Ferrari 250 GTO 1962

Ferrari 250 GTO is undoubtedly a masterpiece of automotive engineering art. It is so rare, so beautiful and so successful in motorsports during the '60s that it receives the status of a legend.

Ferrari 250 GTO is the ultimate automotive masterpiece

The story of 250 GTO is pretty exciting. When Jaguar E-Type is launched in mid-March 1961 it causes lots of concern in Ferrari headquarters at Maranello. The elegant, yet fast British coupe is a direct smack in the face of Ferrari. At that time Ferrari 250 GT SWB is the manufacturer's racing star. The debut of E-Type suggests that the 250 GT has a pretty strong contender. This is how the story of one of the last capable front-engined racing cars starts.

Enzo Ferrari appoints Giotto Bizzarini to the role of Ferrari 250 GTO project manager. At that time, Bizzarini has just eight years of engineering experience. He receives the 250 GT SWB chassis to use as a test mule and the work begins.

First, Bizzarini changes the rear suspension by using coil springs over the rear suspension`s shocks. Next, he moves the V12 engine far behind the front wheels in order to achieve an optimal centre of gravity. This solution is helpful in terms of aerodynamics because it significantly reduces the frontal area, hence the aerodynamic drag.

Only 39 Ferrari 250 GTO are created between 1962 and 1964. 33 of them are Series I, three are Series II bodywork that look similar to Ferrari 250 LM and three are Ferrari 330 GTO specials with a larger engine.

Enzo Ferrari successfully and shamelessly cheats the FIA officials who need to make sure the car has over 100 examples, an obligatory rule for the GT homologation. Ferrari 250 GTO racing debut is at 12 Hours of Sebring in 1962 with Phil Hill behind the wheel. He finishes second, after the Ferrari prototype Testa Rossa of Bonnier and Scarfiotti. So it isn't surprising that Ferrari wins the GT titles in 1962, 1963 and 1964.