If you’re a fan of Ferrari’s long-running lineage within the world of artisanal automotive manufacturing, it’s likely that you’ve heard of their illustrious coachbuilder, Pininfarina. The widely-recognized design firm wasn’t always the manufacturer’s go-to choice, however, with Turin, Italy’s Vignale building the majority of its cars until the mid-1950s. The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Prototipo that you see here was one of the first in a long line of Pininfarina bodies to make their debut during this period.
The 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Prototipo was a herald of change for the Maranello-based brand, who would solicit Pininfarina to body 48 out of the 53 Europa/Europa GTs that it was slated to introduce over the coming years. As a prototypical platform that would usher in the era of the company’s Boano, the Berlinetta was first unveiled at the Geneva Salon in March 1956, boasting hand-crafted bodywork and sleek, sensual body lines. This example, however, was built-to-order for Guido Cantelli, a personal friend of Enzo Ferrari, and a prolific orchestra conductor from the era. After passing through the hands and homes of various owners, the car’s body was fully restored in the early 2000s by Garage Cointreau in France, where it was refinished in its original silver hue. Now, the matching-numbers model is listed for sale via Auxietre & Schmidt for a veiled price, giving it an air of collective mystery.
