Chassis No. 5449 GT

Engine No. 5449

Transmission No. 259

Differential No. 263

Launched at the 1962 Paris Salon as a luxurious successor to the 250 GT coupe, the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso stands among Ferrari's most celebrated road-going models ever produced and represents the culmination of Ferrari's celebrated 250 GT lineage. Scaglietti's masterful execution of Pininfarina's breathtaking design resulted in coachwork marked by graceful lines, a distinctive egg-crate grille, sweeping fenders, and a classic Kamm tail, earning the Lusso its enduring status as one of the automotive world's most exquisite designs.

At the heart of the Lusso was Ferrari's acclaimed Tipo 168 U V12 engine, a compact, lightweight, all-aluminum masterpiece designed by Gioacchino Colombo. Delivering an impressive 240 horsepower through three twin-choke Weber carburetors, this powerplant masterfully balanced Ferrari's performance reputation with luxurious grand touring comfort. Complemented by four-wheel disc brakes, Koni shock absorbers, rear Watts linkage, and knock-off Borrani wire wheels, the Lusso's mechanical package became the standard by which all gran turismos were measured.

Documented by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini as the 251st example of the 350 250 GT Berlinetta Lussos built, chassis 5449 GT was dispatched to Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena in February 1964, with factory completion taking place on 25 March 1964. The following month, the car was delivered new to official Ferrari dealer Garage de Montchoisy SA in Geneva, Switzerland. The Lusso was originally finished in Grigio Argento (silver gray) with Nero (black) Connolly leather interior-a timeless combination it still wears today. Notably, the car retains much of its original interior hides, maintaining an authentic patina that only comes with carefully preserved factory upholstery.

The earliest history of the car remains undocumented until 1996, when it was sold by U.K. dealer Paul Baber to Peter Rae of Houghton, England. By August 1998, the Lusso had returned to Paul Baber who advertised it for sale with approximately 50,000 kilometers on the odometer. In 1999, the Ferrari found a new home with prominent collector Klaus Busch of Dreieich, Germany, who registered it on German license plates "OF-LT 250." It passed through two further German collectors via specialized dealers in the early 2000s before landing with its next long-term caretaker, Nico Aaldering of Gallery Aaldering in Brummen, Netherlands. In this ownership, the car received coveted Ferrari Classiche certification in September 2007, with its "Red Book" verifying that its chassis, body, Tipo 168 U engine, Tipo 539 U transmission, and Tipo 539 U differential are original and correspond with factory records.

In his care, the car appeared at the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Ferrari Club Luxemburg in 2009, followed by participation in the Ennstal Classic event in Gröbming, Austria, wearing start number 147. The Lusso was subsequently purchased by Andre Wilwert of Luxembourg, who registered it with license plate "LU 5501." In September 2014, Wilwert drove the car during the 80th Anniversary of the Grand Prix of Montreux in Switzerland, wearing start number 49. Wilwert would retain the car for nine years before selling it to the current owner in 2023.

A fully matching-numbers example, 5449 GT perfectly embodies the Lusso's perfect blend of design elegance and exhilarating performance, having proven its long-distance capabilities through participation in numerous historic driving events across Europe. Additionally, it benefits from a recent service that took place in October 2024, encompassing ignition system repairs including connector and impulse sensor replacement, partial wiring harness renewal, carburetor overhaul with gasket replacement, and thorough testing at a specialist Ferrari workshop in Monaco. A superb example of Maranello's golden era, this Lusso would make an outstanding centerpiece in any distinguished collection of Ferrari road cars.