One to Buy: 12,500 mile ex-James K. LaFleur 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
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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.
