Friday's Ferrari

This car was part of a display of classic cars at the HSCC's Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2017.

It's a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupé, chassis #1083GT, and the information sheet behind the windscreen wiper claims that it was the 'First Ferrari sold in UK, by World Champion Mike Hawthorn's TT Garage'. It goes on to say:

'The Ferrari 250 was the company's most successful early model, produced at Maranello from 1954 to 1964.

Power was provided by the Columbo Tipo 128 single-OHC 2,953cc engine, delivering up to 296bhp.

Ferrari's Columbo V12 debuted on the race track, with racing 250s preceding road cars by three years.

With an all-in weight hundreds of pounds lighter (eg half the weight of contemporary XK Jaguars), the power-to-weight ratio far outclassed its competitors.'

The information sheet also says about this particular car:

'5 HPD

Chassis 1083: the second 250 GT PF delivered to TT Garage. featured at London Motor Show 1958.

Painted white with black upholstery, the first Ferrari sold in UK through Ferrari's growing distribution network.

5HPD bought by Irish landowner Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a resident of Park Lane, Mayfair.

List Price was £6000: an immense sum in 1958. The car was first registered on 7th November 1958.

Repainted in gold by 1964, and black during an extensive 1980s restoration at Maranello Concessionaires.

Cherished by a Cheshire gentleman. Regularly used locally and at Ferrari events.

Maintained in first-class original condition in honour of the UK's First Formula One World Champion and accomplished Le Mans winner.'

The car took part in a parade lap of cars before the start of racing on the Sunday of the meeting.