1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Description

Ferrari Beverly Hills is proud to present this 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, chassis 4735 GT – a factory Verde Pino Metallizzato example with Pelle Beige (VM 3218) Connolly leather, Ferrari Classiche certified with its original chassis, engine, and gearbox.

Rather than a simple specification sheet, this car is offered with a narrative that begins at the heart of the 250 lineage. Built in August 1963 as the 84th Lusso produced, 4735 GT was completed in the same Verde Pino Metallizzato and Beige leather it wears today, a rare and quietly dramatic combination that flatters Pininfarina’s most delicate Gran Turismo shape. It was delivered new to Germany and shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show before being dispatched to Auto Becker in Düsseldorf, placing it immediately in front of the right clientele when the Lusso was still the latest word from Maranello.

From there, the car embarked on a thoroughly documented European life. By the mid-1960s it had moved to Italy, registered in Milan, before returning to the Alpine region in the early 1970s, residing in Switzerland and later seen in Austria on temporary plates. In 1979 it entered the hands of Old Cars S.r.l. in Vicenza and was driven by noted specialist Dino Cognolato, who used the Lusso at Ferrari Days in Modena in 1983 – exactly the sort of period enthusiast use collectors like to see in a V12 Gran Turismo rather than static storage. By 1985 it was back in Switzerland with collector Eric Traber, who had the car refinished, retaining its original Verde Pino with Beige upholstery and kept it in his stable for nearly two decades before it was sold via a Dutch dealer and exported to the United States in 2003.

Shortly after arriving in California, the Colombo V12 was entrusted to respected marque expert Patrick Ottis for a comprehensive rebuild, giving the engine a proper mechanical reset. The car passed through Fantasy Junction in the mid-2000s, then went to a New York owner before returning to Europe in 2011 under Belgian ownership. In 2015 the Lusso changed hands at auction to the previous owner, and in 2023 it was acquired by its current custodian, from whom Ferrari Beverly Hills now offers the car.

Ferrari Classiche examined 4735 GT in 2016, issuing the all-important Classiche Red Book that confirms the car retains its original Tipo 168 U 3.0-liter V12 and its original gearbox, with a replaced differential of the correct type and a completely original, unrepaired chassis structure. The suspension and brake components remain original to the car. The odometer currently shows 8,867 kilometers; as is typical for a 61-year-old, much-traveled Ferrari that has seen restoration work, the total mileage is best considered TMU, but the quality and continuity of the history file and mechanical work speak more loudly than the number on the dial.

Today, the Lusso presents in the same Verde Pino Metallizzato and Pelle Beige combination with which it left Maranello, a color pairing seldom seen even among this already limited model run. The paintwork is deep and even over straight panels, with crisp shut lines and excellent brightwork. Inside, the Beige leather has the right character for a serious collector: tidy and supple rather than over-restored, with some honest patina to the seat bolsters, steering wheel, and switchgear that aligns with the car’s long European life. The black upper dash, distinctive central Veglia instruments, and beige carpets all contribute to the understated, luxurious feel that gave the Lusso its name.

Mechanically, this car offers what Lusso buyers are really seeking: a numbers-matching 3.0-liter V12 with known specialist rebuild history, mated to its original gearbox and a correct rear axle. In typical specification the 250 GT Lusso’s Colombo V12 produces around 240 horsepower and is capable of nearly 150 mph, making it the fastest gentleman’s GT of its era.

This example benefits from a sympathetic upgrade to wider Borrani RW3801 wire wheels, which allow fitment of 205-section tires for a more planted stance, while still maintaining the correct period look. The car was originally delivered with narrower Borrani RW3690 wheels; the present setup is a reversible choice aimed at drivability rather than fashion.

Open the rear hatch and the car continues to tick collector boxes: the trunk houses a matching spare Borrani wheel and tire, with the correct type jack and an exceptionally complete tool roll laid out in its black bag with leather straps. The sale is accompanied by the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, the detailed provenance dossier tracing the chain of ownership from new, and an assortment of documentation that underpins the story told here.

Among approximately 350 250 GT Lusso examples built, collectors increasingly differentiate between “a Lusso” and “the right Lusso.” Chassis 4735 GT sits firmly in the latter category: factory-correct colors, confirmed matching-numbers major components, an original, unrestamped chassis, documented long-term European history including use by well-known Ferrari specialists, a high-quality engine rebuild by one of the marque’s most respected workshops, and Ferrari Classiche certification already in hand. Service records and restoration documents included with the car date back as early as 1989, providing thorough documentation of the car's provenance.

For the collector seeking a blue-chip 1960s Ferrari that can hold its own on both concours lawns and driving tours, this Verde Pino Lusso offers a particularly compelling proposition. Now available for acquisition. Inquiries welcome.