1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition
Bruce Meyer's 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition is one of the most celebrated examples of one of Ferrari’s most legendary models. It’s a car with beauty, pedigree, and serious motorsport history—exactly the kind of machine Meyer, an icon in the collector car world, is known for curating and championing.
Bruce Meyer drives up in the 250 GT SWB during Dolce e Veloce at the Petersen Museum
Bruce Meyer’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition isn’t just rare—it’s legendary. This car, chassis #2735GT, is one of about 40 aluminum-bodied Competition-spec SWBs ever built by Ferrari. With its short wheelbase, lightweight body by Scaglietti, and a snarling 3.0L V12 under the hood, it was born to race. And race it did. Delivered new to French driver Pierre Noblet, this exact car finished 3rd overall and 1st in class at the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans—a giant-slaying moment that etched its name into motorsport history.
Unlike the more plush road-going versions of the 250 GT, the Competition variant was stripped down and built to win. Bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, and an engine tuned for endurance meant it could go toe-to-toe with the best in the world—and often beat them. Noblet raced it throughout Europe, from the Nürburgring to the Tour de France, adding to its already incredible resume.
Enter Bruce Meyer, one of the most respected figures in the collector car world. He picked up #2735GT in the early 2000s and has since shared it widely—from Pebble Beach to Goodwood, and everywhere in between. Meyer doesn’t just collect cars—he tells their stories. And with this SWB, he’s preserving and celebrating one of Ferrari’s most important GT racers, not as a museum piece, but as a living, roaring tribute to the golden era of motorsport.
The Car: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition
SWB stands for “Short Wheelbase,” referencing the car’s 2,400 mm (94.5 in) wheelbase—a key factor in its agility.
The Berlinetta Competition variant was the track-focused version, built for endurance racing. Compared to the steel-bodied road cars, these Competition-spec cars featured:
Lightweight aluminum bodies by Scaglietti
Larger fuel tanks
Enhanced brakes and suspension
More aggressive cam profiles and tuned 3.0L Colombo V12 engines producing around 280–300 hp
Only about 40 aluminum-bodied Competizione cars were built, making it one of the rarest and most desirable Ferrari models ever made.
The History & Racing Pedigree
Bruce Meyer’s car, chassis #2735GT, is especially noteworthy. It was originally delivered to famed Ferrari privateer Pierre Noblet, who immediately entered it in major international races. Most famously, this exact car finished third overall and first in class at the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans—an astounding result for a GT car competing against prototypes.
That single Le Mans result instantly elevated #2735GT into legendary territory. It also ran at the Nürburgring 1000km, Tour de France Automobile, and other European endurance events, building a resume that few 250 GTs can match.
Bruce Meyer & the Car Today
Bruce Meyer, a founding board member of the Petersen Automotive Museum and a longtime figure in the car collecting world, acquired the car in the early 2000s. Known for only collecting the “best of the best,” Meyer’s ownership gave the car a second chapter—not on the race track, but as a cultural ambassador of sorts. He’s brought it to concours events, historic rallies, and museums, including frequent appearances at Pebble Beach, Goodwood, and The Quail.
Meyer’s stewardship of the 250 SWB isn’t just about ownership—it’s about sharing automotive history. He’s famously said he views himself more as a “custodian” than a collector. And in this case, he's preserving and showcasing one of the greatest Ferraris ever built—a true convergence of beauty, speed, and legacy.
