Ferraris from the early 1960s often top the list for the most expensive collector cars in the world. However, this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE may go for slightly less than others because under the hood is not a fine-tuned V12 engine but a big old Chevrolet V8. That’s right, this Italian thoroughbred runs on the heartbeat of America. According to Bring a Trailer, this project started in 2005 and was completed in 2014. The car has been extensively modified in the manner some Ferrari purists may call blasphemous. Nevertheless, the specifications on this car describe one heck of a fun ride.
Originally, this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE left the factory wearing silver paint and a naturally-aspirated V12. Details of its history are slim, but somewhere over the last 60 years, the V12 was ditched for an LT1 Chevrolet small block 350 V8. The car’s hot rod restoration included a re-spray to the color scheme you see today – red with navy blue and yellow accents. The front end looks different from a 250 GTE because it’s been modified to look more like a 250 California Spider. The taillights are from a later 250 model for a “kustom” look at the back. The listing describes its tire and wheel combo as knock-off Borrani wire wheels and Michelin HydroEdge tires.
Besides stuffing a small block Chevy into this vintage Ferrari, the car also received a 25-gallon fuel cell. In addition, the custom Ferrari 250 GTE features an aluminum radiator, custom driveshaft, aftermarket AC, tilting (wooden) steering wheel, four-wheel disc brakes, Ferrari rear axle, and telescopic shocks. As a result, the next owner of this car will be able to take it on a grand tour without sweating or worrying about damaging irreplaceable drivetrain components. It’s the ideal hot rod if you love trolling Ferrari purists. Best of all, because it is not original, the car should go for well under the current market value of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE, which ranges from $300-400K.
