1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet

This Series II Pinin Farina Cabriolet, designed and built by Pinin Farina, is one of 200 examples constructed between 1959 and 1962. With an original asking price of 5,800,000 lire, this Series II Cabriolet was very exclusive, attracting an elite clientele that included Fiat heir Umberto Agnelli, Prince Moulay Abdallah of Morocco, and racing drivers such as Porfirio Rubirosa and Jean Blaton. This particular example was delivered new to Prince Alessandro 'Dado' Ruspoli.

Prince Ruspoli's Series II Cabriolet was constructed in the spring of 1960 and completed on June 30. It wore a Grigio Conchiglia (Shell Grey) exterior with red upholstery.

This Ferrari may have been a victim of exchanged identities. During its production, 1879 GT and another Grigio Conchiglia Series II Pinin Farina Cabriolet, chassis 1911 GT, may have swapped identities. Chassis 1879 GT was originally assigned Pinin Farina body number 29732, but today wears body number 29736, the body number that was originally assigned to chassis 1911 GT. Additionally, the driveline installed in 1879 GT (including the gearbox, engine, and differential) has internal numbers that correspond with 1911 GT's build records.

1879 GT was officially sold new to Prince Alessandro Ruspoli in July 1960 and originally registered as 'Roma 404593.'

Prince Ruspoli sold 1879 GT to Roberto Graziani and Liberato Bruti Liberati in 1961. It was sold to another Roman resident in 1962. In May 1963, the Ferrari was sold to Robert John Wagner, an American who had moved to Europe in 1962. Mr. Wagner and his Ferrari 250 Cabriolet were later featured in The Pink Panther (1964), starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, and Claudia Cardinale.

The Ferrari remained in Mr. Wagner's care for two years. Upon returning to the United States in 1965, Mr. Wagner enlisted his agent Giorgio Dickmann to sell the Ferrari on his behalf. In April of that year, 1879 GT was sold to Michele Romano Luccarelli of Civita Castellana. Remaining in Italy until 1969, the Ferrari was shipped to San Francisco by Italian car dealer Michele Vernola. After arriving in California, it was sold via Rich Motors, a Maserati dealer in Glendale, California, to Oakland resident John Hagop.

By 1979, ownership had passed to Donald Nichols. Early on, Mr. Nichols disassembled 1879 GT and stripped the Pinin Farina body to bare metal in preparation for a complete restoration. The process stalled and would remain in unrestored condition for the next three decades, residing in static storage.

Recently, the car was purchased by its current caretaker.

This Ferrari has 1879 GT stamped on its chassis. It has its original firewall data tag, original brakes, exhaust, suspension components, rear end (internal no. 178F), and gearbox (internal no. 166F). The bumpers, steering wheel, seats, glass, window regulators, top frame, instruments, and period Autovox radio are original. The odometer currently displays just over 70,000 km.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2024