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My "dumb" question of the month

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by Fiat Dino 206, Oct 14, 2004.

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  1. Fiat Dino 206

    Fiat Dino 206 Karting

    Apr 19, 2004
    144
    Mississippi
    Full Name:
    David
    #1 Fiat Dino 206, Oct 14, 2004
    With all the available information on Ferrari there seems to be a ton of minutia that has no clear answer:

    What does the "E" in 250 GTE stand for?

    Actually, Ferrari originally listed the car as "250 GT/E Pininfarina 2+2."

    I have always thought that the "E" was a designate for the 128E engine which was available for a period of time at the introduction of the 250 2+2 in the early 1960's.
    However, I have lately heard from several people who have some experience with Ferrari that the "E" stands for some Italian word for luxury?

    Any ideas? Any reference in any of the literature would help greatly.

    Thanks and best wishes
     
  2. zjpj

    zjpj F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,124
    USA
    #2 zjpj, Oct 14, 2004
    "gran turismo europa"... I think
     
  3. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
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    Jeff B.
    #3 Miltonian, Oct 14, 2004
    When Lancia built their Appia Zagato GTE, the "E" stood for "esportazione", or "export". Don't know if Ferrari did the same.
     
  4. zjpj

    zjpj F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    6,124
    USA
    #4 zjpj, Oct 14, 2004
    that would make sense, considering the 212 Export
     
  5. Bob Zambelli

    Bob Zambelli F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,659
    Manning, SC
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    Robert G. Zambelli
    #5 Bob Zambelli, Oct 14, 2004
    As I recall, wasn't it for "elongato" for the extended wheelbase?
    Bob Z.
     
  6. JonBrent

    JonBrent Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    732
    Heaven on Earth
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    JB
    #6 JonBrent, Oct 14, 2004
    I thought 'Lusso' was 'luxury'. Elongato rings a bell, I must have read that somewhere.
     
  7. jhjvdm

    jhjvdm Formula Junior

    May 28, 2003
    261
    #7 jhjvdm, Oct 14, 2004
    The letter 'E' in GTE (or GT/E) refers to the specially created drive-train for this car, called tipo 508 E - in order to move the engine about 20 cm to the front to gain interior space.

    The wheelbase was not extended, it was 2600 mm, just like the 250 GT coupe and cabriolet.



    Regards,

    Joop van der Meer
     
  8. Fiat Dino 206

    Fiat Dino 206 Karting

    Apr 19, 2004
    144
    Mississippi
    Full Name:
    David
    #8 Fiat Dino 206, Oct 14, 2004
    Thanks for the replys.

    I think that jhjvdm may have nailed it with the "E" coming from the chassis designation.

    Using the slash (/) in much of the contemporary printed material (GT/E) was an indication that Ferrari was specifying something regarding the vehicle's build rather than its "character" and the chassis designation (508 E) makes perfect sense of the whole situation.

    The Italian word I could not originally remember that several people have recently called the 250 GTE was 250 GT ELEGANTE (not a hard word to remember just bad memory.)

    Another question answered by the group!

    Thanks again

    Best wishes
     

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