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Ferrari
collector Bob Lee will show his one-of-a-kind 1956 Ferrari
250 GT Boano Convertible, at the 2006 edition of the famous Pebble Beach
Concours d’Elegance this coming Sunday, to celebrate his 50th anniversary of
purchasing the vehicle. Lee, who lives in Reno, Nevada, and
is founder of Hunting World - which designs and sells
functional safari gear, fine luggage and leather goods, and
outdoor sporting accessories - has been the only owner of
the Boano Convertible.
In 1955, Lee, a
New Yorker at the time, was going on his first African
safari. However, he decided to first stop in Rome for a
week, where visited Enzo Ferrari’s office in Modena and
managed to meet the “Commendatore.” Ferrari said that if Lee
actually ever wanted to buy a Ferrari, he should purchase it
directly from the factory in Italy, not in New York. "I’d be
afraid to buy one,” Lee told Ferrari. “I don’t think it
would run in the New York City jungle. Ferrari replied, “If
you buy a car from Ferrari, I guarantee it will run in New
York City.”
One year later at the 1956 New York Auto Show, Lee saw the
250 GT Boano Convertible at the Ferrari display, a car that
had made its debut a few months earlier at the Geneva Auto
Show. The legendary Luigi Chinetti, a Grand Prix driver and
Ferrari’s dealer and representative in the United States,
said the car was not for sale and was being returned to the
factory after the New York show. Lee sent a telegram to Enzo
Ferrari reminding him of their visit the previous year. “I
offered US$9,500,” says Lee. “That’s all I could afford.” A
couple of days later, under orders from Enzo Ferrari,
Chinetti called Lee and said, “Bring me a cashier’s check
for US$9,500 and the Boano Convertible is yours…even though
it cost the factory more than US$20,000 to build.”
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Introduced in 1956, the 250 GT
Boano is really a second series GT Europa (with the
'Europa' dropped), it used the same 2953cc
development of the Colombo engine which produced
220bhp @ 7,000rpm. Still with a 2600mm wheelbase and
four speed (all synchro) box it had a 950-1050kg
empty weight. Later a four-speed plus overdrive box
was introduced. Initially fitted with drum brakes
all round, disc brakes became an option and later
standard. After its introduction at the Geneva show
in 1956, the first cars were built by Boano
(designed by Pinin Farina) in Turin, 74 examples.
Then around 49 were produced by Ellena from 1957
(previously Boano's partner) with minor differences,
such as the deletion of the quaterlights. |
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Ferrari collector Bob Lee will show his
one-of-a-kind 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Convertible
at the Aug. 20 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to
celebrate his 50th anniversary of purchasing the
vehicle. Photo: John Lamm. |
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It was the beginning of a life-long love affair for Lee with
the Ferrari. Lee has annually
been showing his collector cars along the 18th fairway of
Pebble Beach Golf Links since 1986, winning numerous
Concours awards over the years. “Pebble Beach is the best
car show in the world,” said Lee. “I love Pebble
Beach. There’s nothing like it. When we show at Pebble
Beach, we’re showing under the best possible conditions.”
First
conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is
an international gathering of automotive enthusiasts for “a
celebration of the automobile” at The Lodge at Pebble Beach
on the Monterey Peninsula. The Concours, which in 2005
attracted entrants from 26 states and 15 countries and
raised over US$800,000 for charity, combines a scenic
location – the famed 18th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links
along the Pacific Ocean – with the opportunity to view
rarely seen examples of automotive style, performance and
history.
The Boano Convertible’s second restoration is under way,
timed for completion so that Lee will be able to drive his
favourite car onto the ramp at Pebble Beach. “This car’s my
pride and joy,” said Lee. “Going back 50 years, it was the
beginning of my relationship with Ferrari. It’s such an
amazing machine that, even today, when people see me driving
the car, they ask if it’s the new Ferrari.” The car was
designed and built by Carrozzeria Boano. According to
factory records, only 74 Boano bodies were put onto the
2.6-meter Ferrari chassis, with the 3-litre V12 estimated to
produce between 220 and 240 bhp at 7,000 rpm. Lee’s Boano
Convertible is the only one of its kind. All the other Boano
bodies are coupes.
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