The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione is one of the most iconic race cars ever made, with the late Sir Stirling Moss hailing it as “the greatest GT car in the world”.
It is also one of the most expensive cars in the world, so it’s little wonder you never see one on the road. Thankfully, the folks from GTO Engineering turned it into a daily driver by launching the 250 SWB Revival.
As its name suggests, this is not an original 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione but is as close as it gets. That’s because the team at GTO Engineering has used original drawings, measurements, and knowledge in order to build it. The 250 SWB Revival uses a hand-built tubular frame underneath a hand-beaten aluminum body.
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It’s based on the shorter format of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione specifications, which is 8 inches (203 mm) shorter than the 250 GT. Unsurprisingly, each GTO Engineering 250 SWB Revival is created as a bespoke build, with a multitude of options to make the car appropriate for use on the road or for rallying, touring, sprinting and racing.
Under the long hood, UK-based GTO Engineering mounts an in-house built Colombo V12 engine, available in 3.0-liter, 3.5-liter, and 4.0-liter specification with 280 HP or more. Each power plant features triple carburetors for smooth power delivery and is matched to either a standard four-speed or optional five-speed manual gearbox. The team created their own internal design package for the gearbox, designed to offer a precise gear change that works both in traffic and at high speed.
The car incorporates the disc brake design from the period using traditional disc brakes, though customers are offered optional lighter and more heat efficient aluminum brake calipers. The wheels are available in 16 inches or optional 15 inches in polished or standard finish.
To make the 250 SWB Revival more contemporary in the handling department, the team fitted a bespoke suspension and alignment set-up that’s said to offer increased grip, stability, comfort, and usability compared to the original car. A smaller steering wheel is also available as an option alongside a quicker 17:1 steering ratio.
The beauty of this build is it looks exactly like an original 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione while being more drivable and easier to use on a daily basis. Customers can have the 250 SWB Revival without bumpers (as standard on the original car) or with bespoke chrome bumpers.
Inside, the recreation car is available as standard with fully leather-trimmed seats and optional leather-trimmed headrests, lap belts or harnesses (with optional harness bar), and a headliner in the original perforated material from the 1960s car. Optional extras include air conditioning with the fans fitted behind the driver, under dash USB charger, sat-nav, and integrated stereo.
GTO Engineering has sold over 30 units to date, with each build taking between 12-18 months depending on specification. A 250 SWB Revival costs well over $1 million but that’s still a relative bargain compared to the $13-$14 million you’d normally have to pay to get the original.