VIN: Ferrari 250 GT Coupe chassis 0429 GT
History of chassis 0429 GT
In early 1956, Pinin Farina unveiled a new Coupe body that would serve as the standard coachwork option for Ferrari’s 250 GT and 410 Superamerica.
It replaced Pinin Farina’s earlier design that had frequently graced models like the 250 Europa and 375 America.
Chassis 0429 GT was the first 250 GT to be equipped with this new style of bodywork. It followed chassis 0423 SA, a 410 Superamerica, that had been displayed at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1956.
0429 GT was built on a Tipo 508 chassis and fitted with an inside plug Tipo 112 engine.
Pinin Farina opted for a two-tone colour scheme of silver with a dark red roof. The interior was upholstered in black leather and the carpet was light grey. The dash and door caps were painted silver to to match the exterior.
Upon completion, the handsome 250 GT starred at the Geneva Motor Show which took place in March 1956. It was photographed prior to dispatch wearing the registration BO 58559.
Pinin Farina produced seven of these new 250 GT Coupe bodies before production was sub-contracted to Carrozzeria Boano. Of the seven, the first four came with a kick up rear fender line. Steel was used apart from the opening panels which were aluminium. The subsequent trio came with flush rear fender lines and aluminium bodies.
After its appearance at the Geneva show, 0429 GT was sold to Roberto Federici in Rome.
Federici did not keep any of his cars for very long; that same year he bought and sold a new Maserati A6G/54 (chassis 2155) and a Ferrari 212 Export (chassis 0088 E).
Chassis 0429 GT was soon sold to Giorgio di Sant’Andrea of Milan.
In 1959, the car was exported to the USA and purchased from the Pacific Finance Company by George Inouye of Los Angeles. By this time, it had been repainted green with a gold front grille.
In 1962, Inouye sold 0429 GT to Samson Auto Salvage, a local automotive wholesaler. That September, it was purchased by LA attorney and Ferrari dealer, Ed Niles, who in turn sold it to Antonio Nuccio in June 1963.
Nuccio repainted the car red, but couldn’t keep up loan repayments. Samson Auto Salvage acquired the car for the second time and sold it back to Ed Niles.
Chassis 0429 GT subsequently went through the hands of a couple more American owners before the car was exported to Japan in the mid 1990s. It returned to the US in 2000, since which time it has been restored to its original configuration.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
