We got into this replica Ferrari 250 GTO, which costs 2 million euros

With only 36 units produced between 1962 and 1964, and sale prices easily exceeding 50 million euros, the Ferrari 250 GTO is a road mirage: just catching a glimpse of one is in itself a rarity, a rare privilege. So, owning one—you can imagine. And even if you did, driving such a car can give you cold sweats if something goes wrong—or worse, if there’s an accident. It’s enough to give an insurer a major headache. It’s like having a water fight or a paintball battle right next to a Da Vinci painting.

A replica based on a Ferrari

ADV Revival, whose base is located near the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, aims to fulfill this nearly impossible desire: How can one get as close as possible to the Holy Grail that is the 250 GTO? By bringing it back to life through a conversion! Having long specialized in custom restorations and conversions—including a one-of-a-kind Porsche 964—ADV Revival has taken on the crazy challenge of recreating the 250 GTO starting from a base model Ferrari. After seeing it at the Top Marques show in May, we had the opportunity to take a closer look at the race car in Monaco and even get inside it.

Yes, this is neither a restomod nor an obscure replica based on a low-grade chassis, but rather a genuine Ferrari that has been reconfigured as a 250 GTO. The technical foundation is a Ferrari 330, whose chassis has been shortened to match the GTO’s dimensions. Based on this foundation, each tube is redesigned, modeled in 3D, and then crafted from steel with absolute precision. Modern engineering refines the artisanal process, preserving historical accuracy while ensuring structural integrity for today.

Under the hood, the Colombo V12 (originally a 4-liter engine in the 330) can, if the customer wishes, be reconfigured to 3 liters to more closely match the original GTO of that era. The engine in car No. 1 has been carefully restored, redesigned, and modified according to the exact specifications of the original GTO. Nothing has been altered beyond this modification: every component and every proportion remains faithful to the original design down to the smallest detail.

Mimicry

Visually, it's quite a sight. Every curve, every contour, every detail of the aluminum body is reproduced with extreme precision. The model visited Monaco is the very first converted chassis, set to kick off a small production run of 10 units. AVD based its design on the 1964 Series 2, which differs from the original 1962 model—designed by Bizzarrini and coachbuilder Scaglietti—by drawing inspiration from the design of the 250 LM. It features the rounded, flowing lines typical of the sexy sports cars of the 1960s, with muscular, curved rear fenders pierced by shark gills, as well as four exhaust pipes protruding prominently from the underbody.

Once inside, you first have to manage to get in! For someone of large stature (1.90 meters, in my case), contorting yourself is a given, but that’s just how we squeezed in back then. But once you’re seated and buckled in, the competitive spirit takes over. It all comes back to you: the doors slam shut and open with a simple metal “cord.” The center of the dashboard displays all the gauges (fuel level, fuel pressure, oil pressure, and coolant pressure), along with a whole array of buttons and switches (headlights, windshield wipers, etc.), not to mention the red kill switch on the side.

The only deviation from the 1960s-style design is the fire extinguisher required by Belgian regulations, located behind the passenger seat. It had to go somewhere! One is always struck by the narrowness of the side windows, only part of which opens via a sliding panel. Of course, what immediately catches the eye is the beauty of the gearshift lever and the aluminum H-pattern shifter, as well as the large steering wheel that combines metal and wood with unmatched elegance. Everything is within easy reach—a testament to the design genius of the era.

Thrills Guaranteed

Starting it up is done by the book: turn off the circuit breaker, pump the fuel pedal to get the gas flowing, insert the starter key, and the engine roars to life. Its 12 carburetors breathe life into this masterpiece of engineering. It vibrates, it’s very hot, and of course, relying on driver aids is out of the question. Watch your head—especially if you’re tall—because the jolts can easily cause you to bump it. This is a true classic sports car from yesteryear, not for the uninitiated. No ABS, no power steering, and you have to keep the idle steady so the V12 doesn’t sputter. The air is hot and humid, which, as we know, isn’t ideal for carburetors. The 250 “AVD” transmits every bump in the road, while the transmission clicks through each gear with perfect mechanical precision. All that’s left to do is savor every sensory thrill this car provides—and watch the admiring passersby!

AVD is hopeful that it will find new potential customers, as the United States is undoubtedly a very receptive market for this bold project. Of course, there are two requirements: a donor 330 and $2 million to fund the conversion. That’s still 25 to 30 times less than a real GTO!

Thank you to Laure Beneteau and Victor Koenig for their warm welcome and their time!