Friday 8 July 2011

Towards Standardisation - Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I #9811GT

A couple of weeks ago I looked at a Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series 2 which is on view at the Haynes International Motor Museum.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

Today's featured car, seen competing in the regularity competition on the recent Tour Britannia, is the earlier Series I model which is immediately distinguishable by it's recessed headlights and headlight covers. Notice the chromed edge on the bonnet / hood air intake belies the fact that this in essence a production road car.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

This particular Right Hand Drive (RHD), car was delivered painted Yellow to a customer in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1957.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

Only 40 examples of this model were built including 4 prototypes of which only two or three appear to have been built to RHD specification. This particular chassis appears to be the 15th in the production run. These models were far from standardised in the traditional sense.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

There were for example two distinct variations of the stylised tail lights fitted to the Series I 250 GT PF Cabriolets.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

Early examples of this model were supplied with 2 rear quarter bumpers to match the pair of front nudge bars however later examples such as the one seen above were supplied with full width items.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series I, Castle Combe, TB

Hong Kong businessman Sir Michael Kadoorie became the owner of this vehicle in 1998, he and co pilot Brian Lewis were not classified in the overall Tour Britannica results. Sir Michael counts among his collection of vehicles a Type 57 Bugatti, a 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II Thrupp & Maberly and a 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Van Vooren Cabriolet.

Thanks for joining me on today's Ferrari Friday edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !