Mark Anthony Cella On The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione

Posted by Mark Anthony Cella in August 6th, 2010
Published in Cars

Mark Anthony Cella and the Ferrari 250 Grand Touring Sport Coupe

Building on the successful history of the V12 GT racing engines that made the GTOs so substantial, brought the 250 Berlinetta sport coupe about. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato in Italian, and in English means Grand Touring Homologated. Homologated means Official Agreement. So, the GTO was Officially Agreed to be a Grand Touring car. Anyway, the 250 simply is the measurement in cubic centimeters of each of the cylinders.

Mark Anthony Cella’s Official Agreement is the Car is for Pure Racing

The SWB was built from 1953 to 1964 and really put Ferrari in the limelight. It became Ferrari’s most successful car line of that time. It was their first all wheel disc brake vehicle. One model was their first four seater. Its V12 engine weighed about half as much as the competition’s. The higher tuned ones hammered up to 280bhp at 7,000 rpm. They had a four speed manual tranny, all of which exploded the car to more victories then I can list, here’s just a few:

The first four places in its class at the 1960 Le Mans 24 hour race, leaving Chevy and Aston Martin far in its dust. With three consecutive Tour de France wins, taking the first three places at the 1960 Tour de France, 5500 km race. Later that season the SWB won outright, at Goodwood when Sterling Moss lapped the entire field in it, making it the second consecutive win. Then in England, Monza in Italy, Spa, Nurburgring, and Monthlery.

The car weighs only 2,314 pounds which equates to a very high power to weight ratio. Its top speed reached 152 and it hit 60 from a dead stop in 6.2 seconds. All of these figures were superb in 1960.

Mark Anthony Cella Officially Agrees One of the Greatest Ferraris of all Time

Enthusiasts envied the fact that owners of this car could show up, unpack and race in the same unmodified car, occasionally changing tires. The only thing necessary was to paste on numbers. The competition models were lighter and had 30-40 more horsepower, regardless of which one you were in other manufacturers didn’t stand a chance.

Motor Trend gave the 250 SWB the ranking of 5th out of ten of the Greatest Ferraris of all time. Sports Car International rated it 7th Top Sports Car of the 1960’s. Mark A Cella rates it his first place 1960’s era Muscle Car, followed by the 1967 Corvette Sting Ray and 1968 Chevy Camaro.

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The 1959-60 Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta

Posted by Mark A Cella in August 1st, 2010
Published in Cars

Mark A Cella and the Ferrari 250 Grand Touring Sport Coupe

Building on the successful history of the V12 GT racing engines that made the GTOs so substantial, brought the 250 Berlinetta sport coupe about. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato in Italian, and in English means Grand Touring Homologated. Homologated means Official Agreement. So, the GTO was Officially Agreed to be a Grand Touring car. Anyway, the 250 simply is the measurement in cubic centimeters of each of the cylinders.

Mark A Cella’s Official Agreement is the Car is for Pure Racing

From 1953-64 Ferrari built the SWB model which truly put Ferrari on the center stage. It was their most acknowledged line. It was the first Ferrari to have four wheel disc brakes. It had a model which was the first four seater for this sports car. It had a V12 weighing half as much of competitors, cranking out up to 280bhp at 7000 rpm. It’s 4 gear race engine rocketed its victories at so many races the list is endless so here’s just a few:

In the 1960 season it took 1st-4th place in the Le Mans 24 hour race, leaving it’s nearest rivals to eat dust. It took 1st-3rd in its third consecutive victory of the 5500 km Tour de France. Later that season for a second consecutive win at Goodwood, driver Sterling Moss took a victory by lapping the entire field. Then it won all over the rest of the season.

Weighing only 2,314 pounds gives the Ferraris 250 SWB Competizione a great power to weight ratio. Maximum speed was a little over 150 mph, and 0-60 was 6.2. Excellent numbers for 1960’s.

Mark A Cella Officially Agrees One of the Greatest Ferraris of all Time

It is said that owners of this car had the luxury and thrill of being able to drive it to the race track, unload their luggage and be ready to race with minimal or no modifications. Just place their numbers on the sides and race. Although the competition models did have an extra 30-40 horsepower and other modifications like shorter wheel base, and aluminum vs. steal, not much could help most other manufacturers.

Motor Trend gave the 250 SWB the ranking of 5th out of ten of the Greatest Ferraris of all time. Sports Car International rated it 7th Top Sports Car of the 1960’s. Mark Cella rates it his first place 1960’s era Muscle Car, followed by the 1967 Corvette Sting Ray and 1968 Chevy Camaro.

Visit Mark A Cella’s site, www.Mark-Cella.com for more Mark A Cella fun and serious matters.

categories: ferrari 250 swb berlinetta,ferrari,exotic cars,sports cars,automobiles

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