The Sole Ferrari 250 GTO Produced in White Is Heading to Auction

      Mecum Auctions

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      With only 36 units produced, each with its own distinctive and glamorous backstory, the Ferrari 250 GTO has established itself as the ultimate collector car. You don’t need to dig through old magazines or logbooks to understand what sets chassis 3729 GT apart. It’s the sole 250 GTO ever delivered in white, a fact that’s sure to attract considerable attention when it goes up for auction at Mecum Auctions’ Kissimmee, Florida sale on January 17.

      Named “Bianco Speciale” (“white special” in Italian), 3729 GT was commissioned by British racing team manager John Coombs in 1962. A loyalist to Jaguar, Coombs hoped that the GTO would persuade the company’s leadership to enhance the competitiveness of the E-Type, according to Mecum. The reason for selecting white paint remains uncertain, but it probably caused some discontent at the factory, as red was the required color for racing vehicles at the time. Nevertheless, Coombs’ prominence and the influence of Alfredo Reali, who managed special orders through production, guaranteed that the car left the factory in its distinctive hue.

      Bianco Speciale made its racing debut on August 6, 1962, in the Peco Trophy at Brands Hatch circuit in England, where Roy Salvadori drove it to a second-place finish overall. Graham Hill achieved the same result shortly after in the RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood. Coombs subsequently loaned the Ferrari to Jaguar’s engineering team for examination, with insights gained reportedly affecting the design of the Lightweight E-Type racer.

      In 1963, the white GTO returned to competitive racing, securing a GT-class victory (and finishing fifth overall) in the Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch, driven by Jack Sears. He later referred to this as a test drive, as he went on to acquire Bianco Speciale in 1970. Sears sold the GTO to former Microsoft president John Shirley in 1999. A “refresh” was performed at that time, but Mecum asserts that the car has never undergone a complete restoration and remains mostly in its original state. Its authenticity is verified by a Ferrari Classiche Red Book issued in 2008.

      With the GTO, Ferrari pioneered the modern homologation special. Those initials famously stand for “gran turismo omologato,” or “grand touring homologation” in Italian, signifying the streamlined aluminum bodywork and other race-ready enhancements Ferrari designed for its 250 GT models, including the 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine. The GTO’s stunning design and racing heritage embody Ferrari at its zenith, which is why such cars command tens of millions when they go on the market.