It is the apotheosis of a grand line. The 250 GT range was fundamental in establishing Ferrari in its hallowed position, and the legendary GTO was the culmination of everything it could offer. Yet then came the second series, or the '64 as it has come to be known, given its introduction two years on. And this is no subtle tweak of the GTO: it is not simply a case of race engineer sorcery hidden within identical bodywork. No, the '64 is just as much about the way it looks as what lies beneath. After two seasons of unparallelled sports car success, Ferrari sought improvement by changing everything you can see, as well as much of what you can't.
'I postulate that the '64 body was intended to align the 250 GTO visually with the 250 LM, which Ferrari then tried to get homologated as a development of the 250 GT Berlinetta,' says author and GTO authority Keith Bluemel. 'It had wider wheels and tyres and a wider track, so one would assume that it had superior cornering abilities. The '64 car was shorter, wider and lower. Overall power output remained about the same. Indeed the engine was practically unchanged, but then it was a true jewel, made of more than 5500 parts. Even the roller that runs against the cam lobe is equipped with needle bearings in competition engines: 14 per roller, 24 valves, so that's no fewer than 336 needles.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
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