Driving the fabulous Ferrari 250 SWB Revival by GTO Engineering | Autocar

When is a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB not a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB? When it's built new, using an original classic Ferrari as a donor, but built to exactly the same specification as Ferrari's original GT sports racing car.
This is the GTO Engineering 250 SWB Revival, from a world-class Ferrari specialist based near Reading in the UK. GTO Engineering has for decades been repairing and restoring classic Ferraris, right up to making new V12 engines from scratch, which owners would fit to their original Ferraris to take them racing. Its parts are completely interchangeable with the original.
Using all that know-how it is now making a series of 250 SWBs so accurate to the original that you can even get historic racing papers for them. The SWB needs a Ferrari donor to retain some kind of authenticity and identity, but fret not (or not so much), GTO Engineering says that it only uses donors that are beyond economic restoration.
The result is an £800,000 classic - restomod is probably the wrong word - that's as intoxicating as you would imagine. Join us as we take the time extend the car and its glorious V12 engine.
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[@AshrafonCars]

Proper driving, proper noise, proper car. Think Matt got slightly emotional, and who can blame him.

[@lampard9512]

Thats all a (real)purist need

[@donjuan150]

Where was the emotion...he never even smiled...

[@AshrafonCars]

@@donjuan150 quite plain to see

[@ConquerDriving]

300bhp from 3 litres is very impressive even today without a forced induction.

[@johnnyboy1586]

And coupled to a very light body it's more than quick enough

[@288gto7]

Thats 300 gross hp. Net hp of this engine was probably 250-260. and you are talking about a high revving v12 not a 3l inline6. Not really suprising that this colombo in 60s could put out 250-260 hp at a high rpm with 3l displacement

[@colin5577]

Matt is right up there as one of my very favourite car reviewers. Love his work - both in print and in video. Really considered and analytic but infused with a passion belied by his dry delivery.

[@craigyirush3492]

Agree, he’s superb.

[@alexpanting4177]

Really I thought he was dead boring and incredibly emotionless

[@888DMAC]

Gorgeous ! 250 SWB’s will always be one of best looking cars ever made.

[@craigyirush3492]

Matt is great. One of the most knowledgeable car reviewers. That glorious sound at around the 5 minute mark!

[@ronaldk.wileyjr.5476]

I have always been a car guy. Since I could watch turbo Pontiac T/A's drive by, while riding my bicycle through the southside of Chicago, in the 70's. In 8th grade, I officially became a Porsche guy. Love all sports cars, but Porsche does it 4 me. When the f1came out... Love @1st sight. McLaren 100%. All that is to say... This 250Gt swb is the most beautiful car all time. It possibly could bring a tear. I LOVE this automobile... Just have to find a way to purchase a remake.😉

[@josesalgueiro1157]

What a beautiful machine

[@JordanPayneLV]

Those welded mesh bits on the trumpets is kind of incredible, great attention to detail and skill going into these

[@BaruKz]

Thanks for giving the exact and correct information. This is a pure gem. Matt clearly you make the difference in motor journalism.

[@truckatadders]

A Ferrari 250 swb is my No 1 Ferrari, just love the proportions & the way it looks 😍❤

[@swanblake]

Just perfection. Great job on this Matt

[@dezpennington5816]

What a fantastic review, great job well done. Love the video.

[@richarddarsa6353]

That was emotional, well done keeping it together! I would have wept, its my all time no 1 too!

[@pauln0371]

Simply one of the most beautiful cars ever designed😍😍

[@Stevieboy130664]

Beautiful car and wonderful sound - from both engine and gearbox.

[@pokinacha]

5:10 I could listen to that all day

[@johnnyboy1586]

Your the second person I have seen driving one of these go all teary eyed 😊

[@13oleskool]

Nice to see you've some energy in this review. Can tell you actually enjoyed yourself !

