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www.QV500.com - Ferrari 250 GT Boano Part 1: 250 GT Pinin Farina |
 0443 GT, 1956 Rally des Alpes class winner |
This 250 GT series, often referred to as Boano and Ellena, are often the cause of much confusion and thus a few details need to be ironed out immediately. Intended as a replacement for the 250 GT Europa, this revised model was initially bodied by Pinin Farina. However, it soon became clear that Pinin Farina did not have the build capacity for another Ferrari model. Thus, production was transferred to another carrozzeria based in Turin, that of Boano, who produced bodywork only subtly different from the earlier PF designs. |
| Production of these 250 GT bodies and interiors continued at the Boano works until the middle of 1957 when Mario Boano received a position as head of the FIAT styling department. Production continued at the same factory though, Carrozzeria Boano coming under the control of Pollo and Boano’s son-in-law, Ellena, from whom the re-modelled organisation took it's name. Thus the carrozzeria remained the same although a number of minor revisions were made that help differentiate Boano and Ellena-built cars. All three derivatives carry ultimately comparable coachwork – the early Pinin Farina designed and built examples, the Boano and Ellena constructed examples appearing practically identical to the uninitiated. There are exceptions to this rule, however, with a number of bespoke vehicles having been produced for special clients, often with unique bodywork. With the 250 Europa's produced between late 1953 and early 1956, Ferrari had begun to implement greater standardisation from one car to the next. This continued with the new 250 GT, the first few examples of which had bodies fabricated by Pinin Farina. But throughout production and whether receiving coachwork from Pinin Farina, Boano or Ellena, these 250 GT's (with the exception of four Pinin Farina Speciale's) used the 2600mm wheelbase, Tipo 508 tubular steel ladder frame. First seen on the 250 GT Europa, independent front suspension and a live rear axle were present along with hydraulic drum brakes and, of course, Borrani wire wheels. |
 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe chassis 0429 GT |
The first few examples used the same Tipo 112 engines as 250 GT Europa's, this combined with their identical chassis to the interim GT Europa's making it unclear as to exactly which group they belong. We have therefore covered them in both Europa and Boano chapters and leave collectors to make their own assumptions. Colombo’s 60° V12 retained it's 2953cc displacement thanks to a bore and stroke of 73mm x 58.5mm whilst a compression ratio of 8.5:1 yielded 220bhp at 7000rpm. As before, three twin-choke Weber 36 DCF downdraught carburettors were fitted along with an all synchromesh, four-speed gearbox. |
| Performance was little changed with sixty coming up in just over seven seconds and a top speed in excess of 140mph possible. With regard to these early Pinin Farina designed and built examples, the chassis and mechanical components might have been more or less identical to the 250 GT Europa, but the bodywork was altogether different, the new model being to a markedly more attractive design. Prominent features were the oval main grille and its supplementary driving lights positioned at each corner, the crisp front wings and long sloping hood. A small kick-up rear wing just behind each door gave a pleasing offset to a tail that featured quite sharply creased wings topped by a rakish cabin and very low fastback roof line. It is fair to say that the Pinin Farina design first seen on the Europa's had matured to become one of the most elegant vehicles of the period. Indeed, the whole appearance was a little lighter and less bulbous than preceding models. Full width chrome plated bumpers to the front and rear were the only concessions to impact protection while Pinin Farina's silhouette was devoid of almost any stylised trim. One final cue worthy of mention was the wraparound rear window, again adding to the cars sporting lines. The interior was classic fifties Ferrari GT with restrained luxury and wonderful style. There was a prominent two dial dash facia (normally), leather trimmed door panels, seats and transmission tunnel (partially covered) plus a carpeted rear luggage panel and exquisite wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel. |
 0429 GT outside the Pinin Farina works, 1956 |
The first 250 GT to be completed was on chassis 0429 GT. Debuted at the Geneva Salon during March 1956 before being shown again at the Brussels' Motor Show, production of these early cars designed and built by Pinin Farina would only go on to total eight units, the firm experiencing some capacity problems at the time. By mid 1956, production was transferred to Carrozzeria Boano. The chassis numbers of these eight vehicles and their original configurations are listed below: |
| 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe Chassis Index | |
| 0429 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | 1956 Brussels & Geneva Salon |
| 0431 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | |
| 0433 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | |
| 0435 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | |
| 0441 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | Aluminium body, re-numbered as 0525 GT |
| 0443 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | Aluminium body, 1956 Rally des Alpes 5th overall, 1st GT |
| 0445 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | |
| 0447 GT | Pinin Farina Coupe | Aluminium body, used as a road car |