250 SWB numbers

Hi, does anyone how many steel body were made?

 

Assuming you are enquiring about the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, the approximate figure from number of sources is 90 with a roughly 55% steel - 45% alloy split. The steel bodied cars have aluminium doors, boot and bonnet and some of them have aluminium floors. Some of the alloy competizione cars have lighter gauge metal.

 

Yes, I was referring to the SWB thanks. Is there a reason why most clients went for the Lusso spec?

 

Ferrari often launched a new GT Competizione Coupe, the Tour de France, SWB and GTO, come to mind and they were intended purely for competition but always within 18 months of production starting there was pressure for GT spec cars. All of them, except the GTO, would eventually be widely available fully trimmed and with steel bodies and (in the case of the SWB) with detuned engines on request. The Competizione spec cars peaky engine, fragile body, lack of sound protection and interior would make for a poor road car. SWB road car make up most of the 1961 production numbers and all of the 1962/63 production while the GTO was available for those that wanted to race. And FWIW the SWB was not the most expensive Ferrari road car at the time, the 400SA was $18k, GTO also $18k, SWB roughly $13k, California $14k and GT 2+2 around $11k in the USA.

 

Thanks for the great explanation

 

The 250 GT LWB Berlinetta (Tour de France) was never available with a steel body.

 

Actually, if you think about it, more clients went for the Competizione version, as the GTO was simply the 1962 and later version of the 250 GT SWB Competizione Berlinetta.

 

But the GTO uses the TR's engine. Is it fair to compare the SWB to the GTO?

 

Ferrari was in deep trouble after launching SWB Berlinetta in 1959 as their new GT-car lacked production car status and was forced to run in prototype category. Finally they figured out that the only way to get 100 built and the car homologated for GT in time for Le Mans 1961, was to build a steel bodied version and sell it alongside of GTE for those who did not really need a rear seat...

 

The 1961 250 GT SWB Competizione also had an engine to Testa Rossa specification, but with 3 big 46 size, instead of 6 smaller 38 Weber carbs. The SWB was actually homologated for use with 6 carbs, although never ran with 6 by the factory, but that's how the GTO was able to use the 6 carbs. The GTO was a development of the SWB Competizione.

 

Tim I believe that the GTE was more expensive than the SWB California, the spyder was the least expensive model offered.

 

Fair enough, was just trying to make the point that most odd number Ferrari competition cars eventually ended up available to special order trimmed as road cars. Even as late as 1963 at least one 330LMB was sold fully trimmed, ditto a brace of GTOs and 250LMs.

 

I checked out three price lists, all gave different information, but I do remember reading the Cal Spider being the cheapest.