In 1953, Ferrari’s production exceeded 50 cars for the first time. It was becoming clear that wealthy enthusiasts would part with their cash to drive a thoroughbred racing car on the street – which appealed to Enzo as the cost of racing required plenty of cash. At this time, customers could buy Ferraris with bodies built by a variety of coachbuilders. Vignale was one of the most prolific, but they hand built each body as a one-off, and production needed to be simplified for Ferrari’s continued growth.

The result was the 250 Europa, which was effectively the first standardized Ferrari. Of the 22 built, 18 had Pinin Farina bodywork, cementing what would become a legendary and decades-long relationship between the firms. At the 1956 Geneva Motor Show, the Europa’s replacement bowed. Called simply the 250 GT, the car was styled by Pinin Farina, who also made between five and ten examples (including prototypes) before being obliged to hand off production while they built and subsequently moved into a larger facility necessitated by growing production. Pinin Farina chose Carrozzeria Boano, the eponymous firm of one of their former designers, Mario Boano, to take over 250 GT production.

Boano altered Pinin Farina’s design slightly, removing a kick up on the rear fender and lowering the roofline, the latter of which had become one of his calling cards a few years prior while he owned Ghia. Boano built 68 Ferrari 250 GTs before taking a job heading Fiat’s design department. He passed control of the company to his son-in-law, Ezio Ellena, who changed the firm’s name to Carrozzeria Ellena. Ellena built a further 50 examples, which differed in detail, with a higher roofline and eliminated quarter lights.

Sold new in March 1957 to Giorgio Mondadori, Italy’s biggest publisher (his firm remains so to this day), this 250 GT Low-Roof Boano was originally finished in gray with a red interior. It resided in Italy until being imported to the UK in the late 1960s, where it remained for at least two decades. The car then spent time in continental Europe, receiving a mechanical restoration at L’Officina in Brussels in the early 2000s. A cosmetic refurbishment – in a particularly elegant silver gray metallic, similar to its original shade – was performed in England in 2012, after which the car was Ferrari Classiche certified. The highly regarded specialist Terry Hoyle rebuilt the engine in 2017, and the car has resided in the US since 2018.

Retaining its matching-numbers engine, gearbox, rear axle, and bodywork, this 250 GT Low-Roof Coupe has exceptional integrity, and would be a welcome entrant in prestigious shows, as well as driving events such as the 1000 Miglia, Tour Auto, California Mille, and Colorado Grand.