Paris sales: a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, as raced in Sebring

RM Sotheby’s has this splendid yellow 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB on offer at its Paris sale, on January 31^st. The famous NART team entered this alloy-bodied ‘Competizione’ in the 1960 Sebring 12 Hours, where it finished seventh overall.

This Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘Competizione’ left Ferrari on March 16^th, 1960. Chassis 1773 GT came equipped with alloy coachwork by Scaglietti, one of 45. It also had the more powerful Tipo 168 B specification twelve-cylinder engine. The yellow SWB with green leather interior arrived just in time for the Sebring 12 Hours on March 26^th.

Sold through Luigi Chinetti’s NART, 1773 GT was one of four Ferraris NART had entered. Owner George Arents and William Kimberly drove to seventh overall, and third in class. NART’s other 250 GT SWB finished the race in fourth overall, raced by Ed Hugus and Augie Pabst.

Nassau

Arents sold 1773 GT soon after the race, to Bob Grossman, who had been one of AC’s works drivers in Sebring. Grossman would race 1773 GT successfully, scoring an overall win in the SCCA race in Bridgehamption, NY and second overall in the Tourist Trophy in Nassau. At the beginning of 1961, Bob Grossman sold the Ferrari to Bob Hathaway, who would race it that season. Third overall in the Tourist Trophy in Nassau was another highlight, before Hathaway sold the Ferrari back to Bob Grossman.

1-million-dollar restoration

Its racing days now over, 1773 GT moved through different owners all through the sixties and seventies. Mid-eighties, the 250 GT SWB was back on European soil. In 1994, it was the subject of a full restoration. Passing through the hands of more owners, 1773 GT moved back to the USA in 2000. In 2015, it was the subject of a 1-million-dollar restoration, bringing it to Concours level.

1773 GT will be one of the highlights of RM Sotheby’s sale on January 31^st in Paris, during Retromobile. The car carries an estimate of 9 to 11 million euros. More info here.