Enzo Ferrari’s passion may have been racing cars, but by 1950, he had begun to accept that exclusive road cars were needed to finance the company’s growing competition efforts. Early roadgoing Ferraris were built in very small numbers, usually to special order, with no attempt at standardization. A significant change occurred in 1954, when the Pinin Farina-designed 250 Europa debuted in Paris. It was Ferrari’s first true production model and would form the foundation for all future Ferrari 250 models.
At the time of the unveiling of the second-series 250 Europa GT, Pinin Farina was in the process of building a new, much larger production facility and did not yet have the space to build the larger quantities of cars that Ferrari was requesting. Accordingly, the new 250 GT Coupe design they created was handed over to Carrozzeria Boano, headed by one of Pinin Farina’s designers, Mario Felice Boano. He proceeded to build 68 cars with slight styling alterations from the five cars that Pinin Farina had already built, the most notable being a lower fender line. When Boano’s namesake moved to Fiat in 1957, his son-in-law, Ezio Ellena, took over production under the banner of Carrozzeria Ellena. Ellena, too, made minor cosmetic changes—in particular, a raised roofline, prompting the use of the terms “Low Roof” for Boano-built bodies and “High Roof” for those by Ellena.
Originally finished in Grigio with a Rosso interior, this “Low Roof” Boano coupe was delivered to noted Ferrari customer and businessman Giorgio Mondadori in the spring of 1957. The Mondadori Group would become the largest publisher in Italy and Sig. Mondadori would go on to purchase several new Ferrari GT cars through the 1960s. Subsequently 0639 GT was exported from Italy to England in the late 1960s, and by the following decade was exhibited in Jim Baxter’s Lark Lane Motor Museum in Liverpool, finished in red with a tan interior. Mr. Baxter maintained the car for many years, during which time it was mentioned in the April 1986 issue of Thoroughbred & Classic Cars and appeared in the Ferrari Owners’ Club England roster with registration “EPD 27 B.”
Starting from the early 2000s, the Ferrari was owned by Jean-Roger Bossut, of France and Belgium, who would have marque specialist L’Officina in Brussels rebuild the numbers-matching engine and carry out other mechanical work. In 2007 the coupe took part in the Ferrari 60 Relay anniversary event in Reims-Epernay, France. In 2012, the coupe changed ownership and was registered in the United Kingdom, where it was cosmetically refurbished to its present color scheme of Argento Auteuil Metallizzato—a pale silver-blue metallic—with a gray roof and tan interior. Any inconsistencies with factory specification were also remedied at this time in preparation for the Ferrari Classiche certification that was completed in 2014, confirming the engine, gearbox, and bodywork to be original to chassis 0639 GT. A digital copy of the Red Book certification accompanies the sale. Further, the consignor has recently paid for a replacement copy of the physical Ferrari Classiche Red Book, which shall be delivered to the new buyer upon receipt from Ferrari Classiche.
In December 2017, the original numbers-matching engine was rebuilt by noted marque specialist Terry Hoyle. Acquired by an American collector in 2018 and brought to the United States for the first time in its history, the coupe’s careful upkeep has persisted with recent minor mechanical work to improve drivability and performance. In August 2022, it was shown at The Quail, a Motorsport Gathering in Carmel Valley, California.
Now offered with copies of previous registration documents, owner correspondence, and numerous service invoices detailing its cherished existence, this beautifully presented full numbers-matching 250 GT Coupe by Boano, replete with coveted Ferrari Classiche certification confirming it still retains its entire original drivetrain and bodywork, is eligible for the Mille Miglia, Tour Auto, and other prestigious events around the globe.
