A SINGULAR SHADE IN A SEA OF ROSSO CORSA
Among the thirty-six Ferrari 250 GTOs ever built, chassis 3729GT stands alone. It is the only example finished at the factory in white: a color choice that quietly defied the dominant aesthetic of 1960s motorsport, where Ferrari’s unmistakable Rosso Corsa was more than tradition; it was national identity. Commissioned in 1962 by British privateer John Coombs, a prominent figure in motorsport and car dealership circles, the car was delivered in a luminous pearl white finish. The move was bold, unprecedented, and required Ferrari’s blessing at the highest level.
The result was not just a rare visual departure but the creation of a legend. Nicknamed Bianco Speciale by collectors and enthusiasts, the car became an instant outlier: visually arresting, historically significant, and endlessly photographed. While others were cloaked in crimson, Coombs’ GTO shimmered with distinction, a pure expression of individuality and influence. It’s a livery that’s never been repeated on another GTO, further elevating its place within Ferrari’s most hallowed lineage.
This January, at Mecum’s high-profile Kissimmee auction, Bianco Speciale will return to the public stage. Hopes are high, and not without reason. The last Ferrari 250 GTO to come to market, sold in 2023, commanded over $51 million, setting a new benchmark. With its singular specification and racing pedigree, 3729GT enters the spotlight not only as a remarkable machine but as a candidate to break records once again.
A RACING RESUME WRITTEN BY LEGENDS
While the car’s color might draw the eye, its racing history sustains the intrigue. Upon delivery, Coombs entrusted the GTO to none other than Roy Salvadori, who piloted it to a second-place finish in the Peco Trophy at Brands Hatch in 1962: its first outing. Just two weeks later, it was back on the grid, this time with Formula One World Champion Graham Hill behind the wheel. At Goodwood’s RAC Tourist Trophy, Hill also brought the car home in second, helping Ferrari secure the 1962 GT Manufacturers’ Championship.
In 1963, the car achieved its sole class win, with British racing driver Jack Sears taking the victory at Brands Hatch. Though its time in competition was relatively brief, the roster of drivers who sat behind its wheel reads like a greatest hits of mid-century motorsport. These weren’t just skilled drivers: they were icons, and their involvement further enriches the GTO’s legacy.
But the car’s influence extended beyond the track. After its racing career, Coombs loaned 3729GT to Jaguar engineers for development research: particularly in support of the Lightweight E-Type project. In doing so, the GTO became an unwitting muse for one of Britain’s most legendary sports cars. Later, it was digitally immortalized when chosen as the specific chassis scanned for the video game Gran Turismo 6, offering a new generation a chance to experience its shape in simulated motion.
PRESERVED, NOT REWRITTEN
What sets this GTO apart from many of its peers is not just its uniqueness, but the way it has been maintained. Over its lifetime, 3729GT has avoided the temptation of a full concours restoration. Instead, its caretakers opted for a preservation-first approach: repairing and refinishing only as necessary, in a manner that respected the car’s history and aging materials. The result is a vehicle that still carries the traces of its journey: patina, character, and authenticity.
This philosophy was affirmed in 2008 when the car received Ferrari Classiche certification, complete with the coveted Red Book. The official recognition of originality and correctness only adds to its value, offering assurance to collectors that what they see is not just rare, but real. In a market where over-restoration can obscure provenance, 3729GT’s integrity is a feature unto itself.
Before its anticipated sale in January 2026, the car will be showcased at Mecum’s Monterey event in August 2025. There, it will be seen not just as an investment opportunity or a museum piece, but as a rolling archive of style, speed, and story. Bianco Speciale is more than a car: it is a singular artifact from a golden era of racing, an icon in pearl white, and a reminder that true rarity lies not only in numbers but in narrative.