[@jamespink4202]

It's a fabulous moment to experience exactly driving "peak car" or ride the pinnacle motorcycle. Only ever driven a mint Dino fast (utterly fabulous) but I do own a '61 Velocette Thruxton, that for me is peak motorcycle in the same vein... Great review, thank you!

[@andycombo]

Amazing review. You really pass me the feeling of driven one. Love your emotions, you’ve a real passion for this car. It’s the petrolhesd’s Graal 😅

[@VarioFelce]

high praise for the gt86 comparison!

[@ramaanomuravha8575]

V12 Ferrari engine sound💯

[@ridgeolenroot771]

GTO Engineering did an impressive job in recreating this iconic type by using as much original parts available, and the ones necessary to build from scratch. Proof of their indepth knowledge on the subject, and having the professional craftsmen at hand. The subject matter was very entertaining to watch thanks in no part to the presenter giving his true account on this newly recreation.

[@jackrobinson3392]

Are you a bot?

[@roverwaters3875]

lol they make all the parts from new, available

[@keithjackson4985]

That, is the coolest car, I've ever seen! If I see it, I will steal it!

[@hoperdepop]

Sign of a classicly trained car journalist: little to no smiling while driving something incredible.

[@allensaunders449]

Hope you are kidding

[@fb30xhk]

It wasn’t that many years ago when an original SWB cost a good deal less than what is now the asking price for a SWB Revival

[@roverwaters3875]

20 years

[@fb30xhk]

@@roverwaters3875 Yeah, you’re probably right, time flies

[@amenasce]

Yep back in 2003 we were negotiating one for $900k. Passed on it eventually..big big mistake.

[@beatspacek3479]

Never been hard to love a 250swb! Sometimes I think how mental it would’ve been to see, much less own such a thing back in the day! And GTO, well that crew would have to be masters to produce such a faithful take on a top tier classic like this. Every review I’ve seen on GTO’s rendition has been on the emotional side to say the least! This review was no different in that respect. Matt was obviously blown away with the car. Wasn’t he’s usually dry, chatty self. Brilliant motor though!! I’d be knocking on GTO’s door if I was in the market. Body:Aluminium Power: 300hp 3ltr/4speed Colour: Darkest blue metallic (French navey) or even dark plum metallic- almost black. Dark claret hide or good ol biscuit hide. Just brilliant!!

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

Stunningly Brilliant and Beautiful!!!!

[@doug3011]

he did it,...5.45!!..he smiled, he actually smiled...

[@achintyaaatreya]

Lovely car.I wish Ferrari makes a lightweight modern V12 front engined manual,I really do. If GTO can sell you these for a million quid,so can Ferrari.

[@Theekylesmith178]

Incredible 😮

[@cutsomeone]

Man they are hitting all the hot spots with this thing huh? Lol But you know what? It doesn’t matter how many times this car pops up on my timeline, or how many people I see in it, I get excited just the same.

[@nz_sailor]

There’s an original one, or at least there was, in Auckland NZ. Only saw it once. Been my dream car ever since.

[@andrereed2898]

My fav is the 250 GT Lusso. Sounds so good...

[@goodfest007]

Closest I’ve managed to come to driving one of these is in my old scalexrtric set, which also has a Lister Jaguar and Aston DB5. Looking back what a lucky boy I was.... ha ha

[@Carrera-gp9od]

No modern car sounds as good as this , all the fake pops and bangs you can keep that crap This is where it’s at ,v12 on carbs 👍🏻

[@petercavellini3232]

Would be a bucket list drive and that’s about it.

[@neilurwin9670]

A Phenomenal Fabulous Brilliant Ferrari All The Best.

[@marknorton5951]

Love it!

[@zacs5773]

Absolutely Mega 👌🏻

[@lensoprezole5322]

Matt, I can't wait to see your video review of the new Toyota *GR86* 👍💗

[@robertos4172]

Just a beautiful car. One of those shapes that one identifies with its specific era, yet is timeless as well. Very rare. I would like one lowered with wide alloy wheels....

