1960 Ferrari

Chassis #1995 GT was the second of only nine right hand drive versions of the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta imported into the UK by Col. Ronnie Hoare of Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. As one of the first examples, it was equipped with a host of competition options on a the more durable steel body, aimed at demonstrating the prowess of the car. Delivered new in 1960, #1995GT was supplied in Rosso, over a dark red leather interior, red carpets, a steel body, 3.77 rear axle ratio, Dunlop RS4 tyres and a limited slip differential.

Just a handful of the RHD example received competition upgrades. The factory build sheets detail the engine was to delivered in semi-competition specification with a 9.5:1 compression ratio, 10mm lift camshafts, triple Weber 40 DCL6 carburettors with intake trumpets and cold air box, rather than an air filter box, and an Abarth competition exhaust system. The factory engine test sheet shows that it produced 252bhp when new on their dynamometer, verifying competition components in the engine.

It was collected from the factory by a Mr Horning of Hampshire on behalf of its first owner, the proprietor of Sea Corner Garage, a Mr E. ’Rufus’ W. Eyre. Upon its arrival in the UK, Mr Eyre registered his first Ferrari, the short-wheelbase on the registration mark ‘RU 20’; a registration he would retain and place on each succeeding Ferrari he would own.

Fascinatingly this car is the very first customer car supplied by the newly formed ‘Maranello Concessionaires’, formerly Col. Ronnie Hoare had been operating from the F. English Ford dealership in Bournemouth. Keen to impress and demonstrate their competition prowess at the time, early cars had specified luxury options ignored at build by the factory! It is understood that all preceding and subsequent SWBs were alloy bodied cars built to full 'Competizione' specification.

- Early-specification lightweight chassis frame (as per all competition cars including "SEFAC Hotrod")

- Early "low roof & screen" specification body with one-piece windows and curved door window frames

- Comp-spec high lift cams

- Comp-spec open air tray with velocity stacks

- Competition brakes (no servo) with ‘comp’ front cooling ducts

- Comp-spec ribbed case magnesium-alloy competition gearbox (as per all competition cars)

- Comp-spec bucket seats

- Roof mounted interior extract vent (as opposed to in the rear screen)

- Limited-slip differential

- Comp-spec long range fuel tank & external "Monza" fuel filler

- Competition jacking points and “quick-lift” jack (stored in boot)

- Lightweight aluminium floors & closing panels (bonnet, boot lid and doors)

Scaglietti granted Ronnie Hoare’s wish for steel bodies on #1993GT (his demonstrator) and #1995GT respectively, with the steel bodies more resilient than alloy – demand for alloy outside of racing at the time seen more as a negative as it was so easy to dent! The factory ignored the Colonel’s wishes for the cars to be fitted with road going 22-gallon fuel tanks, instead, receiving long range, racing specification tanks. Surviving Maranello Concessionaires paperwork highlights their contacting of Ferrari on 25th October 1960, seeking a 'windscreen washer pump assembly for 1995GT omitted in production'!

Expecting great things from his brand-new Ferrari, the first owner Mr. Eyre, had several queries regarding the hand built nature of the car. Eyre went so far as to return the car to Ferrari with the expectation the factory would attend to several panel fitment issues!

Despite his complaints, Mr. Eyre would to retain 1995GT until December 1965. Commuting between his home in the New Forest and his family office in north London the car would see regular use. Past the initial return to Ferrari, his business Sea Corner Garage would carry out maintenance on the car, with instructions from Ferrari penned in the front of the user manual.

Speaking with Rufus in 2019, he recalled several stories of his time with the car. A timid man, he had instructed his workshop manager to collect the car from Italy on his behalf and drive it back. All was going smoothly until Horning was pulled over by the Polizia Stradale on the motorway in northern Italy. Fearful of repercussions as the car was neither his, nor did he speak any Italian, he was relieved to find the duo on motorcycles merely wanted to see a ‘right hand drive’ Ferrari in person, before gesturing that he perhaps continue his journey with a bit more enthusiasm!

Mr Eyre further highlighted a visit to London in 1961. Having driven up from his home on the south coast for a shopping trip on Bond Street, he recalled his significant grievance with the car after a day of liberal spending, paired with the equipped long-range fuel tank saw a car crammed full of bags with no place in the boot. Returning home, he promptly ordered a 250 GT Pinin Farina in Bianco Polo Park to run along side the SWB as a shopping car! Eyre sold the short-wheelbase in 1965 having covered 19,500 miles.

After his ownership, #1995GT would pass through a number of subsequent owners including; Mr K. Wilson, Mr G. Sinclair, Mr Brian Classic, Mr John Broad, Mr David Mulvaney and Mr David Brook, before being purchased by Richard Colton from Maranello Concessionaires Ltd in March 1976.

At the time of its purchase, it was reported to have just received an engine rebuild by Graypaul Motors Ltd, with the mileage showing 49,000 miles on the odometer. The car would remain in Colton’s custody for nearly 40 years, more than doubling the mileage, up to the time of his passing in March 2015.

A very close friend of DK co-founder David Cottingham, David and Richard first met in the late 1970s. A friendship forged, without doubt, from a shared passion of the greatest Italian marque. Richard thought nothing of driving his Ferraris on the road and owned all sorts; this 250 SWB, a 275 GTB/4 and a 250 LM to name but a few.

Richard used the short-wheelbase extensively on the road, attending rallies as well as gatherings all over Europe. In 1999, he said ‘I have done over 50,000 road miles with the car as well as many sprints, hillclimbs, rallies, track days etc. Now going better then ever!’ Richard took part in Ferrari's 50th anniversary celebrations in Maranello in 1997, the Coys Historic Festival in 2001 and the FOC UK Concours in 2006. By 2008, the odometer was up to 99,999 miles, after which his use of the car would decline.

Richard adored the short-wheelbase. Exploiting its semi-competition nature, he made adjustments throughout his ownership to improve driveability of the car. The bumpers were removed fore and aft, primarily to aide airflow via the sleeved brake cooling ducts in the front valence, larger four-piston brake calipers were fitted in lieu of the original Dunlop units, with braided steel hoses replacing the original copper tubes. Wholly reversible, this ensured the braking was much closer to modern day standards. In 1996, Richard had the original 10mm lift cams replaced with milder 9.5mm units, affording him more low-down torque and a smoother power delivery. Larger wheels and tyres were fitted and the arches flared to accommodate them.

Much like the original owner Rufus Eyre, Richard Colton held a lifelong fear of the sea. In 2015, after Richard’s passing, #1995GT was sold by H & H auctions with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as the sole beneficiary of the sale. Having known and serviced the car for many years, DK Engineering acquired the car and soon after sold to a long-standing friend and client. Ahead of delivery DK carried out a comprehensive mechanical overhaul of the car including an engine rebuild with the new owner enviably continue to use the car as Richard had done for so many years.

In 2019 a decision was made to restore the car to its original specification and we kindly obliged. In a comprehensively documented restoration, 1995GT was stripped back to bare metal by specialists Bodylines of Northampton. Similarly the paintwork was carried out by Spraytec, known for their exacting work. Mechanical reassembly commenced at DK with much of the work having been carried out just a couple of years earlier. The interior was retrimmed by O’Rourke Coachtrimmers of Guildford in the original Rosso. The restoration was carried out in consultation with Ferrari’s Classiche department and as such, post restoration in 2024, #1995GT has been awarded Ferrari’s red book Classiche certification confirming its matching engine, gearbox and rear axle.

At the time of the restoration in 2019, DK located and contacted the original owner Mr Rufus Eyre of Poole, Dorset. We remain grateful for his correspondence and assistance in completing the early history of #1995GT. In addition to his anecdotes above, Rufus kindly offered the registration mark ‘RU 20’ be returned to #1995GT, that he had retained since 1965. After his passing in 2020, we were fortunate to welcome Mr Eyre’s righthand lady, to see the car after the restoration was completed and as it would have presented when new. She brought with her the original leather wallet and bookpack for the short-wheelbase that Mr Eyre had retained from his first Ferrari for 54 years!

Thanks to the generosity of Richard Colton, the proceeds of the 2015 H&H auction saw £8.5m left to the RNLI. This phenomenal contribution has funded two new Shannon class lifeboats; the Richard and Caroline Colton & the Richard and Caroline Colton II. The former has been in service in Hastings since 2019 and the latter was delivered in March 2024 to his home in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Today we are delighted to be able to offer #1995GT for sale. A short-wheelbase with incredible provenance, a bookend to Ferraris in the UK and one of just 11 RHD steel examples built and with rare competition features from new. DK are fortunate to have been involved with this example for over 35 years and are proud to be able to offer it today.

Please refer to our main website for full details, more pictures, our terms of sale and accurate pricing as some websites may use out of date currency exchange rates: https://www.dkeng.co.uk/ferrari-sales/2028/blue_chip_competition_cars/ferrari_250_gt_berlinetta_swb.html