1956 Ferrari 250 GT Low-Roof Coupe Chassis no. 0581GT Engine...
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Low-Roof Coupe
Coachwork by Boano
Chassis no. 0581GT
Engine no. 0581GT
2,953cc SOHC V12 Engine
Triple Weber Carburetors
240bhp at 7,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
* One of 68 250 GT Low-Roof Coupes finished by coachbuilder Boano
* Delivered new to Italy
* Owned in period by ATS Automobili principal Giorgio Billi
* Retains its original engine, per factory records and marque expert Marcel Massini
* Recent, thorough restoration
THE BOANO-BODIED 250 GT
In the mid-1950s, automotive designer Mario Felice Boano left the employment of Ghia, a company he had bought after the death of the firm's founder in 1944. Working among a design pool that included Giovanni Savonuzzi and occasional collaborator Virgil Exner, Boano had contributed to some of the era's most archetypal designs, including the Fiat Supersonic, Lancia Aurelia GT, and several notable Alfa Romeos.
The carrozzeria he founded under his own name in 1956 was co-managed by his son, and the two men quickly set about fulfilling independent contracts at their Grugliasco-based shop. Well familiar with Enzo Ferrari from his stint at Ghia, Boano soon received an order to build cabriolets based on Ferrari's new series-built 250 GT chassis. His prototype was shown at the March 1956 Geneva Motor Show along with a Pinin Farina built coupe and a similarly designed 410 Super America.
Ironically the roles of the two coachbuilders were ultimately switched, with Pinin Farina taking on coachbuilding duties for the new 250 GT cabriolets, and Boano receiving the order for the line of coupes that would replace the outgoing 250 Europa GT. Boano built approximately 68 examples of the 250 GT coupe through late 1957, largely replicating Pinin Farina's original design with the exception of removing a small shoulder haunch in favor of one straight unadorned beltline.
The Boano coupe's low roof and rounded rear glass notably became style motifs for the upcoming Super Americas, a strong indication of the design's favor. Generally considered to be the first series-built Ferrari, the 250 GT Boano coupe was also distinguished by handsome foglamps positioned within the egg-crate grille, a feature absent from the 1958 Ellena-bodied successors that replaced the model until Pinin Farina took over coupe production.
Characterized by exquisite form, rarity, and handbuilt craftsmanship, the 250 GT Boano coupes have become increasingly collectable as the design's appeal has aged exceptionally well, resembling today's chop-top custom hot rods. The model retains a special place in the Ferrari lineage as the first series-built 250 GT road car, a cachet that is matched only by its timelessly elegant appearance and boutique coachbuilt quality.
THE CAR OFFERED
Records show that Ferrari 250GT chassis "0581GT" was completed on the 7th of December 1956 and delivered new to a Mr Guido Settepassi, a silversmith resident in Florence, ltaly. The car returned to the Ferrari Factory in Modena in October of the following year for its first service. In 1958 the car was sold to its second owner, none other than ATS Automobili principal Giorgio Billi. During Billi's ownership the car's engine, clutch, shock absorbers, and brakes were all overhauled at Ferrari. Additionally, the gearbox was replaced at the factory with a new, freshly revised one. The car remained in Florence with Billi throughout his ownership. '0581GT' was eventually sold and exported to the US where it has remained ever since. It appears that the car spent the vast majority of its history enjoying the West Coast of America. In 1984, it was purchased by Robert Passmore of Washington state. For about three and a half decades, the Ferrari would sit in dry storage, t wasn't until 2018 that the car made its way to Butch Dennison's shop where the car was mechanically overhauled.
The current owner in acquired the Ferrari in August of 2019 and gave '0581GT' the love and treatment it deserved. It was decided that a complete ground up, bare metal restoration of the car would be undertaken and carried out. Completed over the course of five years and finished in December of 2025 by AVC Sport Racing, some 634 hours were spent restoring the car with parts alone totaled over $140,000. The entirety of the restoration from barn find survivor to concours worthy example, is documented in the exhaustive history file complete with over 80 pages of invoices and more than 500 photos. The history file is as detailed and fascinating as you would hope to find. Amongst the treasures within are letters from previous owners with the Ferrari factory, period photos from November of 1973 showing the car resplendent it is original silver over black color scheme.
Without a doubt one of the most elegant iterations of the 250 Series of cars, this freshly restored Boano is ready to be enjoyed on some of the greatest events such as the Colorado Grand and Copperstate 1000, and with application, the Mille Miglia, but would be equally at home on the world's finest and most exclusive concours lawns.
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1956 Ferrari 250 GT Low-Roof Coupe
Coachwork by Boano
Chassis no. 0581GT
Engine no. 0581GT
2,953cc SOHC V12 Engine
Triple Weber Carburetors
240bhp at 7,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
* One of 68 250 GT Low-Roof Coupes finished by coachbuilder Boano
* Delivered new to Italy
* Owned in period by ATS Automobili principal Giorgio Billi
* Retains its original engine, per factory records and marque expert Marcel Massini
* Recent, thorough restoration
THE BOANO-BODIED 250 GT
In the mid-1950s, automotive designer Mario Felice Boano left the employment of Ghia, a company he had bought after the death of the firm's founder in 1944. Working among a design pool that included Giovanni Savonuzzi and occasional collaborator Virgil Exner, Boano had contributed to some of the era's most archetypal designs, including the Fiat Supersonic, Lancia Aurelia GT, and several notable Alfa Romeos.
The carrozzeria he founded under his own name in 1956 was co-managed by his son, and the two men quickly set about fulfilling independent contracts at their Grugliasco-based shop. Well familiar with Enzo Ferrari from his stint at Ghia, Boano soon received an order to build cabriolets based on Ferrari's new series-built 250 GT chassis. His prototype was shown at the March 1956 Geneva Motor Show along with a Pinin Farina built coupe and a similarly designed 410 Super America.
Ironically the roles of the two coachbuilders were ultimately switched, with Pinin Farina taking on coachbuilding duties for the new 250 GT cabriolets, and Boano receiving the order for the line of coupes that would replace the outgoing 250 Europa GT. Boano built approximately 68 examples of the 250 GT coupe through late 1957, largely replicating Pinin Farina's original design with the exception of removing a small shoulder haunch in favor of one straight unadorned beltline.
The Boano coupe's low roof and rounded rear glass notably became style motifs for the upcoming Super Americas, a strong indication of the design's favor. Generally considered to be the first series-built Ferrari, the 250 GT Boano coupe was also distinguished by handsome foglamps positioned within the egg-crate grille, a feature absent from the 1958 Ellena-bodied successors that replaced the model until Pinin Farina took over coupe production.
Characterized by exquisite form, rarity, and handbuilt craftsmanship, the 250 GT Boano coupes have become increasingly collectable as the design's appeal has aged exceptionally well, resembling today's chop-top custom hot rods. The model retains a special place in the Ferrari lineage as the first series-built 250 GT road car, a cachet that is matched only by its timelessly elegant appearance and boutique coachbuilt quality.
THE CAR OFFERED
Records show that Ferrari 250GT chassis "0581GT" was completed on the 7th of December 1956 and delivered new to a Mr Guido Settepassi, a silversmith resident in Florence, ltaly. The car returned to the Ferrari Factory in Modena in October of the following year for its first service. In 1958 the car was sold to its second owner, none other than ATS Automobili principal Giorgio Billi. During Billi's ownership the car's engine, clutch, shock absorbers, and brakes were all overhauled at Ferrari. Additionally, the gearbox was replaced at the factory with a new, freshly revised one. The car remained in Florence with Billi throughout his ownership. '0581GT' was eventually sold and exported to the US where it has remained ever since. It appears that the car spent the vast majority of its history enjoying the West Coast of America. In 1984, it was purchased by Robert Passmore of Washington state. For about three and a half decades, the Ferrari would sit in dry storage, t wasn't until 2018 that the car made its way to Butch Dennison's shop where the car was mechanically overhauled.
The current owner in acquired the Ferrari in August of 2019 and gave '0581GT' the love and treatment it deserved. It was decided that a complete ground up, bare metal restoration of the car would be undertaken and carried out. Completed over the course of five years and finished in December of 2025 by AVC Sport Racing, some 634 hours were spent restoring the car with parts alone totaled over $140,000. The entirety of the restoration from barn find survivor to concours worthy example, is documented in the exhaustive history file complete with over 80 pages of invoices and more than 500 photos. The history file is as detailed and fascinating as you would hope to find. Amongst the treasures within are letters from previous owners with the Ferrari factory, period photos from November of 1973 showing the car resplendent it is original silver over black color scheme.
Without a doubt one of the most elegant iterations of the 250 Series of cars, this freshly restored Boano is ready to be enjoyed on some of the greatest events such as the Colorado Grand and Copperstate 1000, and with application, the Mille Miglia, but would be equally at home on the world's finest and most exclusive concours lawns.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
