Debuted during an exhibition lap at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1960, the Ferrari 250 GTE was the Maranello firm’s first four-seat road car. Later officially unveiled in October at the Paris salon, the GTE is largely credited with financing Ferrari’s sports car racing program at the height of its dominance. Based on the 2600 mm 250 GT chassis, the GTE featured revised dimensions, such as the shifting of the 240 hp Colombo V-12 engine and gearbox several inches forward in the chassis, and a raising of the coupe’s roofline in order to create a luxurious grand tourer that comfortably accommodates four passengers.

This 250 GTE Series I, chassis 2655 GT, was purchased new by B. van Vliet of Nieuwerkerk, Netherlands, in 1961. While subsequent early provenance is not known, the GTE was eventually acquired by Dutch Ferrari specialist Piet Roelofs circa 1975. The car made its way to the US in 1987, when it was purchased by enthusiast Mark Jacobsen of San Mateo, California. In describing the car, Jacobsen said, “I drove it regularly for over a year before starting the restoration. It was originally silver over red leather.” Jacobsen began the restoration, refinishing the car in red with tan leather, but the project was paused during reassembly and Jacobsen sold the car in boxes in 1989.

The GTE’s next owner was GTE Registry founder Leonard Miller of San Carlos, California. Together with his son Dan, Mr. Miller completed the restoration, debuting the Ferrari at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® as part of a special class honoring designer Giotto Bizzarrini. Further exhibitions under the Miller family’s stewardship included the FCA Concours, GTE Gathering, and International Ferrari Concours, all held in Monterey throughout the same week in August 1994. There, the GTE was awarded the Strada Automobili Award at the FCA National Concours and First in Class honors at the International Ferrari Concours.

Following a few more American owners throughout the early 2000s, 2655 GT was acquired by a private California-based Ferrari collector for use on rallies with family. A restoration commenced in 2019, but ultimately the Ferrari was sold in a disassembled state to the consignor in 2021. Legendary Motorcars of Gazelle, California, was tasked with completing the car’s restoration, which included a repaint in metallic gray, retrim of the interior in red leather, and a rebuild of the matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and other ancillary systems. Invoices on file document over $580,000 in restoration costs.

The end result of this extensive restoration is one of the finest Series I 250 GTEs extant. Having not been shown since the completion of its restoration, this Ferrari presents its next caretaker with a multitude of opportunities to debut the car at concours events and Ferrari club gatherings worldwide.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled as 250GTE2655.