Ferrari 250 GT SWB

The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, chassis 1771GT, is a stunning example of Ferrari’s legendary Short Wheelbase (SWB) 250 GT, blending Pininfarina’s elegant design with the raw performance of a race-bred machine. First unveiled as the Geneva Salon show car from March 10-20, 1960, it immediately captured attention with its refined yet aggressive styling, a hallmark of Ferrari’s transition into the golden era of grand touring. Shortly after its debut, Swiss racing enthusiast Peter Monteverdi acquired the car, before it found its way into the hands of Walter Ringgenberg of Gerzensee later that year. Ringgenberg wasted no time in putting 1771GT through its paces, competing in numerous Swiss hillclimb events. The car proved to be a formidable contender, winning the Mitholz-Kandersteg hillclimb, finishing 2nd in class at the prestigious Großer Bergpreis der Schweiz (Ollon-Villars hillclimb), and securing another 1st-place finish at the Machairuz hillclimb in October 1960 with an impressive time of 3:15.1. Ringgenberg continued racing the car successfully through 1962 and 1963, adding more podium finishes to its résumé. In 1963, the car passed to Romano Sacchi of Geneva, who continued its competitive legacy. He placed 2nd in the GT class at the Km. d’Eaux Mortes in May 1965 and 4th in class at the Mont Ventoux hillclimb the following month. The car later found a home with Peter F. Baumberger, who also enjoyed success on the hillclimb circuit, before it was acquired by Ado Vallaster of Zurich in 1970, who repainted it red. Over the years, 1771GT remained an important part of Ferrari’s history, making appearances at Ferrari Days in Modena (1983), the FF40 International Ferrari Concours in Brussels (1992), and later being displayed at the Ferrari Exhibition at the Pantheon in Basel (2011-2012). Today, this beautifully preserved 250 GT SWB stands as a testament to Ferrari’s dedication to both competition and craftsmanship, embodying the golden age of grand touring with a history that is as thrilling as the car itself.