Just 43 examples of the Europa GT were built, and this gloriously aged example was under a single-family ownership in California for six decades. Chassis 0413 GT was the 29th car to be built and delivered new to the official Ferrari dealer in Genoa in October 1955. According to research by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the car was destined for Dott. Enrico Wax, the president of Wax & Vitale SpA. The Genovese firm was official Italian distributor for luxury brands including Johnnie Walker Möet & Chandon and Connolly leather.

Wax was known to regularly purchase highly customized Ferraris for over two decades from the 1950s including a Pinin Farina-bodied Europa GT (0425 GT) which was a design study for the 14-louvre Tour de France. This 1955 example, chassis 0413 GT is entirely consistent with Wax’s taste for bespoke cars. In particular, the instrument cluster and distinctive taillights are believed to be unique to this car.

Remarkably the car was specified in period with a deep metallic grey exterior, Grigio Metallizzato and then a contrasting leather interior of Arancia. A colour combination more common with today’s tastes. The car was exported to California in 1960 and resided in the ownership of the Gottwald family until 2020. Having been placed into storage in 1966 it remains to this day wearing its original 33,671 kilometres in a beautifully patinated condition.

Going under the hammer as part of Gooding & Co’s Geared online sale this is one of those increasingly rare opportunities to own a fine, unmolested slice of Ferrari history that deserves a sympathetic mechanic recommissioning and then placed back into active service for the world to see.