Ferrari 250 GT Bertone

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari 250 GT Bertone chassis 1739GT is one of the most extraordinary and unique cars ever created by Ferrari. This special 250 GT SWB Berlinetta was commissioned by Dottore Enrico Wax, a wealthy and influential businessman from Genoa, Italy. Wax was the head of Wax & Vitale SpA, a company specializing in the importation of luxury products like Johnnie Walker and Moët et Chandon, which were personal favorites of Enzo Ferrari. Wax was known for his love of bespoke, one-off Ferraris, and he would often request unique features and designs for his cars. In 1959, during a meeting with Enzo Ferrari, Wax expressed interest in having a “Speciale” built on the newly introduced short wheelbase chassis. Ferrari, eager to please a valued customer, led Wax to the Competition Department and pointed to one of the first three 250 GT SWB chassis under construction. That chassis was #1739GT. Initially destined for works team use, Ferrari assigned it to Wax’s account, setting the stage for the creation of a car that would break with tradition. 1739GT was equipped with a 280-horsepower engine featuring a 9.8:1 compression ratio, similar to the later Le Mans-prepared 250 GTs. This engine was also fitted with red cam covers, a nod to Ferrari’s racing heritage, and was the only 250 GT to receive this treatment. Additionally, 1739GT became the first Ferrari to be fitted with SNAP exhausts, a distinct feature at the time. The car was sent to Bertone in early 1960, where it was transformed into a stunning, one-off creation. The design was led by the young Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was just 21 years old at the time and would go on to become one of the most influential car designers of the 20th century. Giugiaro’s vision for 1739GT was influenced by Ferrari’s racing cars, particularly the 156 F1 and 330 TRI LM. The result was a bold, aggressive front end, marked by sharp angles that set it apart from the smoother lines of Pininfarina’s 250 GT SWB. 1739GT’s body featured several remarkable and groundbreaking elements. The roof was made from brushed stainless steel, a feature that was paired with a lightweight, wraparound glass supported by slim pillars, giving the car a feeling of airiness and speed. The car was also fitted with a unique, one-off wire mesh grille, headlight covers, and Ferrari’s first-ever rear window defroster. The hood and fenders were designed to flip forward, allowing for easy access to the engine and front chassis in a configuration known as a “clam shell.” Inside, the car was equally innovative. The cabin featured rolled and pleated seats that were fully adjustable and foldable, a unique “pistol grip” gear lever, electric windows, and custom-fitted luggage. The dashboard had a distinctive layout, with the speedometer and tachometer placed centrally, a design choice that added to the car’s futuristic feel. The car was finished with an oversized Ferrari emblem on the hood, and the side of the car was badged with Wax’s initials, “Prototype E.W.” 1739GT was first shown to the public at the 1960 Turin Motor Show, where it made a significant impression. However, in 1961, Wax sold the car, and it passed through several hands over the following decades. The car eventually made its way to America in the 1970s, where it remained through the 1980s and underwent a total restoration by Steve Tillack from 1982 to 1983. In the late 1990s, the car was acquired by Lance Hill, a Hollywood screenwriter, who continued to maintain the car in excellent condition, undertaking another full restoration over several years. The car’s history continued to unfold at some of the world’s most prestigious concours events, and it was later part of the famous Caballeriza Collection. In 2009, 1739GT was offered for auction at RM Auctions’ “Leggenda e Passione” event in Maranello, though it remained unsold despite a high bid of €1.6 million. The car was later auctioned in 2013 at RM’s “Art of the Automobile” auction in New York, where it sold for a remarkable $7.04 million, including the buyer’s premium.