During the 1950s-‘60s golden age of European GT-class racing, Ferrari’s long-wheelbase 250 GT Competition Berlinetta ruled the legendary Tour de France from 1956 through 1959 and rightly gained everlasting fame as the “Tour de France” (TdF). Numbered 0899 GT, this stellar, Ferrari Classiche-restored and certified, multiple award-winning 1958 Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” Alloy Berlinetta carries fabulous period history, with 13 documented race outings with the original owner, including one overall win and six class victories in 1958 alone, followed by another succession of wins and podium finishes through 1960. According to marque experts, just 84 250 GT “Tour de France” Berlinettas were produced in all, including prototypes. With no two truly alike, those that remain today—and 0899 GT in particular—are among the most coveted and valuable classic-era Ferrari models in existence. International FIA-sanctioned racing focused on GT-type machinery after the 1955 Le Mans tragedy, with a 3.0L maximum engine capacity. Ferrari’s 3.0L 250 V-12 engine fit the new formula perfectly, and so powered, the new 250 GT Berlinetta would soon rise to enduring fame as the “Tour de France,” a model with uncanny beauty that remains among the greatest and most effective Ferrari GT cars ever used in competition. Equally suited to rallies, hill climbs or circuit races, Ferrari’s new long-wheelbase 250 GT Berlinetta went on to utterly dominate the Tour de France over the four years it was entered into the storied event, with the inaugural win scored by Alfonso de Portago with 0557 GT in 1956. Subsequent victories, in the hands of the era’s top gentleman and professional drivers for 1957, 1958 and 1959, cemented the Ferrari’s legend and appropriately inspired its enduring “Tour de France” sobriquet. Additionally, the Ferrari cut a swath through many of Europe’s top racing events, making it an unqualified legend. The example offered here, Chassis No. 0899GT, is an original, covered-headlight, single-louver car, originally bodied in lightweight aluminum by Scaglietti. It was delivered new to Eduardo Lualdi- Gabardi of Busto Arsizio, Italy, and raced by him at least 13 times to 12 podiums, including overall victory at the Coppa Sant’Ambroeus held at Monza in 1958. Class wins with 0899 GT during 1958 include the Coppa della Consuma and the Varese-Campo di Fiori Hill Climb. In late 1958, the car was sold to Ferdinando Pagliarini, who raced it in 1959 and took the overall win at the 1959 Castell’ Arquato Vernasca Hill Climb. In 1960, 0899GT was sold to Paul Mournier, a Frenchman resident in Algeria. Following damage suffered in a road accident in 1961, the engine, also numbered 0899 GT, was sold that year to Charles Jourdan of France, while the recoverable rear portion of 0899 GT’s bodywork went to Carrosserie Rueda in Marseilles, France. It was subsequently purchased and mounted onto a Swallow-Doretti chassis known as the Sunbeam Alpine Harrington Special. The chassis of 0899 GT, complete with gearbox, front and rear suspension, brakes, steering box, rear end, fuel tank and dash console, was purchased in 1961 by Jacques O’Hana of Marseilles, France. In 1987, 0899 GT was restored by Bacchelli & Villa of Bastiglia, Italy, with new bodywork, and a correct-type engine sourced from 250 GT Boano 0817 GT was installed and stamped 0899 GT. Between 1993 and 1997, Jean-Pierre Ferry competed with 0899 GT five times in the Tour de France Auto, and he also competed with the car in the 1994 and 1995 editions of the Mille Miglia. Given its significance, 0899 GT received a meticulous restoration in 2012 by Ferrari Classiche. Retaining the original chassis, including the suspension, brakes and gearbox, 0899 GT is powered by a proper Tipo 128 C SOHC 2953cc V-12 engine (No. 0354C) developing 260 HP with triple Weber 36 DCL/3 carburetors, and that power is delivered by the original 4-speed manual gearbox (No. 171D). Finished in Rosso Corsa, as originally specified, 0899 GT carries a fabulous presence, accented by the tan leather interior and Borrani wire-spoke wheels. In addition to the aforementioned Ferrari Classiche certification and Red Book, 0899 GT is accompanied by a wealth of documents including copies of the factory build sheets and a binder containing historic photos, prior registration information, receipts and owner’s correspondence, plus an owner’s manual and concours tool roll.
