Italian Court Declares Ferrari 250 GTO is a ‘Masterpiece’
In Italy, a panel of judges told the world that the 250 GTO is like a da Vinci or Picasso painting and cannot ever be replicated.Â
Just this week, Ferrari took a company in Modena, Italy, to court after they caught wind of that company’s plans to replicate a classic prancing pony: the famous Sixties-era Ferrari 250 GTO. Ferrari told the panel of judges that the firm wants sole intellectual and design properties to belong to them, and them only. The judges agreed with Ferrari and decided that based off the car’s awards and merits earned in the past, that it was acceptable.
Ferrari was granted sole rights to the car, and the judges placed the valuable classic in the same legal property as an original painting of famous artists from the past, like Leonardo da Vinci or Picasso.
The judges in Italy ruled that “the customisation of the car’s lines and its aesthetic elements have made the 250 GTO unique, a true automobile icon.”
“It is the first time in Italy that a car has been recognised as a work of art,” confirmed a Ferrari spokesman. “It’s not just its beauty that makes it special; it also has a long racing history.”
Aside from just looking good, the 250 GTO was made to perform. In the 1960s, the car was produced to compete in the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as a Group 3 Grand Touring Car.
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Between 1962 and 1964, there were only 36 of these cars ever made — and all of them are thought to still be in existence. It raises a question: How did Ferrari get away with making so few? In the 1960s, if race cars were to qualify to race, there had to be at least 100 of them made for production. (Other people had to be able to drive them.) However, Ferrari found a loophole. With the 36 cars they did make, they made the VINs out of sequence — jumping in and out between cars that did and did not exist. When the FIA came to ensure the existence of all 100 cars, Ferrari moved the cars in different locations to provide the illusion they were all there.
As one of the world’s finest collector pieces, they’re worth millions of dollars. For instance, a 1962 model recently sold for nearly $50 million at a Sotheby’s auction in California. In 2014, another was sold for nearly $40 million. While this is the first time a Ferrari was legally recognized as a work of art, members of Team Speed‘s Ferrari forums have been including Ferraris in their masterpieces for a long while.
Case in point, Vic82 posted a thread in Team Speed‘s Ferrari forums showcasing his amazing Ferrari-themed art. Some, as shown above and below, are of the now-irreplaceable Ferrari 250 GTO. This particular thread was posted in July 2008. While the post is 11 years old, his art is forever timeless. Realistic art is difficult to master — and that becomes more apparent the longer you stare at his work. The reflections, the detail in the tire tread and on the rims, the way the color bends with light, it’s amazing. No wonder Italian judges were so quick to deem the 250 GTO as a masterpiece. Through Vic82’s artistry, it’s a no-brainer.
Both, Vic82‘s profile and the thread, have drawings of all sorts of Ferraris to admire. From modern models, racing Ferraris, traditional pencil drawings, and profiles–there’s a lot to look at. Team Speed is lucky to have him on the forums posting such amazing art.
Another artist who features Ferrari is his work is FerrariArtist, whose thread features a treasure trove of Ferrari paintings to take in. CReated with acrylic paint on canvas, the paintings take on different styles, and they’re all amazing. For instance, the first image of his work is of a Ferrari 308. The background is very detailed, while the second painting (a Ferrari F310) has a flat black background. The tires and the foreground have a more watercolor essence to them, which adds to the beauty of the piece.
FerrariArtist has done paintings of other Ferraris, too, modern and classic, with complex and simple backgrounds. There are also paintings of a DeLorean, as well. His paintings come in all sorts of colors, subjects, and themes, and they’re all worthy of your attention.
In the Ferrari forums you’ll also find some great artwork by talented Team Speed member Claeys Jelle and his amazing automotive artwork. His work takes a more unique approach, using watercolor markers. Jelle has featured Porsche, BMW, Land Rover, and even Dodge in his threads. He even runs a website where you can buy his original art. On the same website is a full portfolio of cars he’s painted, so anyone curious might be there a while. This artist’s Ferrari paintings, an Enzo and an F40, are as unique as they are detailed.
There are so many more artists to scroll through in the Ferrari forums, and taking the time to appreciate a few is well worth it. Ferrari inspired these artists to create these stunning pieces. Why not take a moment to appreciate to support another Ferrari enthusiast?
Photos: Team Speed’s Ferrari forums
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