1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet

In 1957 Ferrari produced its first real convertible model for the road, the 250 Gran Turismo Cabriolet, bodied by Pinin Farina. Only 40 of these first series soft top Ferraris were built before being replaced with the updated Series II in September of 1959. This car is one of only 202 second-series 250 GT Cabriolets built between 1959 and 1962. Also bodied by Pinin Farina, these cars were more comfortable and refined, as not to be confused with the competition-oriented 250 California Spyders of the same era.

The 250 Series was Ferrari's first volume-produced model and had become essential to the company's ongoing stability. The first of the 250 Series, the 250 Europa, was built from 1953 to 1954 with fewer than twenty cars built. Next came the 250 GT in 1954 and brought with it a lighter and more compact Colombo-designed 3-liter V12 replacing the prior bulkier Lampredi unit. The Colombo engine was a single-overhead-camshaft all-aluminum unit offering 220 horsepower. The 250GT was shorter in wheelbase than the Europa and continued Ferrari's multi-tube frame setup tied together by oval main tubes, although the independent front suspension was now used coil springs instead of the previous transverse leaf setup. Hydraulic drum brakes were placed at all four corners, and there was a four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. Late in 1959, four-wheel disc brakes arrived, and a four-speed-plus-overdrive gearbox arrived the following year.

Scaglietti and Pinin Farina produced open-top Spider and Cabriolet bodystyles, and many other carrozzerie built bodies for the 250 GT chassis. During its production lifespan, over 900 examples of the 250 GT were built, making it the most successful Ferrari of its time.

This example is number 58, and came off the assembly line in December of 1960. The original colors were Grigio Fumo over Rossa vinyl and leather. It was delivered to Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in Turin on June 6th of 1960, and completed on August 12th. In September it was sent to Baron Emmanuel 'Toulo' De Graffenried's Italauto SA dealership in Lausanne, Switzerland. It soon was sent to Ferrari of California. Its first known owner was Charles Kern of Ayer, Massachusetts. It was acquired by William Freeman of Ashburnham, Massachusetts on April 18th of 1975. It remained with Mr. Freeman for just over three years before it was sold to Gerald Martel of Fitchburg, on August 29th of 1978. On July 13th of 1985 it was acquired by James and Rita Condon. By this point in history, the car was finished in red over red. It remained with them for nearly two decades; during that time it was well maintained and treated to a mechanical rebuild by Motorkraft.

In July of 2004, the car was sold to Scott Gibbons of Boulder, Colorado. In 2005 it was sold to Richard Powers. Mr. Powers had the car shipped to his Costa Rican restoration shop, Auto Clasico De Costa Rica, on November 12, 2005 for a total, body off restoration. The work was completed in 2006 and it was sold to Mike Leahy of Idaho. The current owner acquired it in August of 2007.

In 2007 it was shown at Concorso Italiano.

Next, it was sent to Horsepower Enterprises in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where it was stripped to bare metal and repainted in the original Grigio Fumo and the trim was correctly replaced. The interior was redone as correctly as possible in Beige.

In May of 2008 it was shown at the Reading Concours d'Elegance where it won the Tazio Nuvolari Award for Best Honored Model. In 2009 it was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. In 2010 it was shown at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach where it won Gold. In 2011 it received the official Ferrari Classiche certification and accompanying Red Book. It also won a Platinum Award in its class at the 2011 Cavallino Classic.