The Ferrari 250 GT's: July 2011

Trick Triang Scalectrix Ferrari GT 250 Berlinetta. A lively blogger in Spain outlines his vehicle in a 'Before & After' look at this outstanding model from 1960-1963.
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTri-ang%2BScalextric%2BFerrari%2BGT%2B250%2BBerlinetta%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dgmail%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dgm%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D842%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=es&twu=1&u=http://pasionslot.mforos.com/1554558/9598781-unoporcarril-y-mecanicos-scalextric-triang-ferrari-gt-berlinetta-c69-e4-with-lights/&usg=ALkJrhjsHo_RQbmK27bbEHO8nkU6WzN5aQ

You can also see my BEFORE shots of the model racer before initial cleaning, here...
http://enzosferrari132.blogspot.com/

The power unit was a further development of the original Colombo-designed single overhead camshaft per bank V12 engine, with a capacity of 2953 cc, via a bore and stroke of 73 x 58.8 mm and factory type references 168B, 168, and 168 Comp/61, all with wet sump lubrication. The spark plugs were outside the vee of the block, with a bank of three twin choke Weber 38 DCN or 40 DCL/6 carburettors and Solex C40 PAAI carburettors also homologated, with a twin coil and rear of engine mounted distributor’s ignition system, to produce a claimed 220 to 280 bhp, dependent upon specification. Weber 46 DCF/3 carburettors were a further homologated option; these were used on the special 1961 competition engines, which together with bigger valves, special exhaust manifolds and other fine tuning details achieved the upper level of power outputs quoted above. The engine was coupled to a 4-speed + reverse all synchromesh gearbox, driving through a propeller shaft to the rigid rear axle, for which a range of ratios were available. The gearboxes of the competition cars had ribbed alloy castings, and the road cars normally had plain-faced cast iron casings.  

This model was the first Ferrari production road car to be fitted with disc brakes as standard and, unlike the preceding 250 GT Berlinetta series, was available in either left- or right-hand drive. It was also available in competition specification, with an aluminium body, lightweight interior trim, and the engine in a higher state of tune – or in ‘Lusso’ (luxury) road trim, when it was normally fitted with a steel body with aluminium opening panels. However, there was a great deal of overlap between the two basic specifications, depending upon a client's specific wishes. Therefore, it is not unusual for some road cars to have full aluminium bodies and/or a higher state of tune engine. In 1961 the competition cars had even lighter bodies, more highly tuned engines and other changes, to maintain their competitiveness against a new challenger in the form of the Jaguar ’E’ Type.

Type

front, longitudinal 60° V12

Bore/stroke

73 x 58.8 mm

Unitary displacement

246.10 cc

Total displacement

2953.21 cc

Compression ratio

9.2 : 1

Maximum power

206 kW (280 hp) at 7000 rpm

Power per litre

95 hp/l

Maximum torque

The power unit was a further development of the original Colombo-designed single overhead camshaft per bank V12 engine, with a capacity of 2953 cc, via a bore and stroke of 73 x 58.8 mm and factory type references 168B, 168, and 168 Comp/61, all with wet sump lubrication. The spark plugs were outside the vee of the block, with a bank of three twin choke Weber 38 DCN or 40 DCL/6 carburettors and Solex C40 PAAI carburettors also homologated, with a twin coil and rear of engine mounted distributor’s ignition system, to produce a claimed 220 to 280 bhp, dependent upon specification.

Weber 46 DCF/3 carburettors were a further homologated option; these were used on the special 1961 competition engines, which together with bigger valves, special exhaust manifolds and other fine tuning details achieved the upper level of power outputs quoted above. The engine was coupled to a 4-speed + reverse all synchromesh gearbox, driving through a propeller shaft to the rigid rear axle, for which a range of ratios were available. The gearboxes of the competition cars had ribbed alloy castings, and the road cars normally had plain-faced cast iron casings.  

Valve actuation

single overhead camshaft per bank, two valves per cylinder

Fuel feed

three Weber 40 DCL/6 carburettors

Ignition

single spark plug per cylinder, two coils

Lubrication

wet sump

Clutch

single-plate

The overall design changed very little during the three-year production run from 1960 to 1962. However, there are a number of detail differences that identify the period of production of a specific car. In the early months of production the front and rear wings sides were plain, as was the boot lid. There was an exhaust air slot in the top centre of the rear screen, and the sliding door windows had a pronounced downward curve to the top rear edge, whilst the front valance featured a pair of rectangular slots to cooling ducts for the front brakes. The cars produced from around the middle of 1960 featured vertical angled exhaust air slots on the front and rear wings, which had a trim surround on three sides, and teardrop-shaped indicators on the front wings. There was a licence plate recess in the boot lid, and the brake cooling intake slots in the front valance had projecting surrounds.

The late 1960 examples were very similar, apart from the cabin exhaust air slot moving from the rear screen to a recess in the trailing edge of the roof, and either sliding or wind-up door windows were available. If the latter option was specified, opening quarter lights were normally provided. All examples produced up to this point had an external fuel filler cap, located in a cut-out in the top left corner of the boot lid. The main visual differences between the 1960 examples and those after 1961 were in the shape of the door windows, which had a straighter top edge, and the relocation of the fuel filler cap, which was either on the left rear wing or hidden within the boot. There were also myriad smaller differences, like a slightly larger radiator grille and slight re-profiling of the rear wing shape, jacking point locations etc., together with individual customer styling, but the foregoing items identify the main differentiating features of the series.

Apart from the normal berlinetta body, there were some one-off designs, mainly by Pininfarina in a style similar to that of the 400 Superamerica, including a cabriolet with a removable hard top, on chassis number 1737GT. Their ‘400SA’ coupé-bodied examples comprised two road versions on chassis 2613GT and 3615GT, plus two lightweight competition examples on chassis 2429GT and 2643GT. The former lightweight model was never used in competition and was sold to a French client, whilst the latter saw race action at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, driven by the likes of Stirling Moss and Giancarlo Baghetti. Bertone produced two designs, the first in 1960 on chassis 1739GT (unusual in that it featured cast alloy wheels) and another in 1961, featuring the ‘Chiti’ shark nose look, on chassis 3269GT. There was also a one-off ‘Spider Speciale’ by Zagato.

Note to the Technical Details

The listed details are those published by Ferrari at the model’s presentation.

For the models produced in the first years no external measures of the body were given, because those could vary from car to car.

All models from Ferrari have been divided into three categories: single-seater, Sport/Prototype, (the participating in these two categories) and Gran Turismo. (the road-going cars, many of which also took part in various international races).
These offerings from Bertone would be the last designs by any carrozzeria, other than Pininfarina, to officially grace a Ferrari chassis for a number of years. During the sixties and into the seventies various examples received one-off bodies, but these were re-bodies of existing cars, as opposed to a bare chassis from the factory.

The year of all the models’ introductions is the debut in competitions for the single-seaters and Sport /Prototypes and the official presentation as far as the Gran Turismo are concerned.

Performance

Top speed

268 km/h

In competition, the ‘passo corto’ berlinetta continued the success of the ’passo lungo’ model, with three consecutive wins in the Tour de France between 1960 and 1962. It also won the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1960 and 1961, the GT category at Le Mans in 1960 and 1961, and the Nürburgring 1000 km in 1961 and 1962. These are just a few of the numerous class and overall wins achieved during its reign as queen of the GT category.

Chassis

Frame

tubular steel Front suspension independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers

Rear suspension live axle, radius arms, semi-elliptic springs, telescopic shock absorbers

Brakes drums

Transmission 4-speed + reverse Steering worm and roller Fuel tank capacity 120 litres