The Ferrari 250 series of sports cars began way back in the early Fifties with the launch of the Europa model in 1953.

The 250 series was the one that put Ferrari on the map as a series producer of “road” vehicles.

There were V12 engined 250s in production till the mid-Sixties, with Ferrari's annual output for the model rising from thirty-five in 1953 to 670 units in 1964.

With its combination of a lightweight 2,953-cc, 180-cubic-inch power plant, and intricately balanced chassis, the Ferrari 250 was at its core always a race car.

During its production run, the short wheelbase 250 GT SWB was classed as both the world's fastest and most rapidly accelerating sports car, with a long series of successes to back up these sttistics.

The 250 GT SWB’s peak came in 1960 when it took the first four places at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GT class.

The following year, UK motorsport legends Stirling Moss and Graham Hill beat the lap record. Moss has been quoted as saying that the 250 GT SWB was "the best GT car ever!'

Despite the glamour of winning races, Enzo Ferrari was becoming increasingly aware that he needed to sell road cars to survive in business, let alone fund his company’s racing ambitions.

Late in 1962 at the Paris show came the attractive 250 GT/L, later known as Berlinetta Lusso (luxury), created by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti.

The 250 GT/Ls front end was similar to the SWB model, while the Kamm-style tail resembled that of the 250 GTO racing coupe, with round tail lamps.

Overall, the new fastback profile had a thin-pillar roofline, with aluminium hood, doors, and trunk lid.

At the centre of the dashboard was a large speedometer and tachometer, with five gauges ahead of the steering wheel.

The Lusso was the final version of th 250 GT to be produced.

Capitalising on the 250's track successes, Ferrari launched a series of road car spin-offs, among them the Lusso (meaning "luxury") and the beautiful, open-topped California,

Befitting their exclusivity and glamour, Ferrari 250’s were never far from the film set.

Among the best known is the red Ferrari California which featured very strongly in the 1986 hit movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

As well as being an unrivalled film prop, Ferraris became the car of choice for iconic Hollywood movie stars from the Fifties till today.

In 1961 Hollywood actor James Coburn bought a black 250 GT California, which he owned for the next twenty-four years.

While filming The Great Escape in 1963,Coburn convinced his co-star and renowned sped freak Steve McQueen to test his Ferrari.

McQueen was reportedly smitten and as soon as filming wrapped up rushed out to place his order for his first Ferrari—a chestnut brown 250 GT Lusso.

McQueen's favourite Ferrari remained in his collection for long after his premature passing eventually sold in 2007 for $2,310,000 at the 2007 Monterey Sports Car Auction.

The following year radio presenter Chris Evans paid close to eight million dollars for Coburn's California, a staggering figure which set and remained the world record for the highest price ever paid for a car at auction for many years.