GTO ENGINEERING

GTO Engineering has always sought to give their clients the opportunity to preserve the mechanical authenticity of their classic Ferrari whilst still enjoying the thrill of driving them. Initially, parts were sourced or remanufactured preserve the originality of genuine components on original Ferrari 250 SWB cars. However, as this parts catalogue grew, it was a logical next step to accept a client’s request to commission work on their original Ferrari, either damaged beyond practical repair or missing major components and revive it to the clients own 250 Short Wheel Base specification.

The resultant revival GTO Engineering 250 SWB commissions are re-built by the same highly-skilled engineers, side-by-side with the original classic Ferrari cars that are the mainstay of the GTO Engineering workshops. A revival 250 SWB is a car ready for extensive use either on the road or race track. A number of previous clients now use their revival more than any other classic car in their collection. Indeed, active use in either competition, driving tours or concours events often enhance their value, by giving the car added history and provenance.

The visceral driving experience is something rarely matched by a modern supercar. In addition, the woodrimmed steering wheel, manual gearbox, sports seats and engine note allow you to drive the 250 SWB by feel and be at one with the car. It is only then, first-hand, you can understand the “quantum leaps” in design, engineering and handling that Sergio Pininfarina cited back in 1959 with the 250 SWB.

The design of the revival 250 SWB is identical to an original 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competitzione which was fully scanned and created in CAD in order to ensure an authentic and precise car. Therefore, it is based upon the very first SWB version produced by Ferrari that were called ‘Competizione’ due to their specific track design features that originally included an all-alloy body, a 3 litre 280hp Colombo 12- cylinder engine complete with double-barrel Weber carburettors, a four-speed manual gearbox and a lightweight interior trim.

The SWB was designed for performance in acceleration, braking and handling, to never-seen-before level. This 250 SWB design should not be confused with the later-introduced heavier steel body ‘Lusso’ version that was created with slightly lesser performance of 240hp and offered more road and grand touring ability – the addition of bumpers, a full leather interior, wind-up windows, and a better sound dampening which made the weight increase from 1050kg to 1160kg.

Following the ‘lusso’ version, there was also the opportunity to mix between the versions, depending upon the client’s specific wishes at the time. This left-hand drive mid-1960 ‘Competizione’ car has the following design features which are tell-tale signs of the production period including:

The door windows have a pronounced downward curve to the top rear edge
There is an exhaust air vent in the top centre of the rear screen.
There are vertical angled wing vents on the front and rear wings with trim surrounding three sides
There is a number plate recess in the boot lid
The brake cooling intake slots in the front valance have projecting surrounds

The later 1960 examples were very similar, apart from the cabin exhaust air slot moved from the rear screen to a recess in the trailing edge of the roof and wind-up door windows became available with opening quarter lights. It also features an external fuel fuller cap. The Nero exterior has each panel and the body itself painted together in a state-over-the-art paint booth and then put in a specialist low-bake oven. The Rosso interior has been hand-stitched by craftsman with attention paid to the suppleness, colour and grain of the leather maintaining the quality and integrity of the SWB.

The heart of this SWB is its front-longitudinal, naturally aspirated 3.5 litre (Tipo 128F) Colombo 60⁰ V12 with a SOHC and 2 valves per cylinder. This ‘fast-road engine’ ensures the SWB matches its original design brief of being competitive on-track as well as being more than capable of driving to and from the track in total comfort.

Everything, except for the rebuilt original Weber 40DCL Carburettors, is drawn, machined and manufactured inhouse. From the crankcase block itself, through to the cylinder heads, inlet manifolds, oil sump, crankshaft, connecting rods, camshafts, rocker gear and the front timing chest. Together with electronic distributor including mappable ignition all work is undertaken at our specialist in-house engine shop.