The Ferrari 250 is a series of sports cars from the 1950s and early 1960s. It was the company's most successful early line of vehicles, produced for over a decade from 1953 to 1964 and spawning countless variants. The 250 was replaced by the 275. The most celebrated 250 is the 1962 250 GTO, a true supercar that spawned countless imitators.
Similarities
Most 250 road cars share the same two wheelbases, 2400 mm for short wheelbase (SWB) and 2600 mm for long wheelbase (LWB). Most convertibles used the SWB type.
Nearly all 250s share the same engine: The Colombo Type 125 V12. At 2963 cc, it is not a large engine, even for the time, the output (up to 280 hp) was impressive, and the light engine propelled the small Ferrari racing cars to victory after victory.
Collectability
The 250 series is the most celebrated and valuable of all Ferraris. With its numerous low-production models and racing success, various 250s will make up most of any "most valuable Ferraris" list. The GTO, Testa Rossa, LM, and Monza all command US$2,000,000 or more today.
250S
The first in the 250 line were the 1952 250S berlinetta and spider. They introduced the 3-litre Colombo V12 with 230 hp and shared a short 2250 mm wheelbase.
250 Export/Europa
The 1953 250 Export and Europa were the only of the family to use a different engine. They shared the 2963 cc Lampredi V12 designed for Formula 1 use.
250 GT
From 1954, Ferrari introduced the 250 GT series. Available in coupe, cabriolet, spider, and berlinetta forms, numerous vehicles shared this name.
In 2004, Sports Car International named the 250 GT SWB number seven on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.
250 Monza
Four special 250 Monza cars were built in 1954.
250 California
Designed for export to America, the 1957 250 California was a spider.
250 GT passo corto
250 GT 2+2
250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
In 2004, Sports Car International named the Lusso number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.
250 Testa Rossa
One of Ferrari's most famous racing models was the 250 Testa Rossa of the 1950s. 34 were built, from 1956 through 1961. After the 250 GTO, the 250 Testa Rossa is the second most valuable Ferrari model, often valued at more than US$5,000,000.
250P
The 250P racer was almost entirely unrelated to the other 250 cars. It was a mid-engined sports car racer with a Testa Rossa engine. The car was produced in 1963 and won the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the manufacturers championship. The first mid-engined production car did not arrive until the 1967 Dino.
250 LM
32 250 LM models were built in 1964 and 1965.
330 America
A 250 in all but name, the 1963 330 America shared the outgoing model's chassis if not its engine.
References
