Ferrari 250GT TDF

Ferrari 250GT TDF1956

Ferrari 250GT TDF

One of the most famous of Ferrari cars was the Ferrari 250GT TDF. Let's examine the name to get some information about the car. As mentioned by many people early Ferrari car model numbers were based on the cubic centimeters of one cylinder. This is a V12 so 250 times 12 is 3000 cc, and the actual engine measured out at 2,953cc. Sometimes it's rounded down as in the case of the 212, and sometimes up.

The 250 series began about 1953 with the 250 Europa. It was not a particularly popular car and only around 20 or so were built. Other models were called the 250 MM introduced in 1953, and the 250 Europa GT in 1954, combined they sold about 37 cars.

The GT in the name was for Grand Touring. It sounds like a slow drive in a car designed for royalty. Nothing could be further from the facts. The 250GT was designed to compete in international long distance races. These cars were designed to be light and fast. While the 250GT was designed by the Pinin Farina house, the first one was created by a coach builder called Scaglietti. These two companies have worked together since the 1950's are and are still involved in the design and building of current Ferrari cars, even though Scaglietti later became a part of Ferrari.

The first 250GT had an all aluminum body on the typical steel oval tube frame. Depending upon tune the engine produced from 230bph to 280bph at 7,000rpm. The cars were devoid of what we would consider the minimum in safety equipment, no seat belts or roll bars and four wheel drum brakes. No luxury items were found in Ferrari road cars to speak of either. The stark interiors suited the wealthy owners who felt they had purchased a car suitable for racing, not leisure drives in the country side.

Around 84 of these were produced from 1955 to 1959. Many varied slightly in their body shapes, however all of them were berlinettas.

So where did the TDF come from? Well Ferrari was winning a variety of races from 1954 through 1959. They won the Tour de France several times and in 1957 won the first three places. This led the car to be known as the 250 GT TDF.

Would you like one of these famous cars? Well one is being auctioned on May 17, 2009. The initial estimated range is from $2.7 million to $4.3 million. If you read this article after the auction, check out the results at RM auctions in London.

Dennis Dater has been involved with cars for over 50 years. His first love was sports cars when he drove a 1952 MG to high school.

He has produced over 40 articles for EzineArticles on cars, and almost a hundred on his web sites. His two web sites are designed for Honda Accord aftermarket accessories.

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