This completely rusted Ferrari is estimated at 500,000 $: it played a key role in the history of Ferrari.

There are Ferrari restored to perfection, gleaming like the day it was made. And then there's this one. A 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé, its weathered body pitted with rust and covered in a thick patina, tells a story of almost 60 years of oblivion. Estimate? Up to $500,000. Yes, you read that right.

An icon by Pinin Farina

Presented at the 1958 Paris Motor Show, the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 250 GT Coupé was a turning point for the Prancing Horse marque. At the time, Enzo Ferrari was trying to stabilize his company's finances. This mass-produced GT, elegant and refined, was to play a key role. With 353 examples built, it was an unprecedented volume for the brand at the time. It enabled Ferrari to finance its racing program, structure a more industrial production and consolidate its international reputation.

The example offered for auction, chassis 1359 GT, is the 158th of the 353 Coupés built between 1958 and 1960. Under the hood is the legendary 2,953 cm³ Tipo 128D V12, powered by three Weber carburetors and developing 220 hp at 7,000 rpm, combined with a 4-speed manual gearbox. A specification sheet that still thrills to this day. Delivered new in Rome in July 1959, in an elegant Grigio Fumo hue with beige vinyl interior and Connolly leather, it began its Italian life between Rome and Brescia, before heading for Switzerland.

An eventful life... then silence

During its first ten years, the car changed owners seven times. It received intriguing period modifications: bumpers removed, headlights covered with Carello covers, dual ignition contacts, special wheel nuts, battery relocated. These transformations suggest a possible competition use in Switzerland or Germany. Then, in 1969, all hell broke loose. An American serviceman stationed in Bavaria bought it and shipped it to Newark, New Jersey. He drove it a few times... before putting it away. Since then, it has remained in static storage for over half a century. Safe, but frozen in time.

The beauty of rust?

Today, this Ferrari doesn't shine. Its bodywork bears the scars of decades. Surface rust has invaded the panels, the original paint is faded, the whole looks almost post-apocalyptic. Some collectors believe that "a car is only original once". To completely restore such a car would be to erase its history, to erase the traces of its past. Its patina is not just aesthetic: it's narrative.

Technically, almost everything needs to be overhauled. After more than 55 years of immobilization, the engine, transmission, brakes and running gear will require a complete overhaul before any return to the road. But the car retains its matching chassis and engine numbers, a crucial point for purists. It is also accompanied by a report by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini.

500,000 for a Ferrari frozen in time

This 250 GT Coupé will be offered at the Amelia Island sales organized by Gooding Christie's, with an estimate of between $300,000 and $500,000. A substantial sum for a non-running, rust-covered car requiring extensive work. But it's also an almost "reasonable" price, given that in the world of restored Ferrari 250 GTs, some go for well over a million dollars. So, should it be fully restored or preserved as is? One thing is certain: its next owner will have to make a strong choice. Restore this Ferrari to like-new condition... or allow it to continue telling its story as it has been written on its sheet metal since 1959.