[@tomostinato2918]

Sublime.

[@CarToneHK]

Art

[@telinoz1975]

Awesome

[@ferrarichy]

There are 2 ex-Rob Walker 250 SWB Berlinettas. Both are still in existence & have their paint scheme from that era.

[@seangelarden9543]

Undoubtedly better made than the originals

[@EternalOcean1]

Mamma mia!!! La bella Macchina! 👍😀😎❤️🌏🌎🌍

[@maxxedredlineproductions]

I want one!

[@helipeek2736]

Aaaannnnddddd relax, that was a slice of wonderful in these weird times.

[@antoniogrieco7127]

MITO ITALIANO 😊

[@ducciocastelli7560]

A simphony, a godness. W Ferrari, Ling live Enzo soul..🙂

[@seiscero]

Imagine having the money to buy this and a Singer 911. My god!

[@_Archambaud]

Yes

[@v12superleggera51]

As much as I love these and have gotten up very close to them, for my money one of these or a REAL Daytona AND a REAL Dino? No question really.

[@sebastianbrajkovic]

This car weighs 1000 kg, the Daytona is far off from that, the Dino has the V6 which desirable, but less then the Colombo V12. Then there is the possibility to spec this car to your own desire. Con would be for me not to own a real Ferrari that was made in Maranello. For a million or just over it I would look hard for an F40.

[@SuperBullyone]

What company makes those rims? Could they be made for a Honda S-2000?

[@KCJbomberFTW]

How much power does the 4 liter have?

[@maserati8374]

beutiful car

[@AR-uy8yr]

Can a car have a soul? I think this one does

[@alexpheasants]

It does make you wonder, why on earth have all the super car makers not cottoned on to this formula? Weighing a tonne, raw, mechanical, NA emotional engine, manual gearbox. Only one bloke has got it, Gordon Murray, his T50 is exactly this.

[@okumonux]

Price is excluding the donor car? If not; how much is a donor car?

[@roverwaters3875]

you don't need a donor car

[@ducciocastelli7560]

Magic. No way nowadays.

[@lampard9512]

So its like the "gt40" ?

[@benkrapf]

Does anyone know if GTO will be making LHD models to be sold in LA?

[@roverwaters3875]

evidently... they make them from the ground up.

[@jryalls]

Is anyone going to drive this without getting emotional? 🤣 Totally get it though, I’d probably get emotional too.

[@donjuan150]

Where was the emotion??

[@mostlysailingnz]

Matt you are a great motoring journalist. But you should start driving the cars a bit harder. Don't just coast around the roads. Drive them like you would have when you were 20 :-)

[@benhur_9377]

❤

[@ZeeBri]

Anyone who thinks a GTO looks better than an SWB needs to be sectioned.

[@288gto7]

Series 2 aka the pininfarina 250 gto looks better than this imo

[@michaelmeredith912]

⁠@@288gto7 agreed 👍🏼

[@paulbata9649]

and if i could i would!

[@kramnam4716]

Ah, so it’s based on a ‘shed’ 330. So it is resto mod if you’re honest. But brilliant! Delighted I only need to be a regular millionaire rather than a multi Let me check my jeans pocket in the laundry basket.

[@retroracingshirt591]

they also build them from scratch

[@smoath]

😊

[@ezekieloliphant163]

Adverts before you can watch the video, then another 2 advert interruptions in a 9 minute video ruins what could have been a stunning article. Shame.

[@allensaunders449]

How can there be a donor car

[@sebdupree1]

5:34

[@pcar928fan]

Very beautiful, but if you are going to take an old Ferrari and convert it to something else why wouldn’t you just go all the way and turn it in to a 250 GTO?

[@johngoodridge7815]

Rod Temporo in New Zealand has been doing those for a while - stunning cars.

[@grayfool]

Oh no! Another way to spend large chucks of my lottery win, if it ever happens.

