Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Tour de France, Series IV, represents the terminal development of the long-wheelbase GT competition berlinettas produced by Ferrari between 1956 and 1959. Constructed in 1959 in limited numbers—approximately 17 examples—the Series IV maintained the mechanical continuity of the 250 GT platform while incorporating the final stylistic and regulatory revisions of the model. It is most readily identified by its open headlamps and a single rear sail-panel louvre, both distinctions that set it apart from its predecessors in the series. The vehicle was built upon Ferrari’s 2,600 mm long-wheelbase chassis, designated Tipo 508. Power was provided by the Colombo-designed 2,953 cc V12 engine, Tipo 128, configured with triple Weber carburetors. Depending on state of tune and customer specification, power output ranged from 240 to 260 horsepower. The engine was paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and a rigid rear axle, located by semi-elliptic leaf springs and hydraulic dampers. Disc brakes, fitted to all four corners, provided improved stopping power over earlier drum-equipped variants. The bodywork, fabricated in aluminum by Carrozzeria Scaglietti to a Pinin Farina design, was executed with a strong emphasis on aerodynamic cleanliness and minimal ornamentation. The frontal composition was simplified to accommodate open lighting assemblies, a response to homologation requirements and visibility considerations. The profile remained disciplined and balanced, with the characteristic fastback roofline terminating in a subtly truncated rear tail. Chassis 1401 GT, widely acknowledged as the final example constructed, was delivered new to Luigi Taramazzo, a private entrant in Italian competition. It was originally finished in Oro Chiaro Metallizzato over Pelle Marrone, an uncommon combination reflecting the model’s dual role as both a competition and gentleman’s touring car. Other known examples from this series competed successfully in period events including the Tour de France Automobile, Mille Miglia, and Coppa Intereuropa. The Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France IV remains a conclusive statement in Ferrari’s long-wheelbase GT lineage. It closed a chapter characterized by dual-purpose construction—cars equally suited to endurance racing and road use—just prior to the introduction of the short-wheelbase 250 GT Berlinetta in 1960, which would shift the paradigm toward dedicated sports-racing architecture.