The Tour de France for Automobiles was launched as early as 1899 and continued until it was discontinued in 1986.
The first race after the Second World War took place in 1951 and marked the start of a „golden era“ for this racing event that was to last until 1966. At that time, Ferrari and their highly developed GT cars set the benchmark. The Scuderia won the overall standings no fewer than eight times between 1951 and 1962.
The 1964 Tour de France for Automobiles was held from 11 to 20 September in France and Italy. Driving a Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis no. 4153, the Belgian pairing of Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger lined up alongside a further 116 entrants at the start of the race in the city of Lille. Over the following nine days, with the finish in Nice, a total distance of 6'060 km had to be covered across six stages. Only 36 teams reached the finish in the south of France. As every year, on their long and gruelling drive through France - and for the first time with a detour to Monza in Italy - participants had to complete timed special stages. These included circuit races on the tracks at Reims, Rouen, Le Mans and Monza, as well as hill climbs finishing at the famous Col du Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux and Col de Turini.
Particular excitement was caused by the first-ever participation of an American racing team. None other than Carroll Shelby entered three Shelby Daytonas for the starting field. The 380 bhp coupés initially dominated the race, but all three retired on the third stage following some serious accidents.
At the end of the race, as had so often been the case before, a GTO once again came out on top. Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger were able to celebrate in style as overall winners of the GT class in their Ferrari 250 GTO with start number 172. Once again, the GTO had set the benchmark.
Exhibition model
