1963 Ferrari 250 GT California Convertible

First seen at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, this Scaglietti-designed Short Wheelbase Spyder California replaced the Long Wheelbase Spyder California. The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spyder California has a 280 horsepower, 3-liter V12 engine and was the first Ferrari to have disc brakes. In all, 54 cars were built and are the most sought after of all open Ferrari's. This example with chassis number 4013GT, was Enzo Ferrari's own car before it was sold to a friend and fellow enthusiast. The current owner is the vehicles third owner.

Ferrari's development of the California Spyder was motivated by U.S. distributors Jon von Neumann and Luigi Chinetti who convinced the company to create a performance convertible named after their best market. The California Spyder emerged with supercar performance and became highly desirable, especially due to its limited availability. Each car was special too, and some examples came with competition-spec engines or the very rare factory hard top.

California Spyder bodies were hand crafted by Carozerria Scaglietti, which built most of Ferrari's competition bodies at the time. The design was largely based of Pinin Farina's 250 GT Cabriolet Series I. Some cars featured more functional uncovered, rather than fared-in, headlights. The overall design, especially with covered headlights, was often described as more rakish than the much more subdued and luxurious 250 GT Cabriolet.

Inside, each Spyder had a no-frills interior and a small heater was the only luxury. Behind the seats, a fabric top was installed which was tidy, and well proportioned when upright, but was made with no inner liner.

A total of 125 cars were competed from 1958-1963, and they became the most prized Ferraris on the road. The series was followed up by a very limited run of 356 Spyders made in 1967.

This 1963 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder has a short wheelbase and chassis number 4013 GT. It was styled by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti. The first owner of the car was Enzo Ferrari. He later gave it as a gift to childhood friend Emil Tosi, who raced it in Sports Car Club of America events. It was during that time the headlights were converted from the original covered to the open style.

The current owner purchased the car over 30 years ago. The headlights were restored back to the closed style. The interior remains original, and excluding small touched-up areas, the lacquer paint finish is almost 15 years old. It is steel bodied, except for the alloy hood and trunk.

This is the most original 250 SWB Spyder California in the world.

4013 has run in numerous SCCA events, many Colorado Grands, the California Mille Miglia, the Copperstate 1000, Mille Autunno, Pebble Beach Motor Classic & Tour d'Elegance, as well as numerous Ferrari Club events.