Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione s/n 2689GT - 1961
First introduced in 1959, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB quickly built up a reputation on the world’s race circuits. In 1960, the car’s first full race season, it achieved class wins at Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Le Mans, Monza and Spa.
In 1961 Ferrari introduced some modifications to the 250 GT SWB in an effort to keep it competitive, giving the engine bigger valves and a higher compression ratio as well as high-lift cams and twin-choke carburettors.
The success of these modifications meant that the 1961 chassis 2689GT has an interesting history and story to tell.
The car was first owned by Pierre Noblet, an amateur racer, and was in fact a replacement for chassis 2021GT, one of the original 250 GT SWBs, which was badly damaged at Clermont-Ferrand by his friend Pierre Damay. Being a true gentleman, as they were back in those days, Damay ordered a new 250 GT SWB to replace the one he damaged. The new car was delivered in early 1961 but too late for the pre-Le Mans test. However, Noblet managed to have the car ready for the race itself. Along with fellow amateur racing driver Jean Guichet, the two drivers were undeterred and drove the 250 GT SWB to an impressive class-winning third place overall, only beaten by two factory-run Ferrari 250 TRI/61s.
The car’s racing career was a short one, but it did go on to win at Monza and on the old Brussels street circuit before being exported to America, where the car unfortunately fell into disrepair.
The car has however now been fully restored to its ’61 specification and is currently owned by much respected Californian car collector Bruce Meyer.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB is certainly considered to be one of the all-time greatest Ferraris, and perhaps even the greatest of all sports cars ever produced. The 250 GT SWB handled superbly on the road and was near-invincible in the GT racing category, giving Ferrari the title for GT Manufacturers in 1960 and 1961, and is today, over half a century later, one of the most coveted cars ever produced in Maranello. This was a car that even by today’s standards was quick, being able to achieve the 0-60mph sprint in just 6.7 seconds and go onto a top speed of 158mph.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione s/n 2689GT - 1961
First introduced in 1959, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB quickly built up a reputation on the world’s race circuits. In 1960, the car’s first full race season, it achieved class wins at Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Le Mans, Monza and Spa.
In 1961 Ferrari introduced some modifications to the 250 GT SWB in an effort to keep it competitive, giving the engine bigger valves and a higher compression ratio as well as high-lift cams and twin-choke carburettors.
The success of these modifications meant that the 1961 chassis 2689GT has an interesting history and story to tell.
The car was first owned by Pierre Noblet, an amateur racer, and was in fact a replacement for chassis 2021GT, one of the original 250 GT SWBs, which was badly damaged at Clermont-Ferrand by his friend Pierre Damay. Being a true gentleman, as they were back in those days, Damay ordered a new 250 GT SWB to replace the one he damaged. The new car was delivered in early 1961 but too late for the pre-Le Mans test. However, Noblet managed to have the car ready for the race itself. Along with fellow amateur racing driver Jean Guichet, the two drivers were undeterred and drove the 250 GT SWB to an impressive class-winning third place overall, only beaten by two factory-run Ferrari 250 TRI/61s.
The car’s racing career was a short one, but it did go on to win at Monza and on the old Brussels street circuit before being exported to America, where the car unfortunately fell into disrepair.
The car has however now been fully restored to its ’61 specification and is currently owned by much respected Californian car collector Bruce Meyer.
The Ferrari 250 GT SWB is certainly considered to be one of the all-time greatest Ferraris, and perhaps even the greatest of all sports cars ever produced. The 250 GT SWB handled superbly on the road and was near-invincible in the GT racing category, giving Ferrari the title for GT Manufacturers in 1960 and 1961, and is today, over half a century later, one of the most coveted cars ever produced in Maranello. This was a car that even by today’s standards was quick, being able to achieve the 0-60mph sprint in just 6.7 seconds and go onto a top speed of 158mph.