Fantasy Junction

Description

Click here to see this SWB in action!

1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition Reconfiguration
s/n 3237, engine no. 3237
Yellow with Black Interior

Ferrari sports racing cars of the 1950s and 1960s are among the most desirable, beautiful, and valuable cars in existence. Dominant in racing, a pleasure to drive, and highly collectible, they are the holy grail in the collector car sphere and are now so valuable that they are rarely used, depriving the public and their owners of the joy of experiencing them. Consequently, high-quality reconfigurations using Ferrari mechanical components and faithfully recreate the construction of the original cars have garnered the interest of Ferrari enthusiasts and collectors seeking the experience of some of the most significant automobiles ever constructed without the multi-million dollar price tags.

The SWB is one of the most desirable and iconic vintage Ferraris, representing one of the last competition-oriented cars that could also be used on the street. Highly effective GT racing cars, the SWB was clothed in stunning lightweight bodywork styled by Pininfarina, had disc brakes for the first time on a Ferrari, and was powered by Ferrari’s venerable 3 liter V12 producing nearly 300hp in competition tune. The chassis was capable and well-sorted and the combination made for an outstanding competition car, and indeed the SWB won Ferrari the 1961 GT Class Constructor’s Championship.

This car captures the ethos of the SWB, providing a visceral aesthetic and driving experience that feels very special. This particular car was built from a 250 GTE Series II approximately twenty-five years ago by Ferrari restoration expert Chris Lawrence in the United Kingdom. The car retains its original engine, number 3237, which is fitted with 6 carburetors with velocity stacks. The gearbox is a 4-speed with functioning overdrive. The car’s configuration loosely replicates the SWB Competition specification, with alloy body, sparingly trimmed interior, outside fuel filler, and Plexiglas side and rear windows. The car was built so that its owner could drive the car in events without putting his original 250 SWB Comp car in harm’s way. The car eventually founds its way to Japan, and was imported to California in late 2014. It received a service costing more than $10,000 at Top of the Hill Performance in Livermore, California, which included the driveline (new axles), brakes, and routine engine service.

The car is cosmetically attractive and still presents freshly, despite having been painted some years ago. The paint was done to high standards and has good gloss, while the body is straight with excellent fit and gaps. There is one area of surface bubbling on the front left fender ahead of the door gap, and there are two areas of bridging on the left rear fender. The bright trim is excellent other than some pitting on the door handles, and the car sits on Borrani wire wheels with Michelin XWX tires. The car has Marchal headlamps and driving lamps in excellent shape, as are the remaining lights and glazing.

The interior is excellent, with high quality leather upholstery with slight mellowing but beautiful presentation and workmanship. The carpets are in excellent shape, and the wrinkle painted dashboard is purposeful and attractive. The instruments and switches are excellent, as is the light colored perforated headliner. The steering wheel is excellent other than some fading to the horn button. Overall, the level of craftsmanship and condition of the interior is impressive.

The engine compartment is very impressive thanks to the six Weber carburetors with velocity stacks. The engine, firewall, and inner fenders are clean and nicely detailed and the car is equipped with headers. The trunk is clean and sparsely trimmed. There is a matching full-sized spare wheel and tire and space for some luggage as well.

The car is a pleasure to drive. The doors are light, immediately signaling the competition spirit of the car. The interior is fully but sparsely trimmed, with only the most essential driving-oriented components. The engine starts on the push of the key, and runs well with good carburetion and linear power delivery. It has a tractable character that makes the car well-suited for road use, and the combination of relatively close gear ratios and functioning electric overdrive provide for good acceleration and reasonable cruising capability. The suspension is firm and direct, providing good body control. The steering is precise and well-weighted and the brakes are effective and reassuring.

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a well-sorted and usable SWB recreation. Registered as a 1962 Ferrari, this car has its original engine and would be eligible for any event for which a 1962 250 GTE would be, and increasingly, more events as these recreations become increasingly appealing as original Ferraris becoming increasingly costly. A pleasure to drive, the car would make an interesting and enjoyable event car and represents strong value, providing a substantially similar experience to a genuine SWB at a small fraction of the price.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608