Chassis No. 5179 GT

Engine No. 5179

As the final model in the celebrated Ferrari 250 lineage, the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso embodied a decade of engineering excellence and racing triumphs, making it an instantaneously sought-after model from the moment it graced the 1962 Paris Salon. The fluid, Pininfarina-penned lines of the Berlinetta signaled clear attention paid by its designers to aerodynamics, with echos of the legendary race-winning GTO aft of the nose section.

A thrilling work of art from every angle, its masterful shape was characterized by a low-slung nose and distinctively protruding headlights giving origin to the curvaceous front fender line. The steeply inclined and curved windshield flowed into an airy and delicate canopy punctuated by a graceful Kamm tail. Decorating these perfect proportions were exquisite hand-crafted details from its competition-inspired egg crate grille and mesh hood intake, to its chrome three-piece front bumper and twin driving lamps. The Lusso's positioning as an up-market luxury model was ensured by its plush, leather-swathed interior featuring deep bucket seats and a capacious luggage platform with leather retention straps and a quilted cover panel.

Despite being intended as a supremely elegant tourer, the Lusso's sporting nature was undeniable thanks to its all-aluminum 3.0-liter short-block V12 engine breathing through three twin-choke Weber 36 DCS carburetors and producing 240 horsepower. Positioned further forward than in its stablemates for optimal cabin space, the compact powerplant was the final and most refined iteration of the Gioacchino Colombo-designed Tipo 168 engine – one of the most significant and universally celebrated engines ever to leave Maranello. Other components analogous to the fabled 250 GTO included four-wheel disc brakes, Koni shock absorbers, rear Watts linkage, and knock-off Borrani wire wheels.

This exquisite left-hand-drive Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta, chassis number 5179, is one of only 350 examples produced over a two-year period, completed on 7 November 1963. The Grigio Argento (181940 M) over Nero (VM 8500) Ferrari was initially dispatched via Chinetti Motors to Otto Zipper's renowned Los Angeles dealership in 1964. After a brief two-year period with its original owner, Peter Jennings, the Lusso returned to Zipper's showroom, where it would capture the heart of Larry Bloomer, president of the Ferrari Owner's Club, initiating a remarkable 46-year stewardship. In 2011, Bloomer commissioned a repaint by the esteemed professionals at Precision Auto Body in Los Angeles, emerging in a metallic maroon complemented by refurbished Borrani wire wheels. Inside, the center console and carpets were reportedly replaced, while mechanically, the engine is said to have been treated to a rebuild at approximately 73,200 indicated miles. In Bloomer's care, the Lusso enjoyed the full spectrum of passionate Ferrari ownership, ranging from a daily commuter to participant in prestigious events such as the 2011 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance.

Changing hands twice in the early 2010s, chassis 5179 was displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2014 before finding its way to England. It then passed to French ownership registered in Monaco, where it was returned to its original and highly attractive Grigio Argento livery complemented by Rosso hides. Extensive service records on file also indicate that the Lusso was the recipient of a major engine overhaul courtesy of Zanasi Group S.R.L. in Maranello, Italy in late 2021. This Lusso participated in several prestigious events, including the 2020 Tour Auto Optic 2000 and the 2021 Ferrari Tribute to the Mille Miglia, showcasing its eminent usability as a true grand tourer. The Lusso was also awarded all-important Ferrari Classiche certification in April 2022. The Classiche Red Book accompanying the car confirms that chassis 5179 retains its original matching numbers engine, and that the transmission is of the original type 539 U.

Boasting a known chain of owners, including long-term common ownership from 1966 to 2012, this outstanding 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta benefits from a wonderful recent cosmetic restoration and engine overhaul. The Lusso represents Ferrari's final and most luxurious model in the legendary 250 road car series, and this exquisitely-restored, Classiche-certified example presents a rare opportunity for Ferrari devotees to acquire and enjoy one of Maranello's most iconic Berlinettas.

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