Car of the Day #25

1961 Ferrari 250 SWB ‘SEFAC HOT ROD’

One of the seven exceptional concours Ferraris at this weekend’s Hampton Court Palace Concours will be this astonishing 250 SWB SEFAC ‘Hotrod.’   One of only 20 SEFAC ‘Hotrod’ 250 Berlinetta’s built by Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Auto Corse (hence SEFAC), this short-wheelbase 250 was upgraded considerably over the ‘standard’ SWB with almost 300 bhp on tap, thanks to the fitment of a Tipo 168B/61 engine with Testarossa cylinder heads, high-lift cams, six Weber carbs; the works!

The result was an exceptionally light and effective racing car, able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in five seconds; impressive today, but exceptional for the early 1960s.  Top speed was over 160 mph.  The SEFAC Hotrod is often regarded as the ultimate SWB Ferrari, despite some examples being stripped of all creature comforts, with no sound deadening, bare aluminium sheet flooring and Plexiglass windows.  This bare specification helped the SEFAC Hotrods take first in class at the 1961 Le Mans, plus victories in the Targa Floria and RAC Tourist Trophy in the same year.