The Ferrari presented here is an undisputed masterpiece of automotive art – the one-of-a-kind 250 Europa GT Coupe Speciale, designed by the great Giovanni Michelotti and built by the legendary house of Carrozzeria Vignale. For decades, this magnificent and utterly unique car has been acclaimed as both a definitive example of mid-century Italian automotive design and a coachbuilt Ferrari of exceptional beauty and significance.

To fully appreciate this special Vignale-bodied Europa GT, it is necessary to recognize the extraordinary woman who commissioned it: Princess Lilian de Réthy of Belgium, one of Ferrari’s most important customers during the 1950s and 1960s.

Born Marie-Lilian Baels, the daughter of a prominent lawyer and industrialist, she was hired by King Leopold III of Belgium in 1939 to serve as a governess to his three young children whose mother, Queen Astrid, had perished in an automobile accident. A romance soon sparked between the king and Miss Baels and, in 1941, they were married in a private ceremony. She was immediately crowned Princess Lilian de Réthy, as the title of queen was not permitted under the circumstances of her non-royal lineage.

In 1950, King Leopold abdicated the throne in favor of his eldest son Baudouin and spent the rest of his life pursuing various passions: social anthropology, entomology, and automobiles. He also continued to acquire exquisite, high-performance sports cars, including a series of bespoke, custom-bodied Ferraris.

Prior to WWII, King Leopold had been a great patron of the Bugatti marque, owning several models including the legendary Type 59 Sports – a Grand Prix machine turned road-going sports car. After the war, he became a loyal Ferrari customer, acquiring a Pinin Farina-bodied 342 America, chassis 0234 AL, in 1953. Two years later, he purchased a 375 Plus, chassis 0488 AM, the only example built for road use, with elegant cabriolet coachwork by Pinin Farina.

Not only was King Leopold a VIP customer, but he also personally helped facilitate an agreement with Belgian tire manufacturer Englebert to supply tires to the Scuderia Ferrari racing team. His passion for high-performance machinery earned him the respect of Enzo Ferrari, who referenced the Belgian royal in his memoir, My Terrible Joys:

“He seemed to me to be a man who would have made a good engineer, a man gifted in technique and who bitterly regretted not ever having been able to follow his inclination… At the wheel, I found him courageous and able to confront danger with resolution and skill.”

Leopold’s wife Princess de Réthy also commissioned several Ferraris for her own personal use, including a Pinin Farina-bodied 250 GT Coupe, chassis 0751 GT, and a 330 GTC Speciale by Pinin Farina, chassis 09439.

The Ferrari 250 Europa GT presented here, chassis 0359 GT, was the first Ferrari that she ordered new. The second of only 43 Europa GTs built, this car was originally shipped to Carrozzeria Vignale in Torino, where it was assigned job no. 138.

In the early 1950s, Vignale designed and built custom coachwork for approximately 155 Ferraris, from the most exclusive road-going models to thoroughbred competition cars. Their success in producing winners on the racetrack and at leading European concours d’elegance is a testament to the vibrant collaboration between Alfredo Vignale and designer Giovanni Michelotti.

Alfredo Vignale likened himself to an artist working in metal. In a period when coachbuilders relied on skilled craftsmen, panel beaters, and wooden bucks, Vignale approached his craft as a classical sculptor would, responding to each new commission with the care and genuine excitement of a true visionary.

This unique approach worked wonders for Michelotti’s incomparable designs, which were always fresh, innovative, and brimming with flamboyant details.

Once Michelotti had arrived with a rendering, Vignale’s team would go to work, translating the drawings into metal. The results of their collective efforts are some of the most memorable custom bodies of the early 1950s.

The one-of-a-kind Coupe that Michelotti and Vignale created for Princess de Réthy is no exception. A unique design, this striking, two-passenger Coupe is defined by its impressive eggcrate grille, functional air vents decorated by chrome strakes, and subtle tail fins leading into tall, vertical taillamps. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Coupe is its canopy-like roofline, with a dramatic panoramic windscreen and wraparound rear glass giving the car a dynamic, sporting appearance. Viewed from any angle, the de Réthy Coupe was a gorgeous automobile, with voluptuous forms, beautiful lines, and compact, aggressive proportions.

