A 1961 Ferrari 250GTE 2+2 ‘Series 1′ Coupé that belonged to the famous Italian producer Agostino De Laurentiis will be on of the highlights of the Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia sale, taking place at Bonhams Oxford on March 3rd 2012.
With coachwork by Pininfarina, the brief had been to produce a 2+2 without sacrificing the 250’s elegant good looks or sporting demeanour and the master designer succeeded brilliantly with the GTE.
The ‘barn find’ 250GTE 2+2 is estimated to sell for £40,000 – 60,000. It was bought new by an Italian resident who imported it from Rome and subsequently passed to the famous Italian movie producer, Agostino ‘Dino’ De Laurentiis.
Born in 1918, De Laurentiis was passionate about cinema from an early age and by the age of 21 had produced his first motion picture. His first international success was with ‘Bitter Rice (1949) and over the next three decades he produced over 150 films, working with important figures from Carlo Ponti, Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, to Roberto Rossellini and Roger Vadim. His work with Fellini resulted in two Oscars: for ‘La Strada’ (1954) and ‘Nights of Cabiria’ (1957), both of which received the award for ‘Best Foreign Language Film’.
Having had only a few owners, the 250 GTE is being offered by the family of the late owner who bought the car in 1967. It appears that he only used the car for eight or nine years following its acquisition, as it still carries the last tax disc (expired 1976).
Rob Hubbard, Senior Specialist at Bonhams comments “this well-preserved ‘barn find’ represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire an original and untouched early Ferrari 250GTE, ripe for sympathetic restoration by a fortunate new owner.”