A racy 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione Coachwork by Scaglietti - Gooding & Company,

With Ferrari’s sights set on winning pretty much everything, the 250 GT SWB was to be its ultimate roadgoing racer. This gorgeous yellow example, to be offered by Gooding & Company at its London auction, is one of the 46 alloy-bodied competition cars.

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This one started its life as 1931 GT, which was built for the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours. Factory build sheets show that it was originally fitted with the latest tipo 168B ‘outside-plug’ V12 engine in racing spec, and it was sold to North American distributor Luigi Chinetti. One of four cars he entered under the NART banner that year, it eventually placed an impressive fifth overall and second in class.

After it returned to the factory, along with a damaged SWB, it was renumbered to the current 2021 GT chassis number. Repainted in metallic grey, the Ferrari was sold on to French racing driver Pierre Dumay, who immediately entered it in the Goodwood Tourist Trophy, retiring after 45 laps. He also entered it for the 1960 Tour de France but failed to start. He sold the SWB soon after, and it went on to be used in various European events throught the 1960s. By the 1980s it had found its way into the garage of collector and L’Oréal executive Lindsay Owen-Jones. He prepared the car for Historic racing, and it was seen in action all the way through the 1990s. The current owner acquired the SWB in 2001 and has continued to race it extensively, including several appearances at Goodwood.

In 2013, it was sent to Lanzante Ltd in the UK for a full restoration, with Ferrari Classiche also brought in to oversee the project. During this process, conclusive evidence of the original 1931 GT chassis number was uncovered. It now features a correct 250 SWB Competizione engine, originally fitted to 1875 GT. This wellproven Historic racer is estimated to sell for £6,000,000-7,000,000.