Enzo's GTE | FerrariChat

Enzo's GTE

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by Imola82, Aug 4, 2009.

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  1. Imola82

    Imola82 Formula Junior

    Oct 16, 2007
    603
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Stu
    I read last night that Enzo's personal car in the early 60's was a 250 GTE. I am wondering about the color and history of the car? Maybe someone has pictures of it? Thanks for your help.
     
  2. Ed Niles

    Ed Niles Formula 3
    Honorary

    Sep 7, 2004
    2,493
    West Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwin K. Niles
    I can tell you what it is NOT: 2947GT was alleged to be an "Enzo" car, and a prototype 330, but it was proven by our own Marcel to be just a standard 250GTE with no Enzo history.
     
  3. GTE

    GTE F1 World Champ

    Jun 24, 2004
    10,117
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Marnix
    BBR offers an Enzo 250 GTE in silvergrey, but I doubt Enzo had really a GTE in his personal possesion. Perhaps he used one from time to time.
     
  4. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,287
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    I have heard the same thing. In fact I have seen a picture of him driving one. Maybe that's how the story got started
     
  5. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 5, 2002
    23,988
    Portland, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Don
    Wasn't 2169 supposed to be an Enzo car?
     
  6. michael bayer

    michael bayer Formula 3

    Aug 4, 2004
    1,292
    As Lyndon Johnson on an Air Force base crowdd with planes once said to a young airman attempting to direct the misoriented President back to Air Force One with "Mr President, that's not your airplane" Johnson replied, "Son, they are all mine".

    At one pont they were all Enzos......M
     
  7. Italian Lover

    Italian Lover Formula Junior

    Oct 26, 2006
    553
    Full Name:
    Italian Lover
    Love that Texan mentality. w/ smiles Jimmy
     
  8. ArtS

    ArtS F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    8,887
    Central NJ
    Great Quote Michael! :D

    Regards,

    Art S.

    PS. Someone should start a thread of other Johnson quotes, it would have to be in a subscribed section as I recall many of them are R rated.
     
  9. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
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    Jeff B.
    From the road test of the GTE in "Sports Cars Illustrated", January 1961:

    "At the time of this trial there were three Ferrari 2+2's running around Modena. Number one was the original prototype, number two the production prototype and number three the first actual production car. The latter was being used by Commendatore Ferrari himself, and needless to say we did not get our hands on it, but we were able to sample numbers one and two extensively."

    One of the experts can probably identify the serial number of the first production GTE, but I don't know if Enzo used it regularly, or was just "playing" with it.
     
  10. Il Vecchio

    Il Vecchio F1 Rookie

    Dec 27, 2007
    2,572
    Near Pasadena, CA
    Full Name:
    Peter B.
    There's several photos of Enzo driving a Series 1 330 GT...
     
  11. 330gt

    330gt Formula 3

    Nov 12, 2004
    1,981
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Kerry Chesbro
    There are three 330 GTs in the registry (www.330gt.com) with factory ownership:
    4963 Registered by SEFAC and pictured with Enzo.
    6453 Registered by SEFAC and probably used by Enzo.
    7161 Registered by SEFAC and card from factory dated 1979 and signed by Enzo confirming his ownership.
     
  12. michael bayer

    michael bayer Formula 3

    Aug 4, 2004
    1,292
    Kerry Where is 7161 now? M
     
  13. 330gt

    330gt Formula 3

    Nov 12, 2004
    1,981
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Kerry Chesbro
  14. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2008
    41,690
    Sarasota
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    David
    A variation of a quote originally attributed to Henry Ford.
    Another variant is that Ford once sat at the middle of the boardroom table and was told by a subordinate that he should be at the head of the table. Ford's supposed reply; "Wherever I sit is the head of the table".
     
  15. andymont

    andymont Formula Junior

    May 16, 2007
    523
    Torino - ITALY
    Full Name:
    Andrea M.
    #15 andymont, Aug 5, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is probably the picture you are looking for.
    This was his personal 250 GT 2+2 . An early car with license plate MO 54083 .
    The man on the left is Peppino Verdelli , Enzo Ferrari's mechanic and personal chauffeur for 49 years.

    Ciao
    Andrea
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. Cris Bertschi

    Cris Bertschi Formula Junior

    Mar 3, 2005
    801
    Buenos Aires
    Full Name:
    Cristián Bertschi
    Could be s/n 1287 restamped 2257 or s/n 2257 restamped 1287.
    Not an easy subject.

    Regards.
    Cris.-
     
  17. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,058
    Moot Pointe
    Dean Rusk to LBJ: De Gaulle is demanding that all US troops be removed from French soil.

    LBJ: What did he say about the ones *in* French soil?

    Perhaps apocraphyl but pretty good anyway.
     
  18. Imola82

    Imola82 Formula Junior

    Oct 16, 2007
    603
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Stu
    Bingo. thanks.
     
  19. kare

    kare F1 Rookie
    Consultant

    Nov 11, 2003
    3,627
    At least three different cars used serial number 1287. I believe this one to be 2257. Best wishes, Kare
     
  20. Bill P

    Bill P Karting

    Jan 27, 2004
    65
    Prescott AZ
    Full Name:
    William D. Preston
    Fifty years later, it is only possible to speculate which 250 GTEs actually were owned by Enzo Ferrari. Also, "owned" is a strong word. When you own the company I am sure you can borrow a car for awhile if you please. I have him associated with serial numbers 2169, 2257, 2929 and 4919.

    2169, PF job #39705, is considered a pre-production car and was one of two GTEs shown at the October 1960 Paris Motor Show along with 2043. In September 1960 s/n 2169 was in Modena and supposedly serving as Enzo's personal car although I suspect he was simply evaluating it.

    In the case of 2257, this is most likely the car shown in the black and white photo of Ferrari stepping out of the car. It was carried on the company books as a 400 Super America, PF job #50000 (a Super America PF job number, not a 250 GTE job number), using the four-liter engine and called a Campione (sample) Series II GTE. It was definitely built using a 250 GTE body. The destination is listed in PF's records as "Comm. Ferrari." It was reportedly used by him as his personal car for a time.

    2929 is also shown as a Campione (sample) Series II GTE but has a normal, sequential PF job number 39952. It, too, was reported to have had a four-liter engine installed in the beginning and to have been used by Enzo as a personal car.

    4919, a 250 GTE Series III, PF job number 68633, was reputedly used by Enzo. No proof, and no details.

    As you all know, it would enhance a car's value and provenance if an owner could prove that it once was owned by Mr. Ferrari.

    Bill Preston
    250 GTE Register.
     

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