The interior was pure Vignale, featuring luxurious appointments, bespoke equipment, and comfortable leather-upholstered seats. The metal dashboard, painted the body color, was outfitted with a full array of Veglia instruments, including a mediometer, flanked by various knobs, switches, and a locking glove box.

Originally finished in dark green metallic with a contrasting white roof and beige leather upholstery, the spectacular coachwork was finished off with a traditional Ferrari badge on the leading edge of the nose and the classic Vignale badges on the lower front fenders, highlighted by decorative chrome scripting.

A prime example of the coachbuilder’s art, this marvelous creation showcased the incredible attention to detail, quality construction, and old-world craftsmanship typical of Carrozzeria Vignale.

Completed in spring 1955, the Vignale-bodied Europa GT was delivered new to Princess de Réthy and registered in Belgium as “18578.” Later that year, 0359 GT was pictured in the annual Ferrari Yearbook and in a full-page color advertisement that Carrozzeria Vignale had published in Motor Italia.

The bespoke Ferrari remained in Princess de Réthy’s ownership until the early 1960s, when it was sold via Jacques Swaters’ Garage Francorchamps to Dr. Harvey Schaub of Sun Valley, California. A Ferrari enthusiast who owned several unique, one-off models including the famous Fontana-bodied 166 MM “Uovo,” Dr. Schaub owned 0359 GT for approximately two years before selling it to Jack Hawkins of Los Angeles.

In 1966, the famed Ferrari hunter Ed Niles acquired 0359 GT and had local Italian car specialist Sal di Natale refurbish the car, including a repaint in dark metallic red. Several photographs of the Vignale-bodied Europa GT wearing its period California black plates appear in Mr. Niles’ book, Adventures in Ferrari Land.

In June 1967, Mr. Niles advertised 0359 GT for sale, describing it as having “less than 60,000 miles” and asking $2,950. Later that year, the Ferrari was sold to George Wolfe of Laguna Beach, California, who, in turn, sold it to John and Grace Burlucki of Chantilly, Virginia.

In the late 1980s, Ferrari specialist Mark J. Smith discovered 0359 GT, repainted it in a dark green-gray, and sold it to noted Dutch Ferrari dealer and collector Fritz Kroymans. During his long-term ownership, Mr. Kroymans exhibited the Ferrari at several prominent European concours including Italia a Zandvoort (1995), the Ferrari 50th Anniversary celebration in Italy (1997), and the Concours d’Elegance Paleis Het Loo (2000). The Vignale-bodied Coupe remained a centerpiece of his collection until 2010, when it was acquired by noted collector Tom Price of California.

The current owner purchased 0359 GT later that year and commissioned the acclaimed Ferrari specialists Motion Products Inc. of Neenah, Wisconsin, to perform a concours-quality restoration with the goal of returning it to its original splendor.

Since this restoration was completed, the jewel-like Europa GT has earned a string of prestigious awards at leading international concours. Following a First in Class win at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, 0359 GT captured Best of Show honors at the FCA National Meet, First in Class at Villa d’Este and the Ferrari 70th Anniversary celebration in Maranello, as well as the Gran Turismo and Gerald Roush Memorial Cups at Cavallino Classic. These prestigious awards are a proud testament to this car’s elegant design and historical significance, as well as the exceptional quality of its restoration.

While 0359 GT made the rounds of the European concours circuit, the consignor took the opportunity to have it certified by the Ferrari Classiche Department. According to the consignor, Ferrari Classiche stamped the engine pad with no. 112, the engine’s type number, removed the existing internal number 319, stamped a new internal number 452, and subsequently issued a certificate of authenticity and Red Book for 0359 GT. Photos of the engine block, taken before and after this process, are on file and available for review.

The Ferrari Classiche Red Book accompanies the car today, along with an extensive history file that includes restoration records, copies of the factory build sheets, period photographs, and a detailed history report prepared by marque historian Marcel Massini, author of the definitive book Ferrari by Vignale. Also included with the sale are rare original pieces of factory literature including an owner’s manual, spare parts catalogue, and factory sales brochures.

Over the past decades, this exceptional Europa GT Coupe has been featured in countless books and articles on Ferrari, Vignale, and Michelotti, and yet it remains as fresh and exciting today as it did when first delivered in 1955. Leading Ferrari experts have professed their admiration for its striking one-off design and many top collectors have attempted to acquire this unique Vignale-bodied Coupe, though it has remained elusive, jealousl