www.QV500.com - Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Part 4: 250 GTE of Special Interest

Considering the GTE was produced when bespoke coachbuilding was still commonplace, it's surprising how few custom examples of it were manufactured. Three prototypes, chassis’ 1287 GTE (1959), 1895 GT (the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours course car) and 1903 GT, all featured the inevitable variations of early developmental vehicles while in 1962, two black GTE's went to the Italian police for driver training (during which one was destroyed). The sole remaining car, chassis 3999 GT, was subsequently used by the Rome Flying Squad over the next ten years before retiring from duty in 1973.

Fantuzzi, the Modena-based carrozzeria run by Medardo Fantuzzi, carried out the only period re-body of a GTE, chassis 2235 GT having been converted at the behest of NART impresario Luigi Chinetti. Receiving new coachwork in time to be displayed at the 1965 New York Motor Show, the front end treatment mimicked a 64-spec 250 GTO, this theme continuing along the side profile and to the heavily sculptured rear wings. The cabin was no less rakish, a cut-down windscreen and 250 P-esque roll over hoop providing 2235 with a very distinctive appearance. This was no mere body change, however, as Chinetti demanded that if the new special looked like a sports prototype, it should be as quick as one also. Thus a Testa Rossa-spec engine with over 300bhp was fitted and provided this solitary GTE Speciale with explosive performance.