'61 250 GTE Restoration Project $95k in Las Vegas s/n 2947
Hillary Raab's serial number book calls this car as a 330GT prototype. However, is has a GTE style body and a GTE (128F) engine. Clearly not a 'full' prototype. I believe that this is a 'chassis' prototype, lengthened to the proposed 330GT length, either to determine handling characteristics or to determine how to effectively use the extra 2 inches.Tom Wilson wrote:Bill Preston and I were discussing Frankie’s GTE this weekend and it got me to wondering why it had 50 mm added to its wheelbase (same as the 330 GT 2+2, I believe). I had all along thought that the car had a standard GTE body, but now realized it couldn’t, as it would need to be 2 inches longer.
I came up with two logical reasons why you would want to lengthen the car; first to make room for a 330 engine (though the America didn't) and second, to add leg room to the rear. This being the case, if Frankie’s car was lengthened as a test vehicle for the 330 engine (though it currently has a 250 engine), the hood should be longer than normal. If it was done for added leg room, the logical way to stretch the body would be to lengthen the door.
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In any case, this is a long wheel base (LWB) GTE, making yours a SWB. Nice to know that you own a 250 SWB, right TomW?
Regards, Kerry
http://www.330gt.com 330 GT Registry
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari 250 PF Coupe 1643GT, 330 GT 2+2 8755GT, 308 GTS 23605
http://www.330gt.com 330 GT Registry
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari 250 PF Coupe 1643GT, 330 GT 2+2 8755GT, 308 GTS 23605
After looking at those pictures _long_ and _hard_ I am 100% sure this car has standard WB of 2600 mm. I even took a series of pictures of my car in order to better be able to compare and... nothing happened. The front fender is 100% standard GT/E; the door is 100% standard GT/E - and the rear fender is 100% standard GT/E. And besides; adding 50 mm to the wheelbase of a big car would not affect the handling in any measurable way.330GT wrote:I believe that this is a 'chassis' prototype, lengthened to the proposed 330GT length, either to determine handling characteristics or to determine how to effectively use the extra 2 inches.
Besides; if there ever was a 330GT prototype by the number 2947, this car has nothing to do with it. This car is a 1960 GT/E, built about one year before that serial number was created. Now that, IMO, is interesting!!!
250 GT 2+2 3197/GT
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Tom Wilson
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Very true... I spent Sunday afternoon winding up some of the cars electrical projects and starting on the brakes. I have some issues with stubborn bolts, but that is the subject for another thread.Your wife is absolutely correct. You have too much time on your hands. There's a GTE in your garage that is beckoning to be worked on. The next blog on your web site needs to show some elbow grease.