This Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Formerly Owned by Eppie Wietzes Is Gorgeous From Every Angle

This is also the time when the 250 series cars were produced. The last representative of the Ferrari 250 generation, the GT Berlinetta Lusso, is considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time, and it heralded the introduction of increasingly luxurious and refined Ferraris.

The "Lusso" in its name translates to "Luxury" from Italian, and its body was designed by none other than legendary car designer Pininfarina and built by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. Introduced to the world at the 1962 Paris Motor Show in prototype form, this grand tourer oozed elegant, timeless style from every nut and bolt and was the culmination of the 250 GT platform’s mechanical development, having been endowed with the most highly-developed iteration of the 250 GT chassis, engine, and suspension.

Actually, under the skin, it was very similar to the 250 GTO, Ferrari’s legendary sports-racing model that won the FIA’s International Championship for GT Manufacturers three years in a row between 1962 and 1964. It was built on a tubular steel chassis inspired by the design of the 250 GTO, and while the front suspension was the traditional type with double wishbones and coil springs, the rear suspension setup mimicked that of the multiple-championship winner, consisting of a live axle with semi-elliptical concentric coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers.

Scaglietti built the body out of steel, with aluminum opening panels for the doors, hood, and trunk. The purring Colombo-designed 3-liter V12 engine under the Lusso's hood developed 240 hp and 242 Nm (178 lb-ft), allowing the car to reach speeds of up to 150 mph (240 kph), which made it the fastest passenger car of that period.

The interior, meanwhile, stood out with its luxurious feel and look, highlighted by the leather upholstery, three-spoke Nardi steering wheel made of wood and aluminum, and generous trunk space with a parcel shelf covered in quilted leather.

Only 351 examples of the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso were made during the 18 months that it stayed in production, and some of these units ended up in the hands of celebrities like Steve McQueen and Eric Clapton.

The example shown here is chassis 5381, which was dispatched to Scaglietti in November 1963 and completed in February 1964. This particular unit was also owned at some point by a celebrity, this time a man closely related to the automotive world. We’re talking about Egbert "Eppie" Wietzes, a two-time Canadian Driving Champion and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame member. He was also the first ever driver of a safety car in Formula One.

Finished in Nocciola (hazelnut) paint over an interior trimmed with Rosso Vaumol leather by Connolly, this particular 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso was originally delivered to Italy and later exported to the United States in 1969. It subsequently moved to Canada, where the award-winning racing driver acquired it in 1972.

Eppie Wietzes kept the car for a few years, yet by June 1974, the Lusso was passed to a new owner in Ontario. In the subsequent years up until today, the car exchanged hands various times and underwent some refinishing and restoration work over the years. In 1994, it was sent to the Legendary Motorcar Company of Halton Hills who refinished the chassis, brightwork, wheels, and coachwork, while Alfieri International Automobiles of Toronto partially rebuilt the V12 engine.

The car benefitted from steady service, with the engine head rebuilt again in 2015 with new bearings, pistons, and timing chain. A new clutch and an electric fuel pump were also added. As for Lusso's coachwork, it was refinished in the current maroon color at the beginning of the 2000s.

Chassis 5381 was also presented at numerous events over the years, including the FCA National Meeting and Concours d’Elegance in Watkins Glen, New York, in July 1985, where it gained a third place award. In June 1998, it earned a Silver Award at the FCA National Meeting in Toronto.

The well-preserved 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso is set to go under the hammer on June 1. It is offered for sale with a Canadian registration and an estimated price range of $1,500,000 – $1,800,000.

Besides being one of the most beautiful road-going Ferraris of all time, chassis 5381 benefits from known provenance, a matching-numbers engine, and an enchanting appearance. It has also been documented by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, and knowing that it was well used during its illustrious life, we only hope that whoever has the best part of a couple of million lying around will continue to appreciate it as the fine piece of Maranello history that it is.