Cars, Classic Cars, Ferrari

1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta

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1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta

When one thinks of Ferrari, images conjure in the mind of speed, power, elegance, wealth, and rarity. The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta is no exception. Perhaps most known for being owned by the definition of coolness, Mr. Steve McQueen. Ferrari has been a trusted name since 1929 and gained its reputation through the production of quality racing motor vehicles. After 18 years in production Ferrari took its design technology to street legal performance cars in 1947.

The Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta was produced from 1963 to 1964 and 350 models were completed. It was put through its paces racing against the Targa, and though finishing 14th out of 64 competitors, there was certainly nothing to be disappointed in. The 250 Lusso sports a 3.0 liter engine with rear wheel drive. Featuring a V-12 engine with 240 hp, this dream machine goes from 0 – 60 in 8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 155 mph.

At its introductory price this sweet ride sold for just under $13,000 and today fetches a price well above $500,000. For some the investment speculation alone is enough, but for owners of the Ferrari 250 Lusso Berlinetta it is all about the love of the vehicle. It was certainly not a car for kids or the faint at heart. The Lusso Berlinetta combined the best of a racing vehicle and a luxury car to come up with an unforgettable classic.

Many consider the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta to be the best of the Ferrari GT models produced. Enzo Ferrari was a visionary with racing cars, whose intention was to utilize the revenues from street versions to support his racing endeavors. With timing, circumstance, and correct partnering with Alfa Romeo and Pininfarina the Ferrari street machine has become the love of many car buffs.

1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Berlinetta Photo Gallery:

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Cars, Lincoln, Muscle Cars

1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible

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The 1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible is part of the “Fourth Generation” of Lincoln Continentals.

The Continental was redesigned in 1961 with its wheelbase being reduced by a whopping 14.8 inches. One unpredicted result of this shorter wheelbase was development of the front-opening rear doors. Known as “suicide doors,” they are one of the most distinctive features of Lincoln Continentals of the Fourth Generation. They were implemented because the reduction in wheelbase limited rear-seat access. To remedy the problem, the engineers came up with the “suicide door.”

A number of other features also distinguish the 1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible. Beginning in 1961, this model was the first in the United States to include a 24,000 mile or two-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. The doors included walnut paneling. The Fourth Generation Lincoln Continental Convertible was the first four-door convertible produced by a major domestic manufacturer following World War II.

These cars sold well in the 1960’s and they sell well today. The 1963 Lincoln Continental Convertibles are popular with collectors. In good shape, these models will sell. They are also popular in the entertainment business. Lincoln Continental Convertibles have appeared in numerous movies including Kalifornia, The Matrix, The Last Action Hero and others.

1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible Photos

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Muscle Cars, Shelby

1963 Shelby Cobra

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The 1963 Shelby Cobra was a high- performance sports car developed by Carroll Shelby. The light weight A.C. Ace Roadster, which is a British sports car, and has been fitted with a powerful Ford V8 engine. The first Cobra was produced in 1962, and was painted yellow for the race it initially raced in 1962. The original had a 260 cubic inch V8 Ford engine. The 1963 Shelby Cobra was upgraded to include a 289 cubic inch engine. The Shelby was also equipped with a solid- lifter cam, an 11 to 1 compression ratio, a four – barrel carburetor, and the 289 V8 engine put out 271 HP, at 6,000 RPM.

The 1963 Shelby Cobra was entered into the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, and 2 cars were entered into the race. One of the drivers was Carroll Shelby, in which he placed 7th in the 24 hour race. Dan Gurney who raced in the Bridgehampton 500 KM race driving the 1963 Shelby Cobra, and was the first American to win an FIA race, with an American made car. This was the first race won in an American car, which paved the way for future cars to come into the racing circuit.

The 1963 Shelby Cobra was first advertised to have speeds of up to 150 miles per hour, but at a test drive by “MotorTrend,” topped out at 130 MPH. The Cobra was able to complete a quarter mile in just 13 seconds, at 112 MPH. It can go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.8 seconds. When originally introduced the 1963 Shelby Cobra cost just under $6,000, and from 1963 to 1965 655 Cobras were produced and sold. However, in March of 2006, the 1963 Shelby Cobra which placed 7th in the Le Mans race was sold for $1.65 million dollars. The average value of the Cobras which were produced in 1963 average anywhere from $300,000 to $1.65 million. Yet, the most noticeable cars, which were driven in races when first produced have been valued at up to $2.2 million dollars.

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