Father-Son Restoration Project: Could Our 250 GTE Be a Lost Prototype?

Father-Son Restoration Project: Could Our 250 GTE Be a Lost Prototype?


Hello everyone!


My dad and I are lifelong Ferrari enthusiasts who’ve embarked on a father-son journey to restore a 1960 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series I. This car has always been a dream for us, and working on it together has been an amazing experience. We could definitely not afford a restored car which is ultimately what led us to buy 2263 GT, which had been stripped of its drivetrain. Little did we know at the time that our project might be more special than we initially thought.


As we’ve dug deeper into the car’s history, we’ve started to believe that our 250 GTE, chassis number 2263 GT with Pininfarina body number 2263, could be a lost prototype!


Here’s Our Story and What We’ve Found So Far:

1. The Discovery: We found this old relic buried in the barn of a Porsche and Ferrari collector in rural Indiana. We purchased the car for a very fair price, and intended to bring it back to as close to original condition as we could afford. Of course, an original 250GTE transmission and engine is quite expensive! So instead, we purchased and planned to install a 1969 Ferrari 365 GT engine in the car (12281 GT). This seemed like a natural consideration for enhancing our GTE. However, as we began disassembling the car, we noticed “2263” handwritten in chalk in many areas of the car, which initially piqued our curiosity.
2. Unusual Engine Configuration: Soon after, we discovered that our car was originally equipped with a Tipo 128E engine, not the standard Tipo 128F found in production 250 GTEs. The Tipo 128E was primarily used in earlier models like the 250 GT Coupé and Cabriolet, making its presence in a GTE highly unusual.
3. Possible Prototype Status: Chassis 2261 GT is a confirmed 250 GTE prototype with a Tipo 128E engine. Given the close chassis numbers, it’s plausible that Ferrari built multiple GTE prototypes simultaneously (which was common practice for them back then).
4. Multiple Consecutive Prototypes: At the time, Ferrari had a history of producing several prototypes right before official production began, like with the 250 Testa Rossa, 250 GT SWB, and 275 GTB. They often tested different configurations to refine their models.
5. Secretive Practices: Ferrari was known to be secretive about their prototypes, sometimes rebadging and selling them without disclosing their true origins. This makes tracking down information incredibly challenging, but also exciting!
6. Our Car’s Condition: Unfortunately, the car was stripped of its drivetrain for other rebuilds before we acquired it. However, we have the original interior and almost all of the original trim and interior parts (except for the original dash and gauges). And overall the body of the car is in pretty nice shape.
7. Our Dilemma: If our car is indeed a prototype, we want to restore it to its original condition out of respect for its historical significance. This changes our restoration plan significantly and will likely extend the project’s timeline (and strain our resources a bit).
8. Our Research Efforts: We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching, digging through forums, books, and any resources we can find (if it’s out there, we’ve read it). Despite our efforts, concrete information is scarce due to the secretive nature of prototype records. This in and of itself actually seems to point toward it being a lost prototype.
9. Why We’re Reaching Out: We’re turning to this fantastic community for help. We know that many of you have deep knowledge and experience with vintage Ferraris, and we’re hoping you might have insights or information that could aid us.
10. How You Can Help: If you have any knowledge about chassis 2263 GT, prototypes from that era, or how to access historical records, we’d greatly appreciate it.
11. Expert Opinions: We welcome any and all thoughts on the likelihood of our car being a late prototype based on its features.
12. Restoration Advice: We also would appreciate guidance on properly restoring a car with potential historical significance.
13. Why This Means So Much to Us: Working on this car isn’t just a project; it’s a shared passion that’s brought my dad and I even closer. The possibility that we’re restoring a piece of Ferrari history makes it even more special. Imagine discovering a lost Ferrari prototype together! We’re excited to bring you all along on this journey, regardless of the outcome. And we are not going to sell the car. We intend to keep it forever. Whether our 250 GTE turns out to be a prototype or just a very early model, we’re grateful to be part of this community and eager to learn from all of you.
14. I will post some photos of the car as well, showing the chalk markings and other details we’ve found. Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. Any and all feedback is welcome!

For the love of fast, red, Italian cars,

~ Nathan

P.S. My dad used to take me to the ‘Ferraris on Oak Street’ events in downtown Chicago before I could even walk. He often tells the story of how I would scream “Ferradi, Ferradi, dada look Ferradi!” Now, he owns three Ferraris, and I have two. This project is a dream come true for both of us, and we’re grateful for any help you can offer!

 

Batch 1: Without further ado, here are the images of 2263 GT as it currently sits. Obviously it’s been to the chop shop! But fortunately, the badge is there and the body is mostly intact!
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I appreciate all of your input and responses. We do have an original 250 GTE frame, but it is not for 2263 GT. As far as whether or not the car is a 250 GTE, I think it’s a stretch to say it isn’t given that it was built by Pininfarina in 1960. Of course, we don’t have the original frame, engine or transmission. And it would be quite a task to get them I’m sure and involve a lot of capital!! I suppose the old adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” applies here. Given that I do have an original 250 GTE frame as well, I guess we can assume that it is still a 250 GTE and can and will always be one.
With that said, I still don’t believe I’ve received the clarification I’m looking for. This is the original body with the original interior of # 2263 GT. And like I said, it came from the factory with a Tipo 128 E engine. My main curiosity is whether or not that indicates that it was a pre-production prototype. The research I’ve done indicates that a very low number of 250 GTEs came from the factory with a Tipo 128 E.
Regardless, the car will be restored to as near to factory condition as possible. Perhaps we will wait a while until we can acquire an authentic engine and transmission. Until then, the research continues…

Regarding the title work— there are a number of states in the US where you can show up with the car, get a VIN Inspection and receive a clear title. I do not currently have a title for the car, but it is not only possible but inevitable that it will have one when the time comes.

 

that’s a great question! Probably because they titled it with a different data plate, although I’m honestly not sure. The fact that the plate was still on the body was surprising to me.

 

My guess is that this is what happened with the engine and possibly the frame as well.

 

definitely a long way to go! That’s why I’m grateful that I also have a running and driving Ferrari, otherwise I’m not sure I could bear the delay

 

I do have a genuine 250 GTE frame, but it is not from 2263 GT.

 

I definitely appreciate your input, but given that I have an original 250 GTE frame (not pictured) as well as an original 250 GTE body, I can assure you that it is and will always be a 250 GTE. With all due respect!