We've seen this Ferrari 250 GTO replica that costs 2 million euros... while the original is worth 50!

The Ferrari 250 GTO, produced in just 36 examples between 1962 and 1964, remains for many the archetype of the pure, elegant sports car, and perhaps even the most beautiful. Ferrari ever produced. But with current prices ranging from $38 to $70 million, owning one is virtually impossible, even for someone with solid financial backing.

A Belgian project

AVD Revival is a Belgian company, born only two years ago and located near the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. They decided to recreate a Ferrari 250 GTO. At the head of the company are two well-known names from the Liège region. Christian Jupsin, one of the faces of the DG Sport team, well known in rallying but also for organizing events such as Spa Italia and Spa Asia, to name but two. The other is Arens Vehicle Design, based in Amblève, hence the «AVD» Revival.

It was originally intended as a one-off: «The idea was to recreate a 1964 Series II 250 GTO for a friend. Given the costs involved, we thought of producing 10 examples,” explains Christian Jupsin. In the end, this 250 “revival” will be produced in two versions, for 10 customers worldwide. And patience will be required: 2 years of waiting will be necessary to bring each model to fruition.

A Ferrari 330 donor to start with

The basis of the work is a Ferrari 330 donor, which retains the V12, gearbox and axle, as well as part of the chassis cut to match the wheelbase of the vintage 250 GTO. The customer can keep the 330's 4.0-liter engine, boosted to 400 hp, but to respect the 250 GTO's technical specifications, AVD proposes to reduce the engine to a 3.0-liter displacement, with 300 hp, as on the vintage GTO powered by the fabulous Colombo V12.

Customers can also choose between two versions: a road version with 4-speed gearbox, or a competition version with 5-speed gearbox and FIA passport. The bodywork is in hand-formed aluminum. Each panel is fixed by hand, using 1,130 rivets!

The 1964 version

AVD decided to base itself on the final version, the 1964 Series 2, whose design differs slightly from the 1962 original designed by Bizzarrini and coachbuilder Scaglietti: redesigned by Mauro Forghieri, it was inspired by the design of the 250 LM, losing in sensuality what it gained in stability and aerodynamic efficiency. While the rear end was still distinctive, with muscular, curved rear wings pierced by shark gills, and the four exhaust pipes protruding clearly from the underbody, the front end was quite different from the first GTO models. The ovoid mouth and three NACA intakes on the muzzle were not present, as on the first models, while the front wings and headlamps were more “spindly” and flattened.

The price obviously depends on the condition of the donor car. You should expect to pay around 1.9 million euros. A «reasonable» price indeed, compared to the real 250 GTO.