<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Although very expensive and targeted at Ferrari's wealthiest of clients, it was not particularly luxuriously equipped. For example, the car did not come with a fold-down roof like the regular production Cabriolet, although Ferrari did offer a hard-top. While Enzo Ferrari was hesitant, this bare-bones finish was done as per request of Chinetti and Van Neumann, who were confident that a very pure and very quick roadster would find sufficient customers, much like Porsche's 356 Speedster.
After close to 50 examples of the original California Spyder had been produced, Ferrari replaced the tried and trusted long-wheelbase (LWB) chassis with a 200 mm shorter design (SWB). From 1960 this was also used for the California Spyder. The same exterior design was used as before but the cars could be distinguished by the length of the panel between the front wheel and door. Under the skin, the most substantial change was the introduction of Dunlop disc brakes. The V12 engines were also further uprated.
Between 1960 and 1963, a further 55 California Spyders were produced on the SWB chassis. A handful of these featured alloy bodies and were also raced in period. Ferrari offered no actual replacement for the bare-bones roadster, although the California moