After being sold for a whopping $70 million, the Ferrari 250 GTO was named the world’s most expensive automobile ever in 2018. From 1962 to 1964, Ferrari only made 39 of these tough boys.
The 250 GTOs were designed to compete in FIA Group 3 racing at first. Everything about this car was perfect, from the sleek design to the powerful engine. A 60-degree 2,953cc-V12 engine with 300 BHP was fitted in the 250 GTO.
Furthermore, this vehicle reached 60 mph in approximately 6.1 seconds.
The Ferrari 250 GTO was placed seventh in the Top Sports Cars of the 1960s list published by Sports Car International Magazine in 2004.
This automobile was named the ‘Greatest Ferrari Of All Time’ by the Motor Trend Classics.
It was dubbed the ‘Hottest Car of All Time’ by Popular Mechanics. All of this indicates that Ferrari had created a true beast.
Introducing The Ferrari 250 GTO
It was more akin to an ultimate racing car than a road car. The design, aerodynamic performance, and power of the 250 GTO made it one of the most popular racing cars ever.
Throughout its history, the 250 GTO won numerous awards, including the Tour de France Automobile, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and more than ten Grand Prix victories.
The 250 GTO raced for the first time at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1962. Enzo Ferrari, the company’s creator, wanted to make sure that his magnum opus was driven by someone who could fully exploit the monster’s capabilities.
They enlisted the help of Formula One World Champion Phill Hill and Belgian star sports car driver Olivier Gendebien to pilot the vehicle. The power couple finished in second place in the competition.
In 1963, it won the Tour de France Automobile, a series with a prize purse of €1.5 million (about $1.7 million).
The Jaguar 3.8 Mk 2 was assigned third place. Ferrari finished second and fourth, respectively. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that Ferrari dominated the other sports cars that competed in the event.
Ferrari, though, felt that once was not enough. In 1964, the 250 GTO model won the Tour de France Automobile once more. Untouchable was the Ferrari 250 GTO. The model took first and second place in the competition.
The Porsche 904 GTS, which finished third, was the only other car that came close to Ferrari.
The Ford Mustang, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ, and Jaguar 3.8 Mk 2 were among the other ‘big shot’ sports vehicles that competed in the event.
From 1962 through 1964, the 250 GTO dominated the FIA International Sportscar Championship, winning three times in a row.
The Shelby Cobra and the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato were among the competitors in this competition.
Ferrari 250 GTO: Capabilities Of Rivals
The Porsche 904 GTS from 1964 was one of the vehicles that challenged our beloved Ferrari. The 904 had a standard 4-cylinder engine capable of producing 180 BHP, which was slightly over half of the horsepower produced by the 250 GTO.
The 904 could accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in six seconds, a fraction of a second faster than the 250. The car’s top speed was only 160 miles per hour.
It weighed less than half as much as Ferrari’s 250 GTO (1,400 pounds) (1,936 lbs). Despite being superior in several areas, the Porsche 904 was unable to defeat the Ferrari 250 GTO in the end.
The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was another sports car that may be regarded as a competitor to the 250 GTO.
You might be astonished to learn that the Aston Martin DB4 GT’s standard 6-cylinder 3670 cc engine can create more power than the 250 GTO, around 315 horsepower.
In addition, the car was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 5.8 seconds. This time is a tenth of a second faster than the 250 GTO time.
If you are familiar with the world of racing, you should be aware that even a fraction of a second can make a significant impact.
Nonetheless, Ferrari outperformed it. The Aston Martin DB4 GT had a top speed of 153 mph, which was slower than the Porsche 904 GTS. In the end, the car’s efficiency is the deciding factor.
Despite significant shortcomings, the Ferrari 250 GTO outperformed its competitors. The Ferrari 250 GTO has proven to be one of the best sports vehicles to date in terms of aerodynamics, performance, and efficiency.