Only 36 Ferrari 250 GTOs were built between 1962 and 1964, and the car was homologated specifically for GT racing rather than road use. Kyosho captures that singular machine in 1:18 die-cast metal, presenting it in a dark blue livery that stands apart from the Rosso Corsa finish associated with the majority of surviving cars. The result is a display piece grounded in one of the most consequential chapters in Ferrari's competition history.
The Ferrari 250 GTO: Thirty-Six Chassis and Three Championships
The 250 GTO's technical foundation is the 3.0-litre 168 Comp/62 Colombo V12, producing approximately 300 bhp through six twin-choke Weber 38 DCN carburettors. Its bodywork — hand-formed aluminium over a tubular steel spaceframe — was designed and built by Scaglietti on a 2,400 mm wheelbase. Homologated in 1962, the GTO won the FIA GT Manufacturers' Championship in 1962, 1963, and 1964: a clean sweep that has never been repeated by any other Ferrari GT model.
Dark Blue in a Sea of Red
Most of the 36 GTOs left Maranello in Rosso Corsa, the colour synonymous with Ferrari's works race entries at Le Mans, the Tour de France Automobile, and the Targa Florio. A small number of private owners, however, took delivery of or subsequently repainted their cars in alternative colours, dark blue among them. That minority status gives this livery a distinct character on any display shelf, marking a departure from the dominant red narrative without departing from documented GTO history. The car reproduced here is presented as a road or display version with no specific race attribution.
Kyosho's 1:18 Die-Cast Interpretation
Kyosho renders the 250 GTO in die-cast metal at 1:18 — the scale widely considered the minimum at which Scaglietti's long bonnet, fastback roofline, and triple-outlet tail can be read with real fidelity. The model sits within Kyosho's established 1:18 Ferrari GTO range, with the blue variant serving as a colour alternative within the same base tooling.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Ferrari 250 GTO so significant in period racing?
The 250 GTO won the FIA GT Manufacturers' Championship three consecutive years — 1962, 1963, and 1964 — against factory opposition from Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Shelby Cobra. Only 36 cars were built between 1962 and 1964.
What engine does the Ferrari 250 GTO use?
A 3.0-litre 168 Comp/62 Colombo V12 fed by six twin-choke Weber 38 DCN carburettors, producing approximately 300 bhp.
Why is this model in dark blue rather than red?
The majority of GTOs were delivered in Rosso Corsa, but a small number of private owners ordered or later repainted their cars in other colours, including dark blue. This model represents that category of privately owned, non-works-liveried examples.
Who makes this 1:18 scale model and what material is it?
It is manufactured by Kyosho and constructed in die-cast metal, part of their established 1:18 Ferrari 250 GTO range.
