• Collections
  • Auto
    • Ferrari Purosangue
    • 812 GTS
    • 296 GTB
    • 296 GTS
    • SF90 Stradale
    • SF90 Spider
    • F8 Tributo
    • F8 Spider
    • Ferrari Roma
    • Ferrari Portofino M
    • Special Series
      • 812 Competizione
      • 812 Competizione A
    • Icona
      • Daytona SP3
      • Monza SP1
      • Monza SP2
    • Line Up
    • MyFerrari
      • MyFerrari App
      • Sign In
      • Register
      • MyFerrari Connect
      • Owners Club
    • Configurator
    • GT Racing
      • Overview
      • 488 GTE
      • 488 GT3 Evo 2020
      • 488 GT Modificata
      • 488 GT3
      • 488 Challenge Evo
    • Past Models
    • Personalisation
      • Ferrari Tailor Made
      • Ferrari Genuine
    • Car services
    • Officine Classiche
    • Driving Courses
    • Driving Activities
    • Pre-Owned
      • Home
      • Why Approved
      • Models
      • Value your car
    • Dealers
      • Find your dealer
      • Discover the official network
    • Financial Services
  • Racing
    • Formula 1
      • Home
      • F1-75
      • Team
      • News
      • Races
      • Partners
      • Hospitality
      • Media Galleries
      • History
    • Hypercar
      • Home
      • Ferrari 499P
      • Team
      • News
      • Races
      • Media Gallery
    • Ferrari Driver Academy
      • Home
      • Mission
      • Drivers
      • Media Galleries
      • News
    • Ferrari Esports
      • Home
      • Scuderia Ferrari Esports Team
      • Ferrari Esports Series
    • Competizioni GT
      • Home
      • News
      • About Us
      • GT Series
      • Official Drivers
      • Cars
      • 296 GT3
      • Club Competizioni GT
      • Media Galleries
      • Partners
    • Corse Clienti
      • Home
      • News
      • About Us
      • Calendar
      • Ferrari Challenge
      • XX Programme
      • F1 Clienti
      • Corso Pilota
      • Cars
      • Media galleries
      • Live Streaming
      • Partners
  • Collections
  • Universe
    • News
    • The Official Ferrari Magazine
      • Home
      • Cars
      • Passion
      • Races
      • Subscribe
    • Ferrari Museums
      • Home
      • Ferrari Maranello Museum
      • Enzo Ferrari Modena Museum
      • Factory Tour
      • Personalised Experiences
      • Exclusive Events
      • Tickets and info
    • Ristorante Cavallino
      • Home
      • History
      • Massimo Bottura
      • Menu
      • The Restaurant
      • Contacts
      • Book a table
      • Gift voucher
    • History
    • Ferrari Simulation Center
    • Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
    • Ferrari Land Barcelona
  • Corporate
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Governance
      • Overview
      • Board of Directors
      • Board Committees
      • Shareholders' Meetings
      • Executive Officers
      • Group Regulations
    • Investors
      • Overview
      • Events
      • Results, Reports and Presentations
      • Stock and Shareholders Corner
      • Press Releases and Regulatory Filings
      • Analyst Coverage
      • Bond Info
    • Sustainability
      • Overview
      • Reports
      • Sustainability Strategy
    • Media
      • Press Releases
      • Media gallery
      • Media Centre
    • Career
    Presented in Paris in October 1959, the short-wheelbase Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta epitomised the ideal road racer.

    Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto

    Presented in Paris in October 1959, the short-wheelbase 250 GT Berlinetta epitomised the ideal road racer. With just a few minor touches (colder spark plugs, racing tyres and a roll-bar), the car could take to any circuit and battle it out for a class win.

    The history

    The history

    Designed by Pininfarina and built in collaboration with Scaglietti, the first cars were bodied in aluminium, although later this material was only used for the racing versions. With numerous victories to its credit, this remains one of the best-loved Ferraris ever.
    The 1960 version of the 250 GT Berlinetta was designed by Pininfarina and built at the Scaglietti works in Modena. It was first presented to the public at the 1959 Paris Salon, and bore a body style very similar to that of the late series (now termed ’Interim’ to differentiate them) berlinettas produced during that year, apart from the omission of the quarter window in the sail panel behind the door glass. The new model was built on a 2400 mm wheelbase chassis, with factory type reference 539, later 539/61. The designations ‘passo lungo’ or ’LWB’ for the long-wheelbase 2600 mm chassis and ‘passo corto’ or ‘SWB’ for the short-wheelbase 2400 mm chassis, were later adopted to distinguish between the two series.

    Presented in Paris in October 1959, the short-wheelbase Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta epitomised the ideal road racer.

     The chassis construction followed the familiar practice of twin, large oval section longitudinal members, with substantial cross bracing and a rectangular section front cross member. 
    Suspension was independent coil spring and wishbone at the front, with a rigid rear end featuring semi-elliptic leaf springs and radius arms to locate the axle, and hydraulic shock absorbers all round. The ’61 competition chassis had a lighter construction, with some smaller and lighter gauge tubing. This model was the first Ferrari production road car to be fitted with disc brakes as standard and, unlike the preceding 250 GT Berlinetta series, was available in either left- or right-hand drive. 
    It was also available in competition specification, with an aluminium body, lightweight interior trim, and the engine in a higher state of tune – or in ‘Lusso’ (luxury) road trim, when it was normally fitted with a steel body with aluminium opening panels. However, there was a great deal of overlap between the two basic specifications, depending upon a client’s specific wishes. 
    Therefore, it is not unusual for some road cars to have full aluminium bodies and/or a higher state of tune engine. In 1961 the competition cars had even lighter bodies, more highly tuned engines and other changes, to maintain their competitiveness against a new challenger in the form of the Jaguar ’E’ Type.

    Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto - design
    1history

    The history

    The engine

    The engine

    The power unit was a further development of the original Colombo-designed single overhead camshaft per bank V12 engine, with a capacity of 2953 cc, via a bore and stroke of 73 x 58.8 mm and factory type references 168B, 168, and 168 Comp/61, all with wet sump lubrication. The spark plugs were outside the vee of the block, with a bank of three twin choke Weber 38 DCN or 40 DCL/6 carburettors and Solex C40 PAAI carburettors also homologated, with a twin coil and rear of engine mounted distributor’s ignition system, to produce a claimed 220 to 280 bhp, dependent upon specification.

    Weber 46 DCF/3 carburettors were a further homologated option; these were used on the special 1961 competition engines, which together with bigger valves, special exhaust manifolds and other fine tuning details achieved the upper level of power outputs quoted above. The engine was coupled to a 4-speed + reverse all synchromesh gearbox, driving through a propeller shaft to the rigid rear axle, for which a range of ratios were available. The gearboxes of the competition cars had ribbed alloy castings, and the road cars normally had plain-faced cast iron casings.

    Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto - engine
    2engine

    The engine

    The design

    The design

    The overall design changed very little during the three-year production run from 1960 to 1962. However, there are a number of detail differences that identify the period of production of a specific car. In the early months of production the front and rear wings sides were plain, as was the boot lid. There was an exhaust air slot in the top centre of the rear screen, and the sliding door windows had a pronounced downward curve to the top rear edge, whilst the front valance featured a pair of rectangular slots to cooling ducts for the front brakes. 
    The cars produced from around the middle of 1960 featured vertical angled exhaust air slots on the front and rear wings, which had a trim surround on three sides, and teardrop-shaped indicators on the front wings. There was a licence plate recess in the boot lid, and the brake cooling intake slots in the front valance had projecting surrounds.
    The late 1960 examples were very similar, apart from the cabin exhaust air slot moving from the rear screen to a recess in the trailing edge of the roof, and either sliding or wind-up door windows were available. If the latter option was specified, opening quarter lights were normally provided. All examples produced up to this point had an external fuel filler cap, located in a cut-out in the top left corner of the boot lid. 

    Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto - design

    The main visual differences between the 1960 examples and those after 1961 were in the shape of the door windows, which had a straighter top edge, and the relocation of the fuel filler cap, which was either on the left rear wing or hidden within the boot. There were also myriad smaller differences, like a slightly larger radiator grille and slight re-profiling of the rear wing shape, jacking point locations etc., together with individual customer styling, but the foregoing items identify the main differentiating features of the series. 
    Apart from the normal berlinetta body, there were some one-off designs, mainly by Pininfarina in a style similar to that of the 400 Superamerica, including a cabriolet with a removable hard top, on chassis number 1737GT. Their ‘400SA’ coupé-bodied examples comprised two road versions on chassis 2613GT and 3615GT, plus two lightweight competition examples on chassis 2429GT and 2643GT. The former lightweight model was never used in competition and was sold to a French client, whilst the latter saw race action at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, driven by the likes of Stirling Moss and Giancarlo Baghetti. Bertone produced two designs, the first in 1960 on chassis 1739GT (unusual in that it featured cast alloy wheels) and another in 1961, featuring the ‘Chiti’ shark nose look, on chassis 3269GT. 
    There was also a one-off ‘Spider Speciale’ by Zagato. These offerings from Bertone would be the last designs by any carrozzeria, other than Pininfarina, to officially grace a Ferrari chassis for a number of years. During the sixties and into the seventies various examples received one-off bodies, but these were re-bodies of existing cars, as opposed to a bare chassis from the factory. In competition, the ‘passo corto’ berlinetta continued the success of the ’passo lungo’ model, with three consecutive wins in the Tour de France between 1960 and 1962.
    It also won the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1960 and 1961, the GT category at Le Mans in 1960 and 1961, and the Nürburgring 1000 km in 1961 and 1962. These are just a few of the numerous class and overall wins achieved during its reign as queen of the GT category.

    Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta passo corto - Design
    3design

    The design

    4Technical Details
    • V12
      ENGINE
    • 2953.21 cc
      TOTAL DISPLACEMENT
    • 206 kW
      MAXIMUM POWER @ 7000 rpm
    • 268 km/h
      TOP SPEED
    Engine
    • Typefront, longitudinal 60° V12
    • Bore/stroke73 x 58.8mm
    • Unitary displacement246.10cc
    • Total displacement2953.21cc
    • Compression ratio9.2 : 1
    • Maximum power206 kW (280 hp) at 7000 rpm
    • Power per litre95hp/l
    • Maximum torque-
    • Valve actuationsingle overhead camshaft per bank, two valves per cylinder
    • Fuel feedthree Weber 40 DCL/6 carburettors
    • Ignitionsingle spark plug per cylinder, two coils
    • Lubricationwet sump
    • Clutchsingle-plate
    Chassis
    • Frametubular steel
    • Front suspensionindependent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
    • Rear suspensionlive axle, radius arms, semi-elliptic springs, telescopic shock absorbers
    • Brakesdrums
    • Transmission4-speed + reverse
    • Steeringworm and roller
    • Fuel tankcapacity 120litres
    • Front tyres6.00 x 16 or 175 x 400
    • Rear tyres6.00 x 16 or 175 x 400
    Bodywork
    • Typetwo-seater berlinetta
    • Length-
    • Width-
    • Height-
    • Wheelbase2400mm
    • Front track1354mm
    • Rear track1349mm
    • Weight960kg (dry)
    Performance
    • Top speed268km/h
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h-
    • 0-400 m-
    • 0-1000 m-
    • history
    • engine
    • design
    • Technical Details
    SUBSCRIBE TO THE FERRARI NEWSLETTERS
    Auto
    • Ferrari Line Up
    • Ferrari Car Configurator
    • Personalization
    • Services
    • Officine Classiche
    • Ferrari Certified Pre-owned
    • Ferrari Dealer locator
    • MyFerrari App
    • Recall information
    • TechInfo
    • Financial Services
    Scuderia Ferrari
    • F1-75
    • Charles Leclerc
    • Carlos Sainz
    • News
    • Media Galleries
    • Races
    • Scuderia Ferrari History
    • Ferrari Driver Academy
    • Partners
    • Ferrari F1 Club
    • Scuderia Ferrari Member
    • Scuderia Ferrari Club Locator
    Collections
    • Man
    • Woman
    • Kids
    • Ferrari Watches
    • Ferrari Shoes
    • Scuderia Ferrari Replica
    • Ray-Ban Eyewear
    • Ferrari Memorabilia
    • Ferrari Store Locator
    Races
    • Competizioni GT
    • Corse Clienti
    • Ferrari Challenge
    • XX Programme
    • F1 Clienti
    • Corso Pilota
    • Club Competizioni GT
    Universe
    • News
    • The Official Ferrari Magazine
    • Ferrari Museums
    • Ristorante Cavallino
    • History
    • Ferrari Simulation Center
    • Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
    • Ferrari Land Barcelona
    FacebookFacebook
    • Ferrari Official
    • Scuderia Ferrari
    • Ferrari Races
    • FDA
    • Ferrari Esports
    • Ferrari Style
    • Musei Ferrari
    • Ristorante Cavallino
    InstagramInstagram
    • Ferrari Official
    • Scuderia Ferrari
    • Ferrari Races
    • Ferrari Hypercar
    • Ferrari Driver Academy
    • Ferrari Esports
    • Ferrari Style
    • Musei Ferrari
    • Ristorante Cavallino
    LinkedinLinkedin
    • Ferrari Official
    • Scuderia Ferrari
    Tik TokTik Tok
    • Ferrari
    TwitchTwitch
    • Ferrari Esports
    TwitterTwitter
    • Ferrari Official
    • Scuderia Ferrari
    • Ferrari Races
    • Ferrari Hypercar
    • Ferrari Driver Academy
    • Ferrari Esports
    • Ferrari Style
    • Musei Ferrari
    YouTubeYouTube
    • Ferrari Official
    Ferrari
    Ferrari N.V. - Holding company - A company under Dutch law, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and its corporate address at Via Abetone Inferiore No. 4, I-41053 Maranello (MO), Italy, registered with the Dutch trade register under number 64060977

    Ferrari S.p.A. - A company under Italian law, having its registered office at Via Emilia Est No. 1163, Modena, Italy, Companies’ Register of Modena, VAT and Tax number 00159560366 and share capital of Euro 20,260,000

    Copyright 2023 - All rights reserved
    • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Submit your privacy request
    • Contacts
    • Media Centre
    • Career
    • Corporate ENG
    • Corporate ITA
    • Responsible Disclosure
    International
    Logo partner