Ferrari 250 GTO/62 3451GT

James Davis July 10, 2024July 10, 2024

The Ferrari 250 GTO/62 3451GT model was the ultimate development of the company’s 250 GT series in competition form, whilst still being useable as a road car, so it was still able to be driven to the track, raced and driven home. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962, and made its competition debut in the Sebring 12 Hour Race, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, where it finished 2^nd overall to a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sports racing car, and won the GT category in the process.

The 250 GTO had a 2400mm wheelbase chassis, with factory type reference 539/62 Comp., and then 539/64 Comp, featuring four wheel disc brakes, independent front suspension, a rigid rear axle with Watts links, and was available in both left and right hand drive forms. The shape of the Scaglietti designed and built aluminium bodies, refined from an original Giotto Bizzarrini design, remained virtually unchanged during the production period from 1962 to 1964, apart from a one-off example bodied in the style of the 330 LM berlinetta, and the last three cars in the series, which received Pininfarina designed and Scaglietti built bodies similar to those which featured on the mid-engine 250 LM sports racing car. Four of the original ’62 style cars were also re-bodied in this style during 1964.

The power unit was basically a 250 Testa Rossa specification version of the Colombo single overhead camshaft per bank 3 litre V12 engine, with bore and stroke of 73mm x 58.8mm, but using dry sump lubrication, with factory type references 168 Comp/62, featuring a bank of six twin choke Weber 38 DCN carburettors fitted with ram pipes, to produce a claimed 300 bhp. The engine was coupled to a new five speed all synchromesh gearbox, with an open gate gear change tower in the cockpit. As on the preceding 250 GTs a wide range of rear axle ratios were available.

3451GT was delivered to Pietro Ferraro on April 20th 1962,he achieved with Ludovico Scarlatti a class win in the Targa Florio and finished 4th OA, the GTO had an accident during the 1000km Nuerburgring race, in May 1963 it was sold to Vincenzo Zanini and he landed in Coppa InterEuropa, Monza not in the ranks but on the roof, the GTO paused one year and in October 1965 appeared in the Coupes du Salon, Monthléry with Guy Rivillon, it participated in many French races, rallies and hillclimbs with success.

This was the car that summed up Ferrari philosophy best: the highest levels of performance and styling. Created by a team led by Giotto Bizzarrini, it owes its lines to research carried out in a wind tunnel.

Charisma came not only from its innumerable racing victories, but from the unique sum of its parts – stunning looks, a highly competitive chassis and a thoroughbred V12 engine.

The 250 GTO model was the pinnacle of development of the 250 GT series in competition form, whilst still remaining a road car. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962, and was the only front engine model on display, with its monoposto and sports racing counterparts all having a mid-engine configuration.

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