FERRARI 250 GT

S ure, Ferrari automobiles were built prior to the 1950s but why would you want one, wonders Mike Sheehan, a Ferrari collector, historian and racer, as well as broker.

If you’re looking for the quintessential Ferrari, the car that made Ferrari a household name and turned on countless automobile enthusiasts around the globe, it’s the 250 GT series built in the 1950s.

In their heyday, this series of Ferrari, which includes the Europa GT, Boano and Ellena, represented the most powerful, most desirable and coolest sports cars in the world. The production of these cars also represented a “huge, quantum, massive leap forward” for the Italian automobile manufacturer, says Sheehan.

Earlier cars built by Ferrari were, well poop, he insists.

“The only reason they were successful was because Ferrari stuffed a V12 engine in them when everybody else had a four-cylinder.”

That all changed, however, with the introduction of the Ferrari 250 GTs, which included vastly improved front and rear suspensions, bigger brakes and synchromesh transmissions. As a result, “they became much better and more improved cars,” Sheehan says.

Even today, they represent an incredible investment, both in terms of sheer driving delight and market value. Prices for these cars continue to escalate, making them a wise Ferrari investment.

While most of the newer sports cars being built today are likely to be faster, these ‘50s Ferraris continue to score high on the adrenaline-pumping chart.