Widely considered the most desirable Ferrari ever made is the 250 GTO. Built to dominate GT racing in the early 1960s, just 36 Series I cars were ever made, but in this very small group of examples, there is one that is rarer still, and that is Chassis 3729GT.
Chassis 3729GT, known as the “Bianco Speciale,” is the only Ferrari 250 GTO ever finished in factory white.
The Beginning
In 1962, John Coombs, a respected race team owner and Jaguar dealer, placed an order with Ferrari for the latest GT contender: the 250 GTO. But he didn’t want just any GTO; he wanted something unique.
Rather than the typical Rosso Corsa, Coombs requested his car be painted white. It was an unusual request in an era when racing Ferraris had strict colour rules, but, ultimately, Ferrari granted his request.
The car, chassis 3729GT, was completed and delivered to the UK on 28th July 1962. Finished in Bianco (white) paint and trimmed in blue, it was a car that looked nothing like any other GTO ever built.
Built to Race
3729GT featured Ferrari’s Colombo-derived 3.0-litre V12 with six twin-choke Weber carburettors, dry-sump lubrication, and a five-speed gearbox.
The body was crafted by Carrozzeria Scaglietti and included features typical of mid-1962 builds: a wide radiator opening, front wing vents, and circular brake ducts. A mix of aluminium and steel helped keep weight down.
Although factory-finished in white, the car would later wear different colours as it changed hands and identities throughout its life.
A Brief but Significant Racing Career
Coombs’ intent was always to race the car. In its earliest outings, 3729GT competed in UK and European GT events, though it saw relatively limited action compared to some of its GTO siblings.
Its uniqueness, especially the factory white finish, may have been part of the reason for this. While Ferrari GTOs were built to be raced hard, 3729GT carried an air of individuality from the start. This is likely the reason that, over time, it transitioned out of competition and into private hands.
Changing Colours
In the decades that followed, the car’s colour would change. At one point, it was red, and then blue. Despite work obviously being carried out on the car, its chassis identity remained intact. 3729GT avoided any major overhauls or restorations that might compromise its originality.
Unlike many GTOs that underwent heavy racing wear and frequent rebuilds, 3729GT survived as a remarkably preserved example, with much of its original equipment and structure intact. Its limited competition mileage probably helped its condition remain so good.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Going to Auction
Now, more than six decades after its creation, chassis 3729GT is going to auction. Mecum Auctions will offer the car at its Kissimmee sale in January 2026. What makes this even more significant is that this will be a rare public appearance of any 250 GTO, let alone one with such an interesting history.
No official estimate has been released, but given the private market valuations of GTOs, some selling for over $70 million (£53 million), the car’s rarity, originality, and factory white finish put it in a class of its own. That means it will very likely sell for an insanely high sum of money.
More Than Just a Colour
It’s easy to focus on the paintwork of this stunning car. Obviously, being the only white GTO is incredible, but the story of 3729GT has more to it than that. It’s the story of Ferrari’s willingness to accommodate a unique request, and of a car that managed to survive in such original condition for so long.
Also, this car is a fantastic symbol of a time when you could order the world’s most desirable GT car and have it painted in any colour you wanted!
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