carburetors, the 250 GTE included a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive. Underpinnings included double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers up front, and a rear live axle located by leaf springs and telescopic shocks, plus four-wheel disc brakes. Performance was, and remains, exhilarating with top speeds reaching 140 mph.

The 250 GTE debuted at the 1960 Paris Motor Show and production ran through 1963, with a total of 954 examples of the model built over three series. Numbered 4753 GT, this late-production Series III example is an original left-hand-drive model with metric instruments. Purchased new in Milan, it was subsequently exported to California and registered there. In 1973, Californian Frank Gott Storey became its next known owner, before it was acquired by Ed Swart via Mike Sheehan in 1986.

A prolific racing driver since the 1960s, Swart entered 4753 GT in the 1988 La Carrera Classica III road race from Ensenada to San Felipe, Mexico, finishing 10th in Class. Following a historic race at Riverside shortly thereafter, the GTE was garaged until 2007, when a long-term restoration commenced. A bare-metal color change from the original Grigio Scuro (Dark Gray) to Rosso Corsa (Racing Red) was carried out, and the interior was restored including the Italian leather upholstery. The 3.0-liter V-12 engine was professionally rebuilt at Gran Touring Classics using special high-lift camshafts acquired from Roelofs Engineering at significant expense. Other restoration highlights included a new stainless exhaust, rebuilt KONI shocks, and rebuilt disc brakes, plus a rebuilt water pump, radiator, and cooling fan. Borrani wire wheels, refinished and fitted with correct new Pirelli radial tires, crowned the restoration, which was completed in February 2019.

Sparingly driven since restoration, the 250 GTE earned the Gold Award at the 2019 FCA Concorso Ferrari at the San Marino Motor Classic in California. A spare wheel, tool bag, two sets of keys, and owner’s manual are included, along with mounted 1963 California black plates. A selection of restoration photographs and copies of articles on the car and its restoration are also included. Part of the 60-year racing career of Ed Swart, 4753 GT is a wonderful V-12 Ferrari grand tourer and a touchstone to Ferrari’s inaugural 2+2 model line.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1964
and as 250GTE4753.