What would it have been? A mild week in early October on the Champs d’Elysée, guarded by colourful autumn foliage, the Parisians and their guests from all over the world probably sat outside in front of the countless street cafes, zipping a café au lait or a Pernod.
The exposition in the halls at Porte de Versailles did reflect the spirit of the age and for us –watching it 50 years later-it was the time when the world still seemed to be black and white. The car, Ferrari did present did fit to this some time later, its first appearance was a bright Giallo Solare and was repainted in Silver later.
What was presented to the public –one year before the launch of the first production car- was Pininfarina’s prototipo for the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso #3849GT, a front engine car with 280 bhp with a wheelbase of 2,400 mm. It was obvious that the 250 GT SWB was the gene pool for the Lusso’s development, but if one clearly associates the SWB with racing the Lusso was associated with avenue and boulevards.
#3849GT, the first Lusso, was –concerning its history- mistaken with #4335GT, the 1963 London Show car, later, even if #4335GT looks totally different with its covered headlights-front. Therefore the information, that Battista Pininfarina has personally owned this car, is not correct, he owned indeed #4335GT. The obviously wrong identification of #3849GT even led to a restoration, executed in 1994, that made #3849GT look like #4335GT. It is known about #3849GT that it remained in Italy until 1967 before being exported –obviously by then official dealer Crepaldi of Milan- to the US. In 1989 it did show up with Dutchman Frans van den Heuvel, now being Red with a Black interior before it was dismantled at Modena Motorsports in Langenfeld in 1993 and –as already mentioned- restored in Silver with Bordeaux interior. The car obviously stayed in Germany ever since and was observed during the Millenium edition of the Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.