1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

By the late '50s it was apparent that Ferrari had perfected the dual-purpose gran turismo automobile with its line of 250 GTs. The Colombo-designed V12 had evolved into a powerful engine. More important in racing, where it was said, " to finish first, you must first finish," it was reliable. That reliability carried over to 250 GTs that never saw the race track, creating confident and satisfied owners.

By 1961 competition pressure had persuaded Ferrari to create high-performance versions of the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. Known as the 168 Comp./61s and sometimes called "SEFAC hot rods," one steel-bodied car, built during the construction of many of the Comp./61s, was delivered with a comprehensive selection of Comp./61 performance features, making it a true factory hot rod: 2549GT.

2549GT was built to US specifications. In addition to the Tipo 168F engine, it was built with a cold air box, 40-mm Weber carbs, aluminum front and rear bulkheads,...