1960 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

Of the 106 California Spiders built by Ferrari from 1957 to 1963, 50 rested on the long-wheelbase (LWB) chassis and 56 on the final short-wheelbase platform. This particular steel-bodied 250 GT California Spider was the second example built on the short-wheelbase, one of 18 with uncovered headlamps and one of three without side vents. It was one of 25 cars delivered with a factory hardtop and is one of two examples fitted with the Tipo 128 F engine. It was shown by Ferrari at the 1960 Turin Motor Show and it achieved 3rd in class and 19th overall at the 1962 Targa Florio.

This Ferrari completed assembly in August 1960 and wore a Blu Medio exterior with an interior upholstered with Rosso vaumol leather by Connolly. It was purchased new through the Turin-based dealer Garage Fontanella & Co. by Litex S.a.S. on behalf of the company's president, Robert Fusina. Shortly after allowing Ferrari to exhibit the car on their stand at the 1960 Turin Motor Show, Mr. Litex sold the car to Trieste resident Alessandro Terni, who had the car repainted in light blue metallic.

In May 1962, Mr. Terni loaned the SWB to Fusina and Guido De Bonis for use in the Targa Florio. It is believed that this is the only Ferrari 250 GT California Spider to contest the Targa Florio.

Two months after the Targa Florio, the car was sold to Carlo Moraglia of Turin, although he only kept the car for five months before selling it to De Bonis. Spanish-born Felix Manuel Cormin Villa, who also resided in Turin, purchased the 250 in March 1963. By the close of the year, the Ferrari was found in Switzerland by Bob Grossman, and he exported it to the United States and from him it passed through a chain of four private owners through early 1982. During this time, the car was refinished in rosso over a tan interior.

Robert Panella of Stockton, California, acquired the Ferrari in 1983 and had it restored, including the conversion of the nose configuration to covered headlamps. Upon completion, it was shown at the Ferrari Owners Club Concours d'Elegance at the Rancho Cañada Golf Club in Carmel Valley in August 1984. Ten years later, Mr. Panella presented the car at the FCA's International Concours d'Elegance in Monterey.

Brazilian resident Carlos Monteverde acquired the Ferrari in July 1996 and sold it a year later to Everett Anton 'Tony' Singer of Laurel Hollow, New York. Mr. Singer also acquired the spider's original hardtop, which had become separated from the car during the intervening years.

In June 1999, the car was shown at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance and was awarded the Best Italian Sports Car award. Over the following two years, the car participated on the Colorado Grand. It won a Silver Award at the 2001 Cavallino Classic and was presented at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance two months later.

A Swiss collector purchased the car in February 2002 and exhibited it at the Loris Kessel Ferrari Days at the Lugano-Agno airport.

In January 2012, the car was purchased by its current owner, and the following year, it was submitted to Ferrari Classiche to begin certification. A complete restoration by the Carrozzeria Egidio Brandoli and Zanasi & Co. was soon commissioned. Upon completion, its headlamps had been returned to their original uncovered configuration, and its livery was Nero over beige. Joe Macari in London was retained to address all mechanical considerations. The three-year refurbishment was completed in 2016, and it was certified with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book (meaning it has its matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and rear axle).

The 250 GT was shown at the Ferrari Factory 70th Anniversary Cavalcade Classic in Tuscany in May 2017 and the Ferrari Factory Cavalcade Classic in Rome in 2019. In June 2018, it was shown at the Suisse Concours d'Elegance held at the Chateau Coppet, and the 2023 Retromobile.

More recently, the car has been refinished in light blue metallic over a rosso interior, matching the livery that it wore when it won 3rd-in-class at the 1962 Targa Florio. As a tribute to its appearance at the epic Sicilian road race, the car has also been fitted with a removable bolt-on rollbar and decals with race #82. The SWB is currently fitted with 15-inch Borrani wire wheels, and it is accompanied by a spare set of 16-inch Borranis.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024