Description
The Ferrari 250 TR Spider Fantuzzi was a unique and striking interpretation of the legendary 250 Testa Rossa, distinguished by its bespoke bodywork designed by Medardo Fantuzzi, one of the most talented Italian coachbuilders of the era. While most 250 TRs were bodied by Scaglietti, the Fantuzzi Spider stood apart with its individualistic lines, making it one of the rarest and most visually distinctive variants of the Testa Rossa lineage.
Mechanically, the Spider Fantuzzi shared the same underpinnings as the 250 Testa Rossa, including the 3.0-liter Colombo-designed V12 engine, producing around 300 horsepower. This engine was paired with a five-speed gearbox and mounted in Ferrari’s familiar tubular steel chassis, offering an ideal blend of performance and durability. Just like its Scaglietti-bodied counterparts, the Fantuzzi Spider was designed to excel in endurance racing, boasting high speed, reliability, and a lightweight structure that made it competitive at the world’s toughest circuits.
The styling by Fantuzzi gave this particular car its identity. It retained the essential proportions of the Testa Rossa but introduced unique bodywork characterized by sleeker, more flowing lines compared to Scaglietti’s earlier pontoon-fender design. Fantuzzi emphasized aerodynamic refinement, with smoother surfaces, a lower windscreen, and subtly reworked front and rear ends. The result was a car that still carried the spirit of Ferrari’s racing barchettas but with a distinctive elegance that set it apart visually and gave it a unique place in the Ferrari family.
In competition, the 250 TR Spider Fantuzzi was fielded in endurance races where Ferrari’s dominance was already well established. Although the Scaglietti-bodied Testa Rossas were the most famous for their victories at Le Mans and Sebring, the Fantuzzi Spider also contributed to Ferrari’s broader racing efforts, demonstrating the same combination of speed and stamina. It became a rare but respected competitor, its individuality making it memorable to both drivers and spectators.
Today, the Ferrari 250 TR Spider Fantuzzi is considered a one-off treasure within Ferrari’s racing heritage. Its rarity, combined with the allure of Fantuzzi’s craftsmanship and the underlying brilliance of the 250 TR platform, makes it one of the most coveted Ferrari sports racers ever built. It represents not only the golden age of endurance racing but also the era when different Italian coachbuilders brought their own artistry to Ferrari’s machines, creating unique masterpieces that stand as icons of automotive history.