An Italian gran turismo of inimitable style, the 250 GT Lusso combined the finest qualities of Pininfarina design and Ferrari performance in one exceptional 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 sports heritage with successful outings at the Targa Florio, Tour de France, and Spa sports car races.

The Lusso’s exquisite coachwork, designed by Battista “Pinin” Farina and constructed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, has always enjoyed widespread acclaim. As Chuck Jordan of GM’s 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.”

In total, just 350 of these elegant Ferraris were built between 1963 and 1964. Their splendid design, outstanding performance, and association with some of the most glamorous personalities of the 1960s have contributed to their revered status among aficionados. Regarded as an automotive great from the outset, the Lusso has always been a desirable Ferrari. Marque historians have carefully traced the whereabouts of these cars over the past decades and most examples are accounted for, generally residing in major collections or long-term ownership.

The history of this Lusso, chassis 5215 GT, can be traced back to November 1963, when it was completed at the Ferrari factory. According to the research of historian Marcel Massini, this mid-production Lusso, the 168th of 350 examples built, was originally finished in the classic Ferrari color scheme of Rosso (Red, Italver 19374) with Nero (Black) Connolly leather upholstery.

The Lusso’s first owner, George Jewett Jr., an esteemed Ferrari enthusiast, acquired it new in 1964 through official California concessionaire Charles Rezzaghi. According to copies of Mr. Jewett’s notes on file, he eventually sold 5215 GT to Charles Crocker, presumably an heir to the famous San Francisco family. The Lusso evidently resided in California’s Bay Area for the first 15 years of its existence as it was subsequently owned by Ferrari enthusiast Thomas Pelandini of Moraga and Paul Uenaka of San Jose. In 1986, the Lusso was sold to well-known Ferrari collector Joseph Galdi of Tucson, Arizona, who immediately commissioned Harley Cluxton’s Cavallino Classics to perform a bare-metal, cosmetic restoration. Upon completion in 1986, 5215 GT graced the pages of Road & Track’s special Ferrari issue, as it was featured in an article titled, “A Thing of Beauty,” by Ken Gross.

Following 18 years of ownership, Mr. Galdi sold the Lusso and it returned to Northern California in 2004 under new ownership. Three years later, the Ferrari was acquired by Vic Branstetter of Los Angeles, who displayed the car at the FCA Ferrari Concours at Concorso Italiano in August 2007.

Following this showing, 5215 GT was treated to a nut-and-bolt restoration overseen by Tiamo Motorcars of Costa Mesa, California. During this process, the body received a bare-metal repaint in the current burgundy shade, the interior was reupholstered in correct-type Connolly leather, the engine was detailed, a new exhaust system was fitted, and various systems, including steering, suspension, and brakes, were rebuilt.

Since this high-quality restoration was completed in 2009, the Lusso has been owned by prominent Ferrari collectors and has benefited from an engine rebuild, performed by the marque experts at Motion Products Inc. in Neenah, Wisconsin, and received Ferrari Classiche certification. Acquired by the current caretaker in 2014, the Lusso has been shown selectively and fastidiously maintained. At the Ferrari Annual Meet in June 2014, it earned a Platinum Award and, in 2015, it was exhibited at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, Florida, and the exclusive Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® – a rare feat for a Lusso and a testament to its outstanding quality. Remarkably, 5215 GT has not been exhibited anywhere in the past seven years, allowing its next owner to take part in the most selective concours d’elegance and FCA events.

Consistent with its magnificent, show-quality condition, the Lusso is accompanied by a tool roll, owner’s handbooks, Ferrari Classiche Red Book, and an extensive history file that contains a Marcel Massini report, copies of the factory build sheet and certificate of origin, as well as voluminous restoration and service records.

Delivered new to California, illustrated in the pages of Road & Track magazine, beautifully restored to Platinum Award-winning standards, Ferrari Classiche certified, and meticulously maintained under knowledgeable enthusiast owners, 5215 GT is an extraordinary Lusso that will impress even the most discerning Ferrari collectors.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1964 and as 250GTL5215.