Ferrari · 1952–1964

Ferrari 250 GT 2+2

The Ferrari 250 is a series of sports cars and grand tourers built by Ferrari from 1952 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series includes many variants designed for road use or sports car racing. 250 series cars are characterised by their use of a 3.0 L (2,953 cc) Colombo V12 engine designed by Gioacchino Colombo. The 250 series designation refers to this engine's cylinder displacement of approximately 250 cc. They were replaced by the 275 and 330 series cars.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina · Successor: Ferrari 330 America

All Ferrari 250 GT 2+2 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Similarities

Most 250 road cars share the same two wheelbases, 2,400 mm (94.5 in) for short wheelbase (SWB) and 2,600 mm (102.4 in) for long wheelbase (LWB). Most convertibles used the SWB type. Nearly all 250s share the same Colombo Tipo 125 V12 engine. At 2,953 cc (180 cu in), it was notable for its light weight and impressive output of up to 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp) in the Testa Rossa and GTO. The V12 weighed hundreds of pounds less than its chief competitors — for example, it was nearly half the weight of the Jaguar XK straight-6. Ferrari uses the displacement of a single cylinder as the model designation. The V12 propelled the Ferrari 250 racing cars to numerous victories.

Racing models

Typical of Ferrari, the Colombo V12 made its debut on the race track, with the racing 250s preceding the street cars by three years. 250 S. Based on Ferrari 225 S, the 250 S used a 2,250 mm (88.6 in) wheelbase with a "Tuboscocca" tubular trellis frame. Suspension was by double wishbones at the front, with double longitudinal semi-elliptic springs locating the live axle at the rear. The car had the drum brakes and worm-and-sector steering typical of the period. The dry-sump 3.0 L (2,953 cc (180 cu in) engine used three Weber 36DCF carburettors and was mated directly to a five-speed manual transmission. The experimental 250 S berlinetta prototype was entered in the 1952 Mille Miglia for Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194 racers) of Rudolf Caracciola (winner in 1931), Hermann Lang (European Champion in 1939), and Karl Kling still used carburettors and had only 175 PS (129 kW; 173 hp) yet were quite fast on the long straights of some Mille Miglia sections, and later set fastest practice lap at Le Mans. Kling was in the lead after Rome but the 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp) Bracco-Ferrari made up sufficient ground in the hills of the Futa Pass to win the race some four minutes ahead of Kling/Hans Klenk. The car was later entered at Le Mans and in the Carrera Panamericana, both won 1-2 by Mercedes. 250 MM. Following the success of the 250 S in the Mille Miglia, Ferrari showed a more conventional chassis for the new 250 engine at the 1952 Paris Motor Show. Pinin Farina then created coupé bodywork which had a small grille, compact tail and panoramic rear window, and the new car was launched as the 250 MM (for Mille Miglia) at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show. Carrozzeria Vignale's open barchetta version was also an innovative design whose recessed headlights a

GT cars

The 250 design was successful both on the road and on the track. A number of GT models were built in varying states of road or racing trim. 250 Europa. The 250 Europa, introduced at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, was the only one of the family to use a different engine, sporting the 2963 cc Lampredi V12 based on a design for Formula One 3.3 L engine. It was a square engine, with 68 mm (2.7 in) of bore and stroke, developing 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) at 6,300 rpm, with three Weber 36DCF (or DCZ) carburettors, and mated to a 4-speed transmission. With the long 2,800 mm (110.2 in) wheelbase and Ferrari 375 America-style bodies, it was designed as a grand tourer. Three different rear axle ratios were offered to customers, providing an estimated top speed between 180–217 kilometres per hour (112–135 mph) depending on the ratio. Both 250 Europa and 375 America shared the same chassis, wheelbase and mechanicals apart for the engine. The majority of bodywork were designed by Pinin Farina. Some had bodies designed by Giovanni Michelotti and constructed by Vignale. Styling resembled the 375 America and 340 Mexico coupes. 22 were made, including 17 Pinin Farina-built coupes, 4 Vignale coupes, 1 Pinin Farina cabriolet and 1 Vignale cabriolet. Two were later converted by the Ferrari factory to 375 America specification (chassis 0315AL and 0353EU). 250 Europa GT. The first road car to use Colombo's 250 V12 was the 250 Europa GT, introduced at the 1954 Paris Motor Show. It was also the first Ferrari to use the Gran Turismo moniker. Pinin Farina's Paris coupé was just one of many shapes for the 250 GT model line, with coachbuilt production extending through 1956 before the 250 line became more standardized. The original 250 Europa GT used a 2,600 mm (102.4 in) wheelbase on a conventional ch

Place in Lamborghini history

Tractor manufacturer Ferruccio Lamborghini owned several Ferrari 250s. His frustration with Enzo Ferrari's response to his complaints about frequent clutch problems was key to his decision to make his own cars. He later hired ex-Ferrari engineers to design and develop them.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Ferrari 250
Manufacturer: Ferrari
Production: 1952–1964
Designer: Giotto Bizzarrini, Scaglietti, Pinin Farina, Vignale, Ghia
Class: Grand Tourer
Body style: Berlinetta, cabriolet, coupé
Layout: Longitudinally-mounted, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine: 3.0 L (2953.21 cc) Colombo V12, 3.0 L (2963.45 cc) Lampredi V12 (Europa)
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2400 mm (SWB), 2600 mm (LWB), 2800 mm (Europa)
Predecessor: Ferrari 212 Inter/Ferrari 225 S
Successor: Ferrari 275/Ferrari 330

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2402655CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_250CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1376548004 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1962_Ferrari_250_GTE.jpgCC BY 3.0 · Photo: Writegeist · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.