It’s rare to find a Ferrari 250 GTE with such a clear and well-documented history: not just a name on a chassis plate, but a real story that covers different continents, careful ownership, and years of respectful maintenance.

This example, chassis and engine no. 4147, was delivered new in Italy on July 1st, 1963, and remained in the country with just three owners. During its early life, it received no fewer than six services at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, a detail that speaks volumes about the kind of care it received from the start — and one that’s increasingly hard to come by on this model.

In 1977, the car was exported to the United States, where it was purchased by John Carey, a symphony conductor based in New York. He would go on to keep the car for nearly 40 years, using and maintaining it privately until 2016. From there, it returned to Europe, this time to Germany, imported by Thomas Rosier, a known name in the classic Ferrari world. Shortly after its arrival, the car underwent a major mechanical service at Eberlein Ferrari in Kassel, with a detailed invoice of €14,500 on file.

In 2017, the engine suffered a valve seat failure, leading to a loss of compression. Rather than patch it up, the car was brought to Belgium in 2018, and the engine was fully rebuilt in 2019, restoring it to proper running condition.

At the same time, the body was stripped to bare metal and repainted in its original shade, Grigio Fumo, a subtle and elegant tone rarely seen today. Unlike many over-restored examples, this car wasn’t turned into a showroom piece. Instead, it was brought back to its original appearance with restraint and respect for its age and history. The original leather interior was preserved and lightly reconditioned in 2025, keeping its authentic feel without erasing its past. The bumpers were rechromed the same year to freshen up the exterior details.

Today, the car is in good working order, the kind of classic Ferrari that still feels alive and usable. It hasn’t been over-polished or stripped of character, but everything important has been done: the engine is strong, the paintwork is clean, and the mechanicals are in order. It’s a proper car for someone who values originality and wants to enjoy it on the road, not just look at it in a garage.

Private owner car – AD Sportscars acting as intermidiary