Most chroniclers agree there were exactly 200 examples of Ferrari's
250 Pininfarina Series II cabriolets built -- an initial group of 100,
of which mine was #71, and then a slightly altered second group of 100
cars. They were produced from s/n 1537GT, the 1959 Paris Salon car,
to
s/n 3807GT in late 1962. Based on the production date stamped
on the steering box, my car probably was completed in the late summer of
1960.
The car is typical of Ferrari construction of the time: ladder frame (Tipo 508F), steel body, although with aluminum hood, trunk lid and doors -- undoubtably for weight savings. The engine was the classic Colombo V12 -- Tipo 128F, making 250 melodious horsepower.
My car, s/n 2105 GT, was imported to the USA by Chinetti -- the official
importer at the time. It was originally dark gray with black interior
and burgundy carpets. It was sold new to a Mr. Litwak, possibly on
order. At some unknown, but presumably early date in its lifetime,
it
received a new block from the factory for some reason. Based
on the "numero interno". the block was from a group of castings originally
meant for the last of the Testa Rossas -- this according to noted historian
Gerald Roush.
It resurfaced in 1975 on Long Island in the hands of a Mr. Valenti and
was advertised by him as having gotten a set of high compression pistons,
modified head and valves, a six-carb setup and "racing" cams -- none of
which are in evidence today. Probably the usual Old Ferrari Fairy
Tale. The car by this time was a muddy maroon color.
It then made its way through owners in Ohio, Chicago and finally Virginia,
where it was resprayed "resale red". It was purchased by Ted Bullard
-- an Ohioan who was sort of a second father to me -- and taken to his
vacation home in Florida, stopping at FAF Motorcars in Atlanta for the
well-known valve guide upgrade.
As Ted became more and more involved in Habitat For Humanity projects in Florida, the car was driven less and less. Finally in 1992, having been diagnosed with cancer, Ted gave the car to me. It was a solid, original example and he felt it deserved to be restored and driven.
In 1994, while on the way to Monterey for the FCA National Meet, the car suffered a blown head gasket. It's now turned into what I call an "I might as well" restoration. You know, "As long as I'm pulling the heads, I might as well pull the entire motor to rebuild it.." and on and on. It's now eveolved into a full restoration project. When completed, the car will be it's original color, Grigio Fumo with original interior colors.