Model history: After its introduction in the 250 GT Europa of 1955, the Gioacchino Colombo designed three litre V12 engine went on to power a host of road and racing cars for almost a decade. It was particularly successful under the bonnet of the long wheelbase (LWB) GT racers, which after the 1956 victory were nicknamed 'Tour de France' or 'TdF'. In down tuned form it powered Ferrari's first 'production car', the 250 GT Boano Coupe. When the stunning 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet was launched, the 250 GT line-up appeared to be complete. Two of Ferrari's most important distributors, Luigi Chinetti in New York and John van Neumann in California, convinced Enzo Ferrari it wasn't. What they wanted was a drop-top version of the 'TdF'. Chinetti and Neumann felt that there was a market for a racer for the road, which the luxurious Pinin Farina Cabriolet did not fill.
It would have been easiest to have Pinin Farina design and body the new car, but they were too busy with the Cabriolet production. Instead Scaglietti was chosen to execute this new California Spyder, which was designed by Pinin Farina. Scaglietti was mainly responsible for the bodies of Ferrari's racers and the California Spyder project was one of the rare Scaglietti bodied road going Ferraris. Except for a number of competition specials, the bodies were constructed from steel, which was easier to use and cheaper than the aluminium used in the 'TdF' bodies. All Californias used the same design, except for the headlights, which could be ordered open or covered.
As requested by Chinetti and Neumann a full competition chassis was used for the California, similar to those for the 'TdFs'. When the Short Wheelbase (SWB) chassis of the 250 GT was introduced in 1959/60, it was also adopted for the California Spyder, with minimal change in exterior design. Even more important was the choice of engines available for the California. Apart from the regular road spec V12, Ferrari offered the 'hot' competition engines as well, which were good for well over 250 bhp. Over the years the engines evolved and the Californias were always equipped with the latest specification of the Colombo V12.
Ferrari's gamble paid off and around fifty of each wheelbase was constructed between 1957 and 1963. Not only was it a sales hit, the aluminium bodied competition specials were also quite successful. Already very desirably, the value of these fabulous machines has risen quickly in recent years and in August of 2007 two LWB examples sold for nearly $5 million. It got even 'worse' at RM Auctions' 2008 Maranello sale where a finely restored example changed hands for the silly and record breaking amount of $10 million. Although more a result of a bidding war than a reflection of the current California Spyder market, it will no doubt effect future sales.
Chassis: 2561GT
While the California Spyder is considered a production car, it's safe to say that no two were alike as all of them were finished to meet the customers' demands. The featured 'covered headlight' SWB example is a great example of that as it came from the factory with a very hot competition engine and a hard top. After '2561 GT' was completed in May of 1961, it was sold to a French Le Mans veteran and Tour de France class winner. Changing hands several times, it remained in France for over three decades and eventually ended up with a prominent American Collector in 2002.
Shortly after its arrival, the now red California Spyder was completed restored and re-painted blue. It has since been entered in a variety of North American concours, claiming class and overal wins in events like the Pebble Beach concours, the Cavallino Classic and the Ferrari Club of North America National Meeting. It is by no means a trailer queen as the owner has driven the car for many miles, even before having it judged. The stunning car's latest achievement was being awarded the 2006 Louis Vuitton Classic Award.
Next up for the 250 GT SWB California Spyder was the prestigious 2007 Concorso d'Eleganze Villa d'Este where it is pictured above. Later in the year it was awarded best in class during the concours d'elegance held in Maranello as part of Ferrari's 60th anniversary celebrations.
German, not Dutch. Pronounced Faun Noy-mann. He was the West Coast Porsche/VW distributor under Max Hoffman. Many times his wife, Elenor, chased after me at Tech Inspection with a chamois or duster removing any sign of touch to the cars the he, often a Monza or 250 TR, his daughter Josie, often a Mondial, would enter plus a car for Shelby, Gregory, Hill or whoever was free at the moment.
There is a box Brownie shot on my site of the Porsche "America" that he and Baron Von Hanstein ran at the first, unpaved half course, 'hill climb' to turn 4 at Willow Springs in 1953.
There were always California Spyders, later, in the service areas. He ran a great shop before Vandergriff took over.
Dutch California Spyder
Oldscul 05-28-2008
I am trying to locate the carrozzeria in Modena that rebuilt (almost from scratch) a California Spyder for a Dutchman approximately 7-8 years ago. Any leads anyone?
Not a PF car
NicFromLA 05-19-2008
While it's widely believed that Pinninfarina designed the California, Scaglietti did the actual design work in an attempt to make a car that looked like a PF design.
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250 GT SWB California Spyder
After its introduction in the 250 GT Europa of 1955, the Gioacchino Colombo designed three litre V12 engine went on to power a host of road and racing cars for almost a decade. It was particularly successful under the bonnet of the long wheelbase (LWB) GT racers, which after the 1956 victory were nicknamed 'Tour de France' or 'TdF'. In down tuned form it powered Ferrari's first 'production car', the 250 GT Boano Coupe. When the stunning 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet was launched, the 250 GT line-up appeared to be complete. Two of Ferrari's most important distributors, Luigi Chinetti in New York and John van Neumann in California, convinced Enzo Ferrari it wasn't. What they wanted was a drop-top version of the 'TdF'. Chinetti and Neumann felt that there was a market for a racer for the road, which the luxurious Pinin Farina Cabriolet did not fill.
