The 250 Testa Rossa is quite simply one of the most remarkable and important cars built by one of the most legendary marques. Thanks to their World Sports Car championship victories (including Le Mans in 1958, 1959, and 1961) and historical significance, 250 Testa Rossas are now so valuable that they are rarely used, depriving the public and their owners of the joy of experiencing them. Consequently, high-quality evocations using Ferrari chassis, with Ferrari serial numbers, wearing alloy bodies, and using Ferrari mechanical components have garnered the interest of true Ferrari enthusiasts seeking the experience of some of the most significant automobiles ever constructed without the multi-million dollar price tags.
This car is not using serial Ferrari parts but it is an identical and probably the most perfect and identical evocation in every part, including the unique TR59 gearbox, differential, the extremely efficient and rare De Dion rear axel, original gauges and exact alloy body, engine, fuel tank, suspensions, the rare and very desirable six double 38DCN carburetors, etc… It is documented as a Ferrari 250 TR 59 and it comes with original Ferrari 250 VIN and engine numbers.
This car was reconfigurated around 35 years ago in the UK. It was one of the most ambitious projects in the world of Ferrari evocations and it could only be achieved by Mr. Jim Allington, who was one of the owners of one of the four original Ferrari 250 TR-59 units. Mr. Allington had a multimillionaire offer for his original car and he decided to build three identical units before releasing his original. One unit was sold in auction around 20 years ago soon after he passed away. These three units are the best recreations ever built on a TR-59 and proof of it is that this first unit turned out to be purchased by Mc.Gaw brothers who already had acquired original’s JA’s 0770 and another one of the 4 original units. The other sister spent several years in Norway and then returned to the UK and which went sold a few years ago for a record sale and then this one which is the most identical and well documented of the three sisters. This unit was fully restored by an official Ferrari dealer. Available a pendrive with over two hundred pictures of the full restoration as well as two expertise appraisals which shows the reality of this impressive racing vehicle, not only in terms of quality but of price orientation.
As follows, the entire history of this unit:
Mid 1980′s: Mr. Jim Allington built the entire car using his original unit #0770. The entire conversion was done by the best of its era, Mr. John Robinson (JR), who sadly passed away in the 90′s.
Early 1990s: Sold to a Mr. Hill/UK
03/1995: Bought by Mr. Terence D. Hoyle, Pleshey, Chelmsford/GB who is one of the best Ferrari specialists of all times. Mr. Hoyle built, among others, probably the best Ferrari 250 GTO and Drogo recreations. It was then road registered on plate ACK 195A
09/04/1995: sold to David Morrison, Esher, Surrey/GB keeping registration plate ACK 195A
Early 1997: Sold to Mr. Peter M. Fandel (“Pierre Fandel”), Birtlingen/D
06/1998: Sold for ca. 400.000 DM to Mr. Percy Bongers, Hamburg/D
04/2003: Sold to René Dreiner, Hamburg/D and then fully Rebuilt between 2003 and 2005 by Ferrari Dealer Eberlein Automobile GmbH.
07/02/2011: Purchased by the Ferrari official dealer Eberlein Automobile GmbH, Kassel/D
2012: Sold to Stefan Rehkopf, Bovenden/D
07/15/2014: traded back to Eberlein Automobile GmbH, Kassel/D and registered on plate KS-UA 342H
04/16/2019: Sold to Paco Ramos, Dubai/UAE
This magnificent car was executed with the consummate attention to detail expected of someone who takes some of the most desirable cars in the world and makes them almost surreally rapid. In keeping with that tradition, this car has been fitted with a tuned tipo 128F 3-litre engine and its TR-59 5-speed transmission, which make this car extremely quick.
The car was built to a high standard and remains in excellent condition after having undergone a top restoration by the above mentioned Ferrari official dealer. The complete car was redone to a very high quality and makes an exceptional presentation. The trim is very nice throughout, and the 16-inch Borrani wire wheels are in as-new condition with correct dimension 5.0 front and 5.50 16-inch rear with period-type Michelin Racing tires fitted. The headlamps are in excellent condition, reflecting the attention to detail, as do a number of other small items such as the leather hood straps and unmistakable clear carburetor hood scoop.
The interior is simple but very evocative, with upholstered cloth blue bucket seats in the style of the car, as well as a purposeful grey painted alloy dash with ample instrumentation and a very special and elegant wood-rimmed steering wheel.
The engine compartment is very clean and detailed, and the 6-carb setup is truly an impressive site. The valve covers have been painted red as is appropriate for the Testa Rossa model and name. The underside is similarly clean and detailed, showing correct finishes throughout.
This car is a blast to drive thanks to the five-speed gearbox and tuned engine, which is a full one third larger than the original engine would have been, while aesthetically remaining much the same. The disc brakes ensure that stopping is equally well accomplished, while the car performs otherwise as a Testa Rossa would. The driving position is very comfortable.
This is a very fast and enjoyable car to drive that will be a wonderful way for the new owner to enjoy the feel and performance of one of the world’s most historically significant Italian competition built automobiles. More over, the car has participated at the 1990 Scottish Historic Motor Sport Tour and at the “Storiche Biella-Modena” among others but it is eligible to many other european and intercontinental events which have recently accepted the participation of very accurate aluminum bodied reconfigurations built from actual Ferrari VIN´s. This car would also be a welcome entry to vintage racing with HSR and SCCA Vintage, among others.
