Just like Sophia Loren – but on wheels

It is said that Steve McQueen was given a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso by his wife Neile for his 34th birthday. It was to become his favourite car. That’s understandable. After all: “Whenever a GT Lusso appears at a concours, it’s as if Sophia Loren were striding through a party of English schoolgirls in a breathtaking red cocktail dress.” This quote comes from Ken Gross. He knows what he’s talking about. After all, as Chief Class Judge of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and former director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, he possesses the necessary expertise.

Just a quick introduction to explain why our attention is drawn to this 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso in Blu Scuro with a red leather interior. We wouldn’t go so far as to say we’ve fallen in love, but the car simply commands everyone’s attention.

And now for the practical bit: if you want to give someone close to you the same kind of birthday treat that Neile Adams once gave her husband Steve McQueen, then now is your chance to do so. We’ve actually spotted this car at our friends’ Classic Trader. And yes: you can buy it – or, to be more precise, bid for it at auction. The auction runs until 12 July 2026, 7.45 pm Central European Summer Time. You’ll need to have the necessary funds – in the low seven-figure range – to bid, though.

Why is it worth it? Here are a few facts:

This Lusso was delivered on 28 November 1963, in its factory colour Blu Scuro and with a beige leather interior. During a restoration in the early 2000s carried out by Ferrari specialist Alain Coquelet, red leather was fitted. The original beige interior has been fully preserved and will be passed on to the new owner along with the car. The car spent 47 years with a single owner; only four owners are listed in its documents. A recent expert report certifies a condition rating of 2; according to the available documentation, the powertrain is considered to be presumably matching numbers, although no official certification has yet been issued. Under the long bonnet, the Colombo V12 with a displacement of 2,953 ccm, delivering 179 kW (equivalent to 243 PS), drives the rear wheels via a manual four-speed gearbox. The odometer reads 60,473 kilometres.

By the way: You are, of course, also welcome to purchase the car even if you do not intend to give it away.

→ Detailed information about the vehicle is available at Classic Trader.