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Ferrari´s short Wheelbase Berlinetta - Seite 4

Ferrari´s short Wheelbase BerlinettaNow in England, Mr. Passey had the 250 GT registered on UK plates “SWB 70” before commissioning a total restoration by DK Engineering, including a 1961 type SWB body built by Grand Prix Metalcraft of London and painting to its original white with a green stripe. (Schlesser’s competition colors of Madagascar.) In the summer of 1984, Passey displayed the car at the Donnington Park Ferrari Owners Club meeting. Passey, a passionate Ferrari enthusiast, was to care for no. 2209 GT for more than two decades while driving and displaying the car in various UK-based events, including the Coys Historic Festival in 2001.
In January 2003, the car was sold by Simon Kidston to racing driver Frank Synter who in turn passed it to Carlos Monteverde of London, England, who promptly re-sprayed the car to his standard colors of yellow with a green nose-band. Monteverde, a front-runner in Historic Racing, used no. 2209 GT to good effect in various international events for three or four seasons until a friend pranged the car in a race in Portugal. Repaired in England by Monteverdi’s contractor, it was re-sprayed in white with a green stripe in an attempt to return it to its original appearance. The car was consigned to the May 20, 2007 RM Auctions Maranello Ferrari Factory sale by Monteverde. However, his contractor was unable to finish the restoration in time for the auction, so it was conditionally sold complete but in a partially disassembled state to the current owner, Skip Barber, under the proviso that the Ferrari Classiche Department would complete the restoration and re-assembly for its new owner.

Ferrari´s short Wheelbase Berlinetta

2007-2008 – FERRARI CLASSICHE TO THE RESCUE OF 2209 GT

The Ferrari Classiche Department’s work on this car was to consume a full year as the initial plan of a “quick re-assembly” evolved into a “full restoration to original” in the Factory workshops. Under the careful supervision of Roberto Vaglietti, Head of Classiche and Corsa Clienti, absolutely every aspect of the car was restored to factory-original condition. After the total disassembly, metal testing and examination determined that the chassis frame and suspension was original to the car and as built in 1960. The same applied to both the gearbox (539/#54) and differential (# 289 F). The body was stripped to bare aluminum and re-configured to correct 1960 specification, in the process receiving new door skins as well. At the request of new owner Skip Barber, it was sprayed in the classic Ferrari “Rossa Corsa” racing color. The new Classiche-stamped engine block was reassembled using all new and correct internals. For an overview of the completeness and authenticity of this Ferrari Classiche restoration, prospective buyers are advised to review, with an RM Specialist, the extensive files which accompany this purchase.
A comment from the present owner, Skip Barber, is worth repeating: “You know, I got kind of tired of waiting for this car, but when it arrived, all was forgiven – it looked sensational, sounded wonderful and drove superbly. Just as one would expect of the last true dual purpose Ferrari!”
Jo Schlesser was one of those privileged individuals who could have anything he wanted, and no. 2209 GT was also his idea of the perfect Ferrari Grand Turismo. It still is, 50 years later!

Photo Credit: Darin Schnabel ©2011 Courtesy of RM Auctions

For further information, please visit: RM Auctions