1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L 'Lusso' Berlinetta
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina/Scaglietti
Chassis no. 5087GT
Engine no. 5087GT

"This new luxury Berlinetta has been developed from the car which allowed so many gentlemen to enjoy sports car performance. It boasts those characteristics valued by enthusiasts while also possessing the comfort required by the ladies." – Ferrari's brochure for the 250 GT Lusso.
Arguably the most beautiful product ever to carry the Maranello marque's prancing horse emblem, the 250 GT Lusso debuted at the Paris Salon in October 1962. Styled by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, the Lusso (Luxury) combined racetrack looks with new standards of passenger comfort. Beautifully proportioned, it blended a low-slung nose, reminiscent of that of the SWB Berlinetta, with a sculpted Kamm tail by means of some of the most exquisite lines yet seen on an automobile. Slim pillars and wide expanses of glass not only enhanced the car's outward appearance but made for excellent visibility and a pleasantly light and airy interior. "The design of the body was at once elegant and exciting and no other road Ferrari before or since has earned the same degree of enduring admiration for its aesthetics," declared Road & Track.
After Pininfarina had completed the prototype Lusso, production was entrusted to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, a smaller concern that specialised in building low-volume models for Ferrari. In total, 350 (including one prototype each from Pininfarina and Scaglietti) would be completed over the next two years, with deliveries of the production model commencing early in 1963. "Its proportions approach perfection, and the execution is faultless," enthused Car & Driver. "It makes for Grand Touring in the grandest possible manner..."
The Lusso's immediate antecedent had been the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB. Introduced at the 1959 Paris Salon, the latter was a true dual-purpose car, arguably more capable than any Ferrari before or since of coping equally well with the conflicting demands of racetrack and highway. The 'SWB' (Short Wheel Base) designation arose from a chassis that, at 2,400mm, was 200mm shorter than that of the standard 250 GT. Specifications could be varied to suit individual customers' requirements for either road or track, models supplied for competition use having lightweight aluminium-alloy bodies while the lusso road version came with a fully-trimmed interior and softer springing.
However, Ferrari's policy of building a single, dual-purpose race/road model did not survive long into the 1960s, the diverging requirements of the two markets necessitating greater specialisation in the form of the competition-only 250 GTO and the touring 250 GT Lusso. Built on a short-wheelbase chassis similar to that of the 250 GT SWB and 250 GTO, the Lusso was powered by Gioacchino Colombo's light and compact 3.0-litre V12. Ferrari's first in-house power plant, the supremely versatile Colombo V12 had debuted in 1947 as a 1.5-litre unit and would enjoy a remarkably long production life, finally bowing out in 4.9-litre quad-cam form in 1988. Breathing through three twin-choke Weber carburettors, this all-aluminium, two-cam, Tipo 168 unit produced 240bhp at 7,500rpm as installed in the Lusso, giving it a top speed of 240km/h and a useful 0-160km/h acceleration time of 19.5 seconds. Power was transmitted to the road via a conventional four-speed gearbox, and the power train was housed in Ferrari's familiar steel spaceframe chassis with oval main tubes. Suspension was conventional for the time: independent at the front by means of 'A' arms and coil springs, with a semi-elliptically sprung live axle at the rear.
The result was not only one of the best looking Ferraris ever made, but also, courtesy of its competizione antecedents, one of the most rewarding to drive. "Driving a Ferrari smoothly is always easy; the Lusso is no exception," proclaimed R&T. "The gearshift moves like the proverbial stick in a bowl of whipped cream, and the smooth clutch combines with the 12-cylinder engine's buttery delivery of torque to make it nearly impossible... to stall the engine when moving off from rest." R&T found that the Lusso's steering was lighter than one would expect and remarked on its smooth, predictable, and forgiving handling. They were also much impressed by the powerful servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes.
An important milestone in the Maranello marque's history, the 250 GT Lusso was the last of the long-running 250 series that had done so much to cement Ferrari's commercial success, and a most fitting finale to this remarkable family of Ferrari road cars.
The Lusso we offer, chassis number '5087', is the 119th of the 350 units built. Completed on 27th September 1963, the car was displayed at the 50th Annual Paris Motor Show held at the Grand Palais. Originally finished in the unusual combination of Nero (Black) with Beige Scuro (dark beige) Connolly leather interior, the Lusso was sold by Franco-Britannic Autos Ltd to first owner Gaston Burger, a French industrialist resident in Reuil-Malmaison. The Ferrari was registered on French plates as '5686 FA 75'. Burger kept the Lusso for only a couple of years before trading it back to FBA, who sold it to the second owner, a Mr Beaudoin, in May 1966. The accompanying Massini Report records several changes French registration into the 1980s; indeed, this Lusso has been resident in France for its entire life.
In 1993, '5087' was offered for sale at an auction in France where it was purchased by the last private owner. The Ferrari was in a very good state of conservation but required some work to improve its usability, which was carried between 1993 and 2006. It is worthwhile noting that this car has a totally original body, having never been in an accident. This point is very important because the front part is almost impossible to repair properly and many examples of the 250 GT Lusso have a more or less deformed front as a result. In 1997 the sills and wing entrances were changed because of corrosion. Since acquisition the Ferrari has been driven sparingly and kept in excellent condition in secure storage. It has been maintained by recognised specialists and exercised regularly, without ever being inactive for lengthy periods (details in the Massini Report). Events participated in with the current owner include the Tour Auto Optic 2000 (1994, 1996, 2002); Rallye du Maroq Classique (1995); Coupe des Alpes (1996); VIII Tour España (2006); and the Chantilly Arts & Concours (2015).
In December 2021 all the mechanical parts were overhauled and the engine was the subject of a total restoration (costing more than €30,000) carried out by the great French specialist, Tissier. The car is now in 'close to new' condition. At time of cataloguing Ferrari Classiche certification was underway at Ferrari Eberlein in Kassel, Germany. The car comes with a substantial history file containing among other items, copies of the factory build sheets, the aforementioned Massini Report; various magazines reporting on its last sale; and numerous invoices from Charles Pozzi (Ferrari France).
A rare opportunity to acquire a model - seldom offered for sale - that is not only one of the most beautiful and exclusive Ferraris ever made, but also one of the most enjoyable to drive and own: the 250 GT Lusso.