One to Buy: 12,500 mile ex-James K. LaFleur 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
At the Paris Motor Show in October 1962, Ferrari launched the last road-going iteration of the legendary 250 line: the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso.
With its gorgeous Pininfarina styling and lusty 250bhp V12 engine, the new model was conceived as a more luxurious, more refined machine than the contemporary 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. To that end, track was widened and the engine was positioned a little further forward to free up some additional cockpit space.
In typical Ferrari fashion of the period, the Berlinetta Lusso was based around a tubular steel chassis with independent double wishbone suspension up front, a live axle out back, disc brakes all round and centre-lock Borrani wire wheels. The three-litre engine was hooked up to a four-speed overdrive gearbox and everything was then draped in a Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-built steel body with aluminium opening panels.
Production ran for about two years, during which time Ferrari built a total of 250 Berlinetta Lussos, a particularly fine example of which is currently residing at the Fantasy Junction showroom in Emeryville, California.
Chassis 5817 was ordered new by Californian industrialist, James K. LaFleur of Hermosa Beach, who had his car configured in Celeste over Nero leather upholstery and Rosso carpet. Delivered through the Charles Rezzaghi agency in San Francisco, chassis 5817 remarkably remained in Mr LaFleur’s ownership until 2005.
Since then, this superb machine has gone through the hands of a further three custodians and been treated to a sympathetic restoration. Today, chassis 5817 has covered a little over 12,500 miles and is offered with its complete original book pack and tool kit.
Reprinted below is Fantasy Junction’s description:
Chassis number: 5817
Engine number: 5817
Celeste with Black Leather Interior
Price: $2.195m
The last and best of the Ferrari 250 road cars, the 250 Lusso is also widely agreed to be among the most beautiful classic Ferraris. While its predecessor, the 250 PF, was restrained and elegant, the Lusso was dynamic and stunning. It was appreciably lower and wider, and the Kamm tail treatment at the rear modernized the design considerably. Slotted between the larger 250 GTE 2+2 and the competition oriented SWB, the Lusso split the difference, providing an athletic GT car with arresting visual presence and a comparatively civilized cockpit, delivering a dynamic driving experience.
Under the Pininfarina coachwork was Ferrari’s venerable and fully developed 3.0 liter outside plug Colombo V12 engine. This series would, of course, become recognized as the premier iteration of this decade marking the 250 GT. Disc brakes were fitted while aluminum deck lids and doors were used to reduce overall weight. The interior was trimmed to high standards and featured a unique centrally mounted tachometer and speedometer, which remains today an inspiring feature of the Lusso design.
Production was relatively brief, from January of 1963 to August of 1964 with just 350 examples built. For collectors seeking the ultimate in a road-going 250 GT V12 driving experience, the Lusso exemplifies Ferrari’s legendary 250 SWB in road-going form. Today the Lusso has become a blue-chip Ferrari not only for its desirable features and rarity, but for the exquisite beauty and performance combined in a superlatively singular car.
Lusso s/n 5817 is an exceptional example benefiting from known history since new, long-term ownership, and a high-quality restoration.
History of ownership begins when the car was sold new by the Ferrari concessionaire in San Francisco, California, Charles Rezzaghi. The car’s first owner, a resident of Los Angeles, retained it until 2005. The second owner kept it for two years, also in Southern California, before selling it to the third owner (also in Los Angeles) in 2007.
In 2011, the third owner embarked on a high-quality restoration which included a comprehensive engine rebuild by Allen Bishop, accompanied by mechanical work performed by Norbert Hofer’s Gran Touring Classics. Every aspect of the car was restored other than select areas of the interior, which remained in excellent condition due to long-term collector stewardship under single ownership, from 1964 to 2005.
The fourth, current, and consigning owner, purchased this Lusso through Fantasy Junction in 2015. As was the case when purchased, this car continues to be accompanied by a complete set of books, tools, tool roll, and jack along with the original California ownership registration cards dating back to 1966 as well as records documenting the restoration.
In preparation for consignment, September 2023, Ferrari expert Patrick Ottis serviced the car including replacing the brake master cylinder piston seals, repairing the driver’s side window for better operation, adjusting and lubricating the hood release cable, carburetor cleaning including discharging nozzles and cleaning idle jets, installing new carburetor gaskets as needed, and replacing various spark wiring ends and spark wire boots as needed.
Today this beautiful Lusso offers a wonderful presentation reflecting the combined excellence of the professional restoration and continued care offered by the current owner. Restored with just the right amount of attention to detail without being overdone, the finishes have mellowed only slightly since the restoration was completed. The metallic blue paint presents with the correct metal flake, color, and lustrous gloss. The doors, hood, and trunk have excellent panel fit and closure. The exterior chrome, trim, and glass are excellent throughout including the lovely Marchal headlamps and fog lamps. The Borrani wire wheels and chrome plated knock offs are exceptionally nice with a set of correct earlier type Michelin XVS tires mounted, rather than the slightly later XWXs often fitted to Lussos.
The interior is a handsome combination of reupholstered features and original finishes. The black leather seating presents in excellent condition and the curved bucket seats are correctly pleated in supple leather showing evidence of corner seam stretching as typically found on these dramatically contoured seats. The red carpet is correctly trimmed and adds a nice contrasting and colorful touch to the interior. The dashboard and instruments are very nice with excellent color and clarity. Overall, the interior is reflective of combined original and restored features capturing the preserved, long-term California ownership history in a casually elegant way.
Under the hood, the correct matching numbers engine bears the single strike number 5817. The engine delivers a handsome, settled finish, not overdone, or heavily glossed from over-restoration. Among the many correct details, the black wrinkle finish cam covers, correct air cleaner housing, windscreen washer fluid bag, yellow fuel lines, and three-eared airbox keepers reflect the care and attention given to these accurate details.
The chassis has been finished with the same level of care and attention afforded to the exterior. The correct transmission, rear end, authentic coatings and components complete the underside including factory accurate exhaust and mufflers, suspension components, and excellent engine and gearbox alloy castings all of which represent the total quality and cohesive nature of this restoration in a very complimentary way.
The car runs and drives extremely well, with a tight, coherent feel that is often missing from restored cars. The engine is well tuned and responsive, and the gearbox is a pleasure to use. The chassis and suspension are tight and communicative while still offering a level of compliance suitable for long distance drives.
This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a Ferrari Lusso. Offering a confluence of documented ownership as a matching-numbers, black plate California car, with known ownership history from new and a sympathetic restoration by some of the best in the business, it would be hard to find a more fitting example for driving pleasure.
Finished in its outstanding original color combination, this Lusso comes with a Ferrari pouch and books, factory tool roll with tools, factory jack, and original California registration cards dating back to 1966 when first registered. Considering the provenance and exceptional condition, the next fortunate owner will be very pleased to take the wheel and continue the history of this fine example.