[@AM4project]

Whats the donor car?

[@AM4project]

@Russ Cooke haha 😂 ok now i can sleep

[@AM4project]

@Russ Cooke no i cant afford one yet

[@retroracingshirt591]

" swb retroracingshirt " for shirt

[@TheEarlofK]

If I had the money, that's definitely a car I would buy to just drive for the fun of it, not forgetting my earplugs; in today's prices of silly money for not particularly special cars, it almost seems like a bargain.

[@richarddarsa6353]

Can you fit a small 3 litre V12 in a GT86?

[@JordanPayneLV]

My 280z is almost the poor-man’s version of this car and I can tell you that there is nothing more special than a car of this era turned up to 10. My 280z is no where near as special as this car but for an everyday person you might be able to get 40% of this car for a little less than a standard hatchback

[@DreamDosage]

2200 pounds... yum!

[@philipp594]

Why a donor car. Just build it from carbon fiber and use recreated parts it could be 400k and much better.

[@roverwaters3875]

they also make them from zero donor car is just an option

[@petercavellini3232]

In fifty years time it’ll be worth?

[@rbslammed6163]

These sound like school busses

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

Its a British edition of a Chinese copy. hence why its marvellous

[@NineHellHeaven]

Aw man, you fell at the final hurdle by spelling 'chances' wrong though. I feel for you. 😭

[@bad-bunnyblogger8171]

@@NineHellHeaven Ha The chances was deliberate. Hence is missing a capital though...FS! :P

[@robertlloyd7493]

As long as it's not electric !

[@mattylatvala43]

Boomer

[@colin5577]

@@mattylatvala43 You’re needed back on TikTok.

[@mattylatvala43]

@@colin5577 hey hillbilly

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Dear Santa............

[@AstonDB8]

Kit car.

[@prakashdayanandan3176]

why cant gto engineering remake a limited run 250 gto series 2 body with a 330 gto engine .3.95 litre ported and stroked to 4.3litres and race prepped ?Youd have a que of buyers ,minimum 100

[@roverwaters3875]

yf you deposit the whole amount in advance... they will.

[@54spatula]

This guy would be better employed as a sanitary towel salesman.

[@Fred-ck1gh]

Wafting around in a V12 Ferrari is just not right! This machine is made for driving through the gears and shift st the red line, it's comes to live over 4500rpm... There are some other review's about the(GTO) 250 SWB where they let the engine breath and come alive and it's driving it as it should!

[@telinoz1975]

This company now does a..... 250 GT California SWB... Oh yeah...

[@roverwaters3875]

they also make them from zero

[@pereldh5741]

Oh great - been wondering what to do with the ABSOLUTE SEA OF 330-SHEDS NO-ONE WANTS

[@OscarLeeMX]

How is Ferrari not suing this company to bankruptcy?

[@lampard9512]

Exactly what i thought

[@davonpointer2310]

Because Ferrari and GTO have an excellent working relationship apparently.

[@sammalloc269]

Its a revival if its a ferrari, for every other car..its a replica.

[@roverwaters3875]

replicas don't use the exact same parts. this does.

[@rjdavies1982]

Lovely car but I just fundamentally feel that any classic Ferrari should not be cannibalised to create something new. How many times have we seen cars that are deemed uneconomical to restore turned into something they're not only for this to be a regret years down the line. I'm thinking about DB4s cut up to make DB4 GTs for example - once all the rage and now not so much. I think it's a crying shame they're hacking up old Ferraris.......

[@roverwaters3875]

they know better than you how to treat a Ferrari. besides, they are also building these SWB and Testa Rossa from zero... no need for a donor.

[@rjdavies1982]

@@roverwaters3875 what an idiotic comment,

[@autocurioso3142]

Seriously out of all the cars you compared it to that bucket of nails gt86?

[@chrisridebike8]

So much more affordable at $800k. Lol