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The California Spider, named for the California market that had been its inspiration, shared the Tour de France Berlinetta's chassis with open coachwork designed and built by Sergio Scaglietti. It was sportier than the concurrent 250 GT Cabriolet, and most examples had bodies formed from steel with aluminum decklids and hoods, and they could be ordered with covered headlamps and highly refined engines. The chassis initially had a 2,600-millimeter wheelbase, which was retroactively referred to as the Long Wheelbase (LWB). The (SWB) short wheelbase version arrived in May 1960 with a 2,400 mm wheelbase and a widened track.
Beneath the bonnet was the traditional Ferrari 'Colombo' twelve-cylinder (Type 168) engine with a 2,953cc displacement with a 73mm bore and a 58.8 mm stroke. A trio of Weber double-barrel carburetors fed the engine until being displaced by larger 42-millimeter (compared to 36-millimeter) carbs from 1960 forward. Output was initially rated at 240 hp at 7,000 RPM for the LWB versions, while the SWB California Spyders developed 280 horsepower. The increase in output was due to the new cylinder heads and larger valves. A four-speed gearbox delivered power to the rear wheels.
Approximately one hundred examples of the 250 GT California Spyder were built, with around half in LWB configuration (1958 to 1960) and half in SWB configuration (1960 to 1962).
This 250 GT California Spyder is the 17th of 50 LWB examples, and of those, it is one of thirty steel-bodied ars with covered headlamps. It was completed in January 1959 and powered by the uprated competition engine with high-lift camshafts and an intake fed by velocity stacks through a cold-air box. The interior housed a Nardi wood steering wheel, Borletti instrumentation in miles, and Beige vaumol Connolly leather. The exterior was originally a Blu Genziana color scheme.
Upon completion, the LWB California Spider was invoiced to Luigi Chinetti and exported from Genoa in late February, bound for New York City aboard the SS Augustus. Its first owner, Harvey Schur of Scarsdale, New York, acquired it later that year. The car returned to Luigi Chinetti Motors in early 1960, after which it was sold to Alan Newman, who sold it in 1965 to Gary Wales of Detroit. Mr. Wales repainted the coachwork red and re-trimmed the interior in black before presenting the car at the 2nd Annual Ferrari Club of America meet in Indianapolis in May 1966.
Roger Adkins of Goodrich, Michigan, purchased the Ferrari in 1968 and retained it for 15 years, showing it at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance in 1981. In 1983, it was sold to marque enthusiast and dealer Ron Spangler, and from him, the car passed through a short chain of collectors, including Tom Price of Daly City, California, Bob Baker of Omaha, Nebraska, and Pat Ryan of Montgomery, Alabama, who retained possession for 12 years.
Nigel and Sarah Allen of Surrey, England, purchased the Ferrari in June 2011 and embarked on a high-quality comprehensive restoration with the mechanical elements refurbished by marque specialist Ian Barkaway. O'Rourke Coachtrimmers refinished the coachwork in Amaranto, and reupholstered the cabin in Saddle leather.
Chassis 1203 GT was certified by Ferrari Classiche and received a Red Book in June 2013. This confirms the presence of all matching-numbers components, including the chassis, the competition-tuned V-12 engine, the gearbox, rear axle, and the coachwork.
In September 2013, the car was sold at the Salon Privé Concours d'Elegance where it was the class winner and recipient of Best of Show honors. It earned another class victory a short time later at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
The current caretaker acquired the Ferrari in February 2017 and presented it at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in August 2017, winning the Best Ferrari award. It was part of Ferrari's 70th Anniversary exhibit at the Casa Ferrari staged in conjunction with the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It won a Platinum Award in January 2018 at the Cavallino Classic, and a return to Cavallino weekend in January 2023 netted an Excellence in Class award at the Classic & Sports Sunday Concours d'Elegance at Mar-a-Lago.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023
Beneath the bonnet was the traditional Ferrari 'Colombo' twelve-cylinder (Type 168) engine with a 2,953cc displacement with a 73mm bore and a 58.8 mm stroke. A trio of Weber double-barrel carburetors fed the engine until being displaced by larger 42-millimeter (compared to 36-millimeter) carbs from 1960 forward. Output was initially rated at 240 hp at 7,000 RPM for the LWB versions, while the SWB California Spyders developed 280 horsepower. The increase in output was due to the new cylinder heads and larger valves. A four-speed gearbox delivered power to the rear wheels.
Approximately one hundred examples of the 250 GT California Spyder were built, with around half in LWB configuration (1958 to 1960) and half in SWB configuration (1960 to 1962).
This 250 GT California Spyder is the 17th of 50 LWB examples, and of those, it is one of thirty steel-bodied ars with covered headlamps. It was completed in January 1959 and powered by the uprated competition engine with high-lift camshafts and an intake fed by velocity stacks through a cold-air box. The interior housed a Nardi wood steering wheel, Borletti instrumentation in miles, and Beige vaumol Connolly leather. The exterior was originally a Blu Genziana color scheme.
Upon completion, the LWB California Spider was invoiced to Luigi Chinetti and exported from Genoa in late February, bound for New York City aboard the SS Augustus. Its first owner, Harvey Schur of Scarsdale, New York, acquired it later that year. The car returned to Luigi Chinetti Motors in early 1960, after which it was sold to Alan Newman, who sold it in 1965 to Gary Wales of Detroit. Mr. Wales repainted the coachwork red and re-trimmed the interior in black before presenting the car at the 2nd Annual Ferrari Club of America meet in Indianapolis in May 1966.
Roger Adkins of Goodrich, Michigan, purchased the Ferrari in 1968 and retained it for 15 years, showing it at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance in 1981. In 1983, it was sold to marque enthusiast and dealer Ron Spangler, and from him, the car passed through a short chain of collectors, including Tom Price of Daly City, California, Bob Baker of Omaha, Nebraska, and Pat Ryan of Montgomery, Alabama, who retained possession for 12 years.
Nigel and Sarah Allen of Surrey, England, purchased the Ferrari in June 2011 and embarked on a high-quality comprehensive restoration with the mechanical elements refurbished by marque specialist Ian Barkaway. O'Rourke Coachtrimmers refinished the coachwork in Amaranto, and reupholstered the cabin in Saddle leather.
Chassis 1203 GT was certified by Ferrari Classiche and received a Red Book in June 2013. This confirms the presence of all matching-numbers components, including the chassis, the competition-tuned V-12 engine, the gearbox, rear axle, and the coachwork.
In September 2013, the car was sold at the Salon Privé Concours d'Elegance where it was the class winner and recipient of Best of Show honors. It earned another class victory a short time later at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
The current caretaker acquired the Ferrari in February 2017 and presented it at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in August 2017, winning the Best Ferrari award. It was part of Ferrari's 70th Anniversary exhibit at the Casa Ferrari staged in conjunction with the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It won a Platinum Award in January 2018 at the Cavallino Classic, and a return to Cavallino weekend in January 2023 netted an Excellence in Class award at the Classic & Sports Sunday Concours d'Elegance at Mar-a-Lago.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023
2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $9,000,000-USD $11,000,000
Sold for Confidential Amount
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ferrari 250 GT California
(Data based on Model Year 1959 sales)
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione Chassis#: 1235 GT Sold for USD$10,840,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione by Scaglietti Chassis#: 1451 GT Sold for USD$17,990,000 2017 RM Sotheby's : Icons | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti Chassis#: 1503 GT Sold for USD$9,453,996 2017 RM Sothebys : Ferrari - Leggenda e Passione | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione Chassis#: 1603 GT Sold for USD$18,150,000 2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti Chassis#: 1307GT Sold for USD$8,500,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 1425 GT Sold for USD$7,700,000 2015 Gooding & Company - Arizona | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder avec hard-top dusine Sold for USD$5,890,875 2012 Artcurial Motorcars at Rétromobile | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 1505 GT Sold for USD$3,905,000 2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Chassis#: 1215 GT Sold for USD$3,355,000 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Chassis#: 1307 GT Sold for USD$3,594,578 2011 RM Auctions - Villa d'Este | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Chassis#: 1489GT Sold for USD$2,612,500 2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Chassis#: 1603 GT Sold for USD$7,260,000 2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Chassis#: 1253 Sold for USD$2,755,346 2010 RM Auctions - Sporting Classics of Monaco | |
1959 Ferrari 250GT California (LWB) Chassis#: 1487 GT Sold for USD$2,858,689 2009 Ferrari – Leggenda e Passione | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Chassis#: 1489GT Sold for USD$3,630,000 2008 Gooding & Company | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Chassis#: 1217 GT Sold for USD$1,320,000 2005 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction | |
1959 Ferrari California Spyder Replica Sold for USD$54,060 2003 The Florida Collector Car Auction |
Ferrari 250 GT Californias That Failed To Sell At Auction
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti | 1203 GT | 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | $9,000,000 | $11,000,000 | |
1959 Ferrari 250GT California Spider | 1411GT | 2012 Bonhams Exceptional Ferrari Motor Cars | $800,000 | $100,000 | |
1959 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spyder Recreation | 2009 Bonhams Goodwood Revival, Chichester, Sussex | $260,000 | $300,000 | ||
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California | 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | $1,975,000 | $2,400,000 | $2,900,000 | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Cal Spyder | 2003 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island | $850,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $6,462,944 range.
1959 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe Series III by Pinin Farina Chassis#:1305 SA Sold for $6,605,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Ferrari 121 LM Spider by Scaglietti Chassis#:0546 LM Sold for $6,172,602 2023 RM Sothebys : Le Mans | |
1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Touring Superleggera Chassis#:0120 A Sold for $6,179,415 2023 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1960 FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE Chassis#:2021 GT Sold for $6,697,357 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
1998 Ferrari F300 Chassis#:187 Sold for $6,220,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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1965 Aston Martin DB5 'Bond Car' Chassis#:DB5/2008/R Sold for $6,385,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta Chassis#:0905 GT Sold for $6,600,000 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1959 Aston Martin DB4GT Prototype Chassis#:DP199/1 Sold for $6,765,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1952 FERRARI 340 AMERICA SPIDER COMPETIZIONE Chassis#:0196A Sold for $6,380,000 2017 Bonhams : Scottsdale, AZ | |
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen Chassis#:408383 Sold for $6,600,000 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | |
1950 Ferrari 166 MM/195 S Berlinetta Le Mans Chassis#:0060 M Sold for $6,490,000 2016 Gooding & Company : The Scottsdale Auction | |
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Chassis#:09413 Sold for $6,400,000 2015 Rick Cole Monterey | |
1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina Chassis#:1945 SA Sold for $6,380,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : Amelia Island | |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina Chassis#:1181 GT Sold for $6,472,939 2014 RM Auctions : Monaco | |
1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi Chassis#:48667 Sold for $6,600,000 2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet Chassis#:0791 GT Sold for $6,160,000 2014 Gooding & Company - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1956 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta 'Tour de France' Chassis#:0585GT Sold for $6,710,000 2012 RM Auctions - Monterey | |
1955 Ferrari 857 Sport Chassis#:0588 M Sold for $6,270,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototype Chassis#:0769 GT Sold for $6,600,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction |
1959 Ferrari 250 GT California
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