Spyder
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Designer: Pininfarina
Chassis #: 1055 GT
Engine #: 1055 GT
Sold for $9,905,000 at 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach.
It's hard to imagine there being a more iconic Ferrari than the 250 GT California. And yet, even amongst the iconic California there are a few of even greater intrigue and importance. Scaglietti would be given the task of creating something memorable and legendary and the fact every single California exceeds its reputation only proves their success. John Von Neumann had an idea, and it was based upon sunny California. He would pitch his idea to Luigi Chinetti, the Ferrari importer for North America. It would take some convincing of Ferrari himself, but Chinetti would realize the potential of Von Neumann's idea and would not see such a notion as a foolish idea. Chinetti would buy into the idea and would go to Ferrari to convince him. The one market Ferrari was still rather slowly breaking into was the North American market. He too needed that car, that machine that could lodge itself into the subconscious of the American public. Therefore, he too would see the potential in building a car ideally-suited to the sunny California lifestyle.
During the 1950s, Ferrari was still very much an engine and chassis builder. They would rely on coachbuilders like Pininfarina, Boano, Bertone, Ghia, Touring and Vignale. Then there was Scaglietti.
In all, there would be just 14 long wheelbase models of the California Spyder built over the course of 1958, the car's first year. Chassis 1055 GT would be the 11th of those 14 to be built and it would feature a cosmetic element not seen on many examples.
'All Models: 250 California', (http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Classiche/All_Models/Pages/250_California.aspx). Ferrari.com. http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Classiche/All_Models/Pages/250_California.aspx. Retrieved 14 January 2014.'All Models: 250 GT Cabriolet', (http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Classiche/All_Models/Pages/250_GT_Cabriolet.aspx). Ferrari.com. http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Classiche/All_Models/Pages/250_GT_Cabriolet.aspx. Retrieved 14 January 2014.'1959 Ferrari 250 GT News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11118/Ferrari-250-GT.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11118/Ferrari-250-GT.aspx. Retrieved 14 January 2014.'1958 Ferrari 250 GT California News, Pictures, Specifications and Information', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z18017/Ferrari-250-GT-California.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z18017/Ferrari-250-GT-California.aspx. Retrieved 14 January 2014.'Lot No. 112: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti', (http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1064477). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1064477. Retrieved 14 January 2014.Wikipedia contributors, 'Gerald Roush', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 July 2013, 06:30 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerald_Roush&oldid=562353904 accessed 14 January 2014
By Jeremy McMullen
Spyder
Coachwork: Scaglietti
Designer: Pininfarina
Chassis #: 1055 GT
Engine #: 1055 GT
Sold for $9,905,000 at 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach.
The first Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California was announced at Ferrari's annual press conference in Modena in December 1958. The Spyder California was the inspiration of Ferrari's US distributors, Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann, who wanted a special open GT car for the American market. The Spyder California was based on Ferrari's hard-top 250 GT Berlinetta, the Tour de France, and was designed by Pinin Farina and built by Scaglietti. It was constructed in two series, the long wheelbase LWB chassis, built between 1958 and 1960, and the short wheelbase SWB, built from 1960 to 1962. In total 50 Series I cars were built, including this car - the eleventh Spyder California built in 1958. It was delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York and then sent to its first owner in Texas. Very few Spyder Californias were ever raced, but this is one of the exceptions. It was entered in the SCCA Osceola Grand Prix in Geneva, Florida, where it was driven by Ross Durant, who finished second against a Lister Corvette. Its current custodian acquired the car in 2016.
1958 Ferrari 250 GT California
Ferrari
2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $11,000,000-USD $13,000,000
Sale Price :
USD $9,905,000
2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $12,000,000-USD $14,000,000
Lot was not sold
2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
Sale Price :
USD $8,800,000
1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ferrari 250 GT California
(Data based on Model Year 1958 sales)
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 1055 GT Sold for USD$9,905,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | ![]() ![]() |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti Chassis#: 1055 GT Sold for USD$8,800,000 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | ![]() ![]() |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 1073 GT Sold for USD$8,250,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1958 Ferrari 250GT California Spider Chassis#: 0965GT Sold for USD$1,518,300 2012 Bonhams - Exceptional Ferrari Motor Cars | |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 0937GT Sold for USD$2,750,000 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | ![]() ![]() |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Chassis#: 0923GT Sold for USD$3,665,750 2008 RM Auctions - Ferrari – Leggenda e Passione |
Ferrari 250 GT Californias That Failed To Sell At Auction
1958 Ferrari 250 GT California's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider | 0937 GT | 2020 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | $9,000,000 | $11,000,000 | |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti | 1055 GT | 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | $12,000,000 | $14,000,000 |
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1958 Ferrari 250 GT California
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