1959 Ferrari 250 TestaRossa replica #4935
SPECIFICATIONS
- MakeFerrari
- Model250 Testa Rossa
- Year1959
- Serial #4935
- Number Built3
We are pleased to offer 1959 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa replica s/n 4935, not your usual alloy 250 TR replica rebody on a cut 250 GTE chassis but instead a tool-room-copy of 1959 Testa Rossa s/n 0770 TR, one of only three (s/n 0766 TR, 0768 TR and 0770 TR) Fantuzzi-built, Pininfarina-styled Ferrari Factory Team cars built for the 1959 race season. In the mid-1970s British motoring cutaway artist James A. Allington bought 250 TR s/n 0770 TR. As s/n 0770 TR increased astronomically in value James Allington decided to have three very exact copies of 250 TR s/n 0770 TR built, with two for sale and the third car, this car, for his own use in vintage events.
James Allington gave s/n 0770 TR to John Robinson’s AEM Products Ltd to completely dismantle and make exact copies. Jigs were made, Kent Casting did all the foundry work, including casting exact copies of the unique-to-the-1959-TR alloy 5-speed gearbox, a correct alloy differential, again unique to the 1959 TR, plus machining the unique gear set and all suspension components. The lightweight chassis of s/n 4935 is an exact copy of the small diameter tubing used in 1959 Testa Rossa s/n 0770 TR, as is the de Dion rear suspension, the hand riveted alloy dry-sump oil tank and the hand riveted alloy fuel tank, all built by Terry Hoyle Engineering. The alloy body was build by Rod Jolley Coachbuilding. Original gauges, the rare and very desirable six double 38 DCN carbs and the period-correct Dunlop disc brakes were sourced through Eurospares. It was one of the most ambitious and expensive projects in the world of Ferrari replicas or tribute cars. In the end the project-costs got far out of hand and, with James Allington’s death his estate sold s/n 4935 at Christie’s London auction on the 3d of December, 2002 as a completed car but with the engine half-heartedly assembled.
1959 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa replica s/n 4935 was sold at Christie’s to the owner of the “real” 59 TR s/n 0768 as an “event” car. The dry-sumped Lusso-based 250 engine (s/n 4935, also used as the chassis number) was completed, rebuilt and dyno tested by Vintage Racing Motors of Seattle and today has only test and break-in miles since the rebuild. In total, thirty-two 250 TRs of all types were built between 1957 and 1962. Included in this total are 19 “customer versions” of the 250 TR sold to independent racing teams, all with left hand drive, Scaglietti “pontoon fender” bodies, a wet sump engine, a 4-speed gearbox and live rear axles. The three 1959 Ferrari Factory team cars are unique and dry-sumped, fitted with a 5-speed transmission, a deDion rear suspension and Dunlop disc brakes. Like the three 1959 Factory team Testa Rossas’ it copies, s/n 4935 is RHD.
Needless to say 250 Testa Rossa replica s/n 4935 was built to an extremely high standard and remains in excellent condition. The paintwork has held up well and makes an exceptional presentation. The trim is very nice throughout, and the 16-inch Borrani wire wheels are in as-new condition with correct dimension 5.50 front and 6.00 x 16-inch rear period-type Dunlop Racing tires fitted. The headlamps are Cibié items in excellent condition, reflecting the attention to detail, as do a number of other small items such as the leather hood straps and unmistakable clear offset carburetor hood scoop. Like all serious race cars, the instrumentation and controls were completely focused around the driver. The interior is simple but efficient, with a grey painted alloy dash with ample instrumentation and blue cloth bucket seats, identical to the Factory team cars, which face the wood-rimmed steering wheel.
The engine compartment is very clean and detailed and the 6-carb setup is truly an impressive site. The valve covers are painted red as is appropriate for the Testa Rossa model and name. The underside is similarly clean and detailed, showing correct finishes throughout. In keeping with that tradition, this car has been fitted with a tuned tipo 168 3-liter engine (from a 250 Lusso) fitted with a 6-carburetor setup as an original 59TR would be equipped, making 250 Testa Rossa replica s/n 4935 extremely quick. In an nod to modern usage, s/n 4935 is fitted with a modern alternator, an engine oil breather, an auxiliary radiator cooling fan and an optical trigger ignition for reliability and event use.
As an example of the attention to detail, the transmission mounting is specific to the 1959 and 60 TRs. Instead of being stacked vertically, the transmission input and output shafts are set diagonally, giving all indirect gears. And so the engine is offset 4” to the left to allow the transmission to line up in the car (the input lines up with the engine, the output lines up with the differential), all which is a dead giveaway compared to any other lesser TR 59 replicas. The differential and de Dion rear suspension is also unique to the 59-61 TRs, all of which makes the Allington replicas so special; it is literally impossible to build a correct replica without those castings.
The 250 Testa Rossa was and is quite simply one of the most remarkable and important cars built by one of the most legendary marques. Thanks to their World Sports Car championship victories (including overall wins at Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961) and historical significance, 250 Testa Rossas are now so valuable that they are rarely seen, depriving both the public and their owners of the joy of experiencing them. Consequently the three Allington replicas offer the die-hard Ferrari enthusiasts the experience of one of the most significant and valuable automobiles ever constructed without the fifty-million dollar plus price tag.
250 TR replica s/n 4935 has only ever had two owners, both of them owners of 1959 TRs. She is fully sorted, ready to go, currently in England with a V5 registration and available for inspection. This is a very fast and enjoyable car to drive that will be a wonderful way for the new owner to enjoy the feel and performance of one of the world’s most historically significant Italian competition automobiles. More over, an increasing number of desirable venues (California Mille Miglia, Colorado Grand) have recently accepted the participation of very accurate aluminum bodied reconfigurations built based on an actual Ferrari spec chassis. This car would also be a welcome entry to vintage racing with HSR and SCCA Vintage, among others.
