1959 Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” Competition Berlinetta

Luftman’s wife hated racing, so Walter would tell her he was going fishing. His cover was blown when he won at Lime Rock and it made the papers

by John Apen

Ferrari’s 250 3-liter LWB Berlinettas so dominated the grueling Tour de France in the mid 1950s, they took their name from it. They racked up a string of victories in the epic French race, scoring a 1-2-3 in 1958, when only 21 of 60 starters finished. The five-day, 3,300-mile marathon included open road rally stages, six circuit races, two hill climbs, and a 500-meter drag race. The Tour demanded speed and reliability; in 1956, only 37 of 103 starters finished. The winner was the stylish Marquis de Portago driving one of the first LWB Berlinettas, #0557. In winning the 1956 event, the TdF also grabbed the race’s title. Stirling Moss was second in a factory Mercedes 300SL. In 1957, Oliver Gendebien repeated de Portago’s win in S/N 0677, a works car with the best racing history of any TdF. Gendebien’s car was one of the ten 14-louver cars with the smaller rear window, allowing for a sail panel to accommodate the louvers. Clothed by Scaglietti in a similar...