It took wind gusts of up to 240 km/h to ensure that this unique Ferrari ended up on these pages. A wonderful collector's item, for those not averse to a coat of patina....
Text: Gerben Bijpost Photos: Darin Schnabel ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's
Charley began 4 August 2004 as a modest tropical storm on Africa's west coast. But when it arrived at Florida five days later, after a thousands-mile journey across the Atlantic, its strength had increased in frightening fashion to a hurricane high in Category 4, one of the heaviest storms ever recorded here. Charley held house for six days, leaving a trail of destruction, taking the lives of 35 people and causing nearly $17 billion in damage.
One of the more insignificant damages involved the roof of an old barn, which had been completely torn off. What emerged underneath would go down in history as one of the most extraordinary barnfinds once, later christened the Lost & Found Collection: some 20 Ferraris from the company's golden era -which stretches from the 1950s to the 1970s- including some of the Italian brand's most extraordinary creations.
Flagship without lacquer coating
One of them is this 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale, still with its original paintwork. Or at least, what is left of it. It is a car with a special story, which began at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1956. Here, Ferrari introduced a new flagship to replace the 375 America: the 410 Superamerica with Lampredi engine. Impressive in every respect, not least because of its beautiful bodywork. This Pinin Farina design was a combination of formal and sporty elements, starting with a prominent grille and bulbous protruding wings with integrated headlights, a high-profile cockpit overflowing into a wraparound rear window and finally a flat rear deck flanked by subtle tail fins.
Two months later, at the Geneva Salon, this Superamerica was joined by another new Ferrari model that closely resembled it. This was the introduction of the new 250 GT, powered by an improved version of Gioacchino Colombo's V-12. This new bodywork, also by Pinin Farina, was almost identical to that of the Superamerica, albeit slightly larger and featuring chromed bonnet and wing openings and accentuated rear mudguards.
Hyper exclusive
Of this 250 GT, Pinin Farina built only two prototypes and about four early examples, until production suddenly took a peculiar turn: the production contract was awarded by Ferrari to coachbuilder Felice Mario Boano, while Pinin Farina was given the contract to produce the 250 GT Cabriolet - nota bene, a design by... yes, the same Boano. As a result, however, Pinin Farina's Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale became an extremely rare sight. Even rarer were the only three examples built by Pinin Farina without wing openings, which were sold to prominent customers worldwide. The most important among them? The buyer of the car pictured here, with chassis number 0469 GT, delivered in August 1956 to Mohammed al-Khamis bin Yusef bin Hassan al-Alawi, better known as Mohammed V, King of Morocco.
Fight for independence
Mohammed V had returned to his country less than a year earlier, having been exiled to Madagascar by the French in 1953. He was a fanatical advocate of national independence, and in an attempt to silence his voice, the colonial authorities tried to erase him from the national consciousness. That ploy failed. After returning home in late 1955, Mohammed V continued to negotiate with the occupiers, with the final result being the green light for Morocco's independence.
Although it is no more than speculation, it is quite possible that the king -known lover of special cars - celebrated his country's hard-won independence by buying Ferrari's latest speed machine. In which, of course, he wanted something more exclusive than a standard series model. This Pinin Farina coupé with its unusual bodywork was the perfect choice, very rare and elegant, but also undeniably sporty.
The great crossing
By the early 1960s, Mohammed apparently got tired of his little car anyway, as the Ferrari was exported to the United States and, after some wandering, ended up in a shed that was slowly but surely forgotten. There, in the dark, covered by an ever-thickening layer of dust, it waited patiently for that one modest gust of wind, which decades later would originate near its former homeland of Morocco, cross the ocean and eventually become powerful enough to bring it back into full daylight with thunderous force. Ready for a second life. Starting with a solid refurbishment...
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