Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Bodywork and details

Pininfarina established the styling, drawing on cues from the 250 GT and the 250 GTO; Scaglietti constructed the body in steel, with only the doors, trunk lid, and hood made of aluminum. The tail features a small integrated spoiler and terminates in an abrupt Kamm tail, a novelty for Ferrari. Expansive glass areas, including the rear window and triangular three-quarter windows, provided excellent visibility. Distinctive Lusso features included the rectangular hood scoop, sweeping fenders, and primarily decorative chrome bumpers.

Bridging the lineup

With the Lusso, Ferrari bridged the gap between the sporting 250 GT SWB and the luxurious 250 GTE 2+2. The prototype was displayed at the 1962 Paris Salon and was virtually identical to the production car. The interior was more spacious than in the 250 GT, yet the Lusso remained a strict two-seater. Buyers at the time appreciated not only hardcore sports cars, but also civilized, comfortable, and roomy automobiles. The production run was unusually brief for a Ferrari.

Weight, racing, and successor

The Lusso was not intended for racing, but made occasional appearances in sporting events, such as the Targa Florio and the Tour de France. Depending on equipment, curb weight ranged between 1020 and 1310 kg. A total of 351 units were produced before the 275 GTB took over the model line; the name change reflected the enlarged displacement per cylinder. Ferrari historian Peter Coltrin suggests that production began shortly after the Paris unveiling.

Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.