Auction Sale : Ferrari 250 GTE 1287 GT Ante Prototipo

Ferrari 250 GTE 1287 GT at auction on May 05, 2017 in Spa, Belgium

What do you really think about the history of 1287 GT, l'Ante Prototipo ?

Recherche - FEE - Stanislas Machoïr


The story is doubtful for many points...


I do not think that 1287 GT was officially presented at Le Mans in June 1960 but 1895 GT.

- Enzo Ferrari's personal car 1287 GT was Grigio Argento in Maranello
- It could not be that of Le Mans in June 1960 ? As demonstrated by Mr Huet, expert ??

- 1895 GT was at Le Mans in June 1960, and was Rosso Rubino...
- In addition, 1287 GT had a radio antenna on the front right body wing
- 1295 GT did not have it in June 1960.

- The small (rubber) buffers of the front bumper are different between 1287 and 1895

In short, is it still a reworked story ??

The version of the facts according to Mr. Huet, expert



HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE

Until the 1970s, at FERRARI in Maranello, Italy, prototypes of a model were often made from an old car and received several engines.

In the years 1950 and 1960 the financial situation of FERRARI was delicate and FERRARI sold its prototypes to customers. These chassis and engines were numbered for road tests. When these vehicles were resold a few years later, they had a different engine and frequently the chassis and engines were renumbered to have a number match and especially so that the "gray card" delivered with the vehicle mentions a tax power Corresponding to the actual displacement of the engine. This is indeed the case with the FERRARI 1287 GT.

This FERRARI was the prototype of the new 2 + 2-seater model, commercial 250 GTE. This prototype had a very good finish and had its chassis and engine numbered 1287 GT when it was presented for the first time in public before the departure of the 24H of Le Mans, June 25, 1960. At that moment, the engine displacement was well of 3 liters (2953 cm3).

This Ferrari (1287GT) received in 1963 a 4L engine that was numbered 1287-8SA. Its box of speed bearing the N ° 32 E, its bridge the N ° 27E and its registration was MO 54083 in Modena in Italy. In 1964, the FERRARI 1287 GT was sold in France to Mr DEZILLIE and registered in his name in Paris on 23 July under the registration number 8565 QJ 75.

In October 1964, the FERRARI 250 GTE N ° 1287 GT of M. DEZILLIE apparently had a problem engine since it returns in the workshop of FERRARI in Modena. The motor is replaced by a another engine of 4L bearing the number 3105 and that came from the prototype N ° 3105GT of the future model 330 GT 2 + 2.

This engine was numbered 3105, corresponding to the chassis and just below the number 66SA which corresponds to an internal manufacturing numbering of the FERRARI Plant.
The number 3105 was erased by the image of the aluminum of the engine block and the number 1287 was refracted while the number 66SA remained in place.

On 19 July 1971 Mr Jan CHUDZIK, residing at 31 Rue Raffet - 75016 PARIS, bought this Ferrari to Mr. DEZILLIE. Very quickly, Mr. CHUDZIK had a very serious accident since it was also in 1971 that Mr. Berson buys the engine, the box, the bridge and the front crosspiece of the wreck of his Ferrari.

Mr. BERSON used the engine crankshaft and water pump to repair a Ferrari's of its customers. Mr. BERSON resold the mechanical parts and the front crossbar of 1287 GT, to Mr. Charles ROBERT, residing 41 Av. De la Belle Gabrielle - 94130 NOGENT SUR MARNE, who has a Ferrari 400 SA (4L engine) whose engine he was rebuilding. Mr. ROBERT permits the two cylinder heads of the engine 1287-66 SA with those of his car which were less good condition.

M. ROBERT sells the lot of 1287 GT pieces to Mr. Jean COWAY, collector of FERRARI.

Mr. COWAY exchanged the gearbox No. 32 E against another box type 330 GT at M. Pierre BARDINON also collector.

Mr. COWAY resold this lot of 1287 GT parts to Mr. ROBERT who in turn exchanged the engine No. 1287 -66 SA, the front cross-member no. 1287 GT, the box and the deck of which no one had written down the number, to M. BERSON against the work of repairing a BUGATTI engine.

M. BERSON buys a FERRARI 250 GTE without mechanics and has to be restored to rebuild the first 250 GTE with its body features and its original engine and chassis plate.

REVIEW OF PARTS AND VEHICLE

Whether it is the engine, the box, the bridge, the chassis, the chassis plate and the body of the vehicle in question, there is no doubt about the authenticity of this set whose numbers were struck by FERRARI at Maranello in Italy. The dispute concerns only the origin of the parts, which actually come from several authentic FERRARI vehicles.

We found photos of the engine and the vehicle taken before Mr. X bought them. The engine had no crankshaft or distribution and the right cylinder head valves were removed. The number hit is 1287-66 SA.

The vehicle is a 250 GTE model with suspension elements, steering and wheels. The gills were visibly made later on the quarter panels. The light gray metallic paint has been sanded on the sides of the wings where a red paint appears in the old grids.

We asked Mr. Berson in writing if he red-painted this vehicle after removing the ventilation grills, but he did not answer that question.

By examining this car during the contradictory examination, we noted that the bridge seemed to be the original one of this vehicle and not that of the accident vehicle. This bridge bears the number 234 E with a ratio of 7 x 32 which corresponds to chassis N ° 2855 which is indeed a 250 GTE model of 1961.

CHASSIS PLATE

The chassis plate which comes from the front cross member recovered by Mr. BERSON on the FERRARI damaged is soldered on the vehicle present during the contradictory examination.
It bears the reference 1287 GT.

The numbering of this number is very authentic and corresponds to the characteristics of the numbers and letters used by FERRARI to punch the chassis and engine plates until the beginning of 1960 (around June-July). From this date the oblique bar of the 2 and the 7 are not straight but curved, the proportion of the body of the 8 is different and the G is no longer angular but rounded.

Moreover, from mid-1960, the international regulations in force imposed that on the chassis
Either directly or on a welded plate, manufacturer's name, type, chassis number and an IGM reference. For example, for the FERRARI 2855 the welded plate was like this:

FERRARI 250 GT / E * 2855 *
IGM 2126 OM

The original chassis 1287 GT was built and numbered on 2 May 1959. The plate recovered by M.
BERSON corresponds to the graphic of the numbers and letters and to the typing used by FERRARI in 1959.
This plaque is authentic and corresponds to those made by FERRARI in 1959.


ENGINE

This engine corresponds to the type 163 Super America of 4L and its authenticity is not doubtful. AT the right rear of the engine block on a machined rectangular surface, is struck number 1287. The graphic representation of the figures corresponds to those used by FERRARI from the second half of 1960. Under this number we can also read the number 3105 previously struck and which was removed by the image. Just below in the unmachined metal, is hit the reference 66SA. The typing of this number and these letters is authentic and original.

This engine n ° 3105-66 SA comes from the prototype of the Ferrari 330 GT 2 + 2 N ° 3105, manufactured in 1962 and which prefigured the model to replace the 250 GTE.

No. 1287 was therefore refurbished by FERRARI when this engine was installed in chassis No. 1287 GT. It was probably during the 1964 intervention at Modena that this engine was refracted And installed in the original 1287 GT chassis.

It should be noted that the engine No. 1287GT of 3L of 1959 and the engine 1287 SA (previously numbered 3097 SA) still exist and have been sold by FERRARI in other vehicles.

GEARBOX

The housing of the box is numbered 449-571 and the clutch cover is numbered 571-520291. This box comes from a standard FERRARI 330 GT 2 + 2. VAIDA had the clutch bell replaced by another one bearing the number 508E 55967 corresponding to that of a 250 GTE model.

This box is not the one on the FERRARI 1287 GT at the time of its accident. This box was exchanged at the time when Mr. COWAY owned these parts.

CONCLUSIONS

The parts and the car sold by M. BERSON to M. X are authentic and were manufactured by FERRARI but come from various origins. Only the 1287 GT chassis plate comes from the
Original prototype of the 250 GTE model of 1959 and the engine no. 1287-66 SA also comes from this FERRARI but in its configuration of 1964.

Done at Paris on 23 March 2004.

By Christian HUET

Prototype
Chassis N ° 1287GT
Superamerica - 4L Engine
Enzo Ferrari's personal car

This first Ferrari 250 GTE was introduced before the start of Le Mans 24 hours in 1960. Enzo Ferrari, who preferred using a 2 + 2, used it. It was tested on the 4.0 liter Superamerica engine. The car was then sold in France in 1964.

It suffered an accident in 1971. The car was then completely restored in 1998; Many years of work were necessaries. In 1999, all the mechanical parts were completely remade by famous Jean Louis Prehoubert, V12 Automobile. This 250 GTE was then part of an important collection of Ferraris, in South West France, and was barely used, only for about 1,500 kilometers.

Superamerica - 400 SA Engine
V12 60 °
Displacement: 3967, 44 cm3
3 Weber two barrels carburettors
Power: about 340 bhp at 7000 rpms
Gearbox: 4 speeds + overdrive + Reverse
Limited slip differential: 30%
Speed: about 280 kms / h



I find the price completely crazy, knowing that this will not be certified Classiche !

What do you think of this story ?

 

1287 GT Grigio Argento with Radio Antenna...
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1895 GT Rosso Rubino at Le Mans June 1960, No radio antenna.
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Many thanks T308 for the rare photo.

Many thanks for valuable answers Ed, Kare

Regards,

Cyrille

 

1895 GT at Le Mans 1960...
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