On October 10th, 2012 F-Register’s „The Chronicle“ reported of the 250 GT/L Berlinetta Pininfarina being presented in Paris 50 years ago. As pointed out, this was a pre-production car. The production started in 1962 and various sources report different cars to be the first production car. However, #4213GT and #4237GT are not really battling for that title. After the prototype #3849GT had already appearances at the motor shows in London (obviously accompanied by #4335GT), Paris and Comilini, it was #4297GT that was on display at the 1963’s Geneva Motor show that opened the gates to the public from March 14th to 24th.
The original livery of the car is said to have been Red with a Nero interior. After the show, the car was sold to Swiss racer, Jo Siffert. Siffert’s first experience with a racing Ferrari related from the 1961 edition of the 1,000 km at the Nürburgring 1961 when he started together with Liebl on a lent Ferrari –to our research this should have been the 500 TRC with chassis number 0692MDTR and was entered by Robert Jenny. Siffert/Liebl achieved a 15th OA and the 3rd place in their class S2.0.
His Lusso changed hands already in the 1960s when it was purchased by Jean Tinguely, a famous Swiss painter and sculptor. It was obviously exported to the US where it was driven by its third owner and was registered on California Blue plates “596 PZU”. In the meantime the car had received the engine form another Lusso, #5661. At some stage –and the date is unknown as well- the car was repainted Silver, the colour it still shows today. It was offered in 2001 by offered by Heritage Classics from Beverly Hills for US$ 129,000. The car obviously was acquired by its new owner from Belgium. It can be spotted quite frequently at Spa Ferrari Days and Spa Classic.