The Is the Final Ferrari of Its Kind Made. Now It Could Fetch $2 Million at Auction.

The highly original 1956 Ferrari 250 Europa GT, which raced at Spa, will be auctioned through Bonhams|Cars on August 15.

Within the Prancing Horse marque’s first decade of existence, models from Maranello had already made an indelible impression on the automotive industry with their striking combination of both innovative performance and styling. Among the world’s glitterati, owning sports cars with such je ne sais quoi soon became status quo.

Yet even among those circles, the Ferrari 250 Europa GT put prestige into high gear. A racer dressed as a grand tourer, that model has an enduring allure that will once again be showcased when a 1956 example crosses the auction block through Bonhams|Cars on August 15.

According to Ferrari, the initial Europa, which debuted in 1953, succeeded the 212 Inter and was built on the chassis of the 375 America. The model was given a 3.0-liter Lampredi V-12 engine and dressed in bodywork by Vignale. At the Paris Auto Salon of 1954, the Europa GT was introduced, equipped with a short-block 3.0-liter Colombo V-12—making about 216 hp at 6,600 rpm—mated to a four-speed manual transmission. The auction house notes that the shorter wheelbase and the new mill “brought down weight by approximately 10 percent, and added nearly ten miles per hour to the top speed." The GT version also wore coachwork by Pinin Farina (officially known as Pininfarina today).

“The Ferrari 250 Europa GT is undoubtably one of the most beautiful grand touring Ferrari’s ever produced; however, this particular example is even more special than most," says Louis Frankel, specialist at Bonhams|Cars. “Chassis 0427 GT was the very last Ferrari 250 Europa GT produced, complete with the GT upgrades including the all-important coil spring suspension."

In 1956, chassis No. 0427 GT left the factory for Jacques Swaters’ privateer racing squad Garage Francorchamps. It was also exhibited at that year’s Brussels Motor Show before being acquired by a Mr. W. Nilens, who competed with the car at the 1957 Grand Prix de Spa.

From 1966 through the late 1990s, the car bounced from Europe to the U.S.—where it had a couple of different stewards—then back to Europe, where it surfaced through a dealer in Switzerland in 1998. Bonhams|Cars cites: “By the early 2000s, the Ferrari was back stateside, owned by noted collector of significant European sportscars, Mr. Bruce Milner of Los Angeles." It next came into the collection of Scott Kriens, also of California, who had it aesthetically and mechanically restored to concours-quality standards by Brian Hoyt and his team at Perfect Reflections (paint), Patrick Ottis (the rebuild of the original engine), and Ken Nemanic of Vintage Automotive Upholstery (the refurbishment of the interior).

“We are now delighted to present this fabulous example in its original color combination complete with original matching numbers engine and bodywork, accompanied by a Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification," says Frankel.

Since the restoration, this Europa GT had at least two more owners, according to the auction house, including the current consignor, and has been entered in such renowned exhibitions as the Quail, a Motorsports Gathering and the Cavallino Classic. Not a display vehicle only, chassis No. 0427 GT has also taken part in numerous motoring events, such as the 2022 Mille Miglia.

As for the model’s market value, a 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT sold for $1.765 million through the Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island Auctions in March. That amount is roughly the low-end estimate for the vehicle to be presented through Bonhams|Cars, though, as this is the final one made and in superb condition. “It is without doubt one of the finest examples of a Ferrari 250 Europa GT anywhere in the world," says Frankel, which underscores why bidding could reach $2 million.

From the article by Viju Mathew