In the category of Dear Lord What a Car! Caro Signore, che macchina!
Lot 78
1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder LWB
Artcurial Retromobile Show Ferrari
Estimation 8,500,000 - 11,500,000 €
Swiss title
Chassis no. 1011GT
Engine no. 1011
Tipo 128D no. 014D
- Ferrari Classiche certification
- Complete restoration in England (comprehensive file)
- Matching numbers, faired-in headlamps
- One of the most beautiful cabriolets in the history of the car
- Extremely rare, the 10th of 47 cars built
- From an important Swiss Collection
With the 250, Ferrari's destiny would change. From being a minor car maker, it would take on an industrial dimension and acquire the worldwide reputation we associate with it today. Two families of cars grew up based on the famous 3-litre V12, whose power and flexibility are now well proven: one line of Ferraris destined to be driven on track, the other reserved for use on the road, with a level of comfort and equipment which the company's cars had not previously enjoyed. The racing arm gave birth to legends on wheels such as the Testa Rossa, Tour de France berlinetta, 250 GTO or 250 LM, while the range of road cars gave rise to some wonderful coupés and cabriolets which film stars, top-level sportsmen and leading industrialists competed to own. But what also distinguished Ferrari were the constant bridges linking the two branches, ensuring that the road cars were never far removed from the racetrack ... The 250 GT California Spyder was the result of this perfect marriage.
Altogether, 47 cars were sold in less than two years, but curiously, only six in California. In actual fact, two extra Californias left Scaglietti's workshop at the same time: a 'Boano' coupé and a Pinin Farina cabriolet, which were re-bodied after accidents. And, of course, we should not forget the 52 short-wheelbase cars which followed from 1960-1962. A fast and exclusive model, the California Spyder retains a special place in Ferrari's production, since it achieved an unrivalled combination of the qualities of its models for the road and for the track, the two paths on which the company built its global success. In addition, cabriolet-bodied versions are particularly rare in Ferrari's production, so explaining the model's growing success over many years and making the California the most expensive roadgoing Ferrari today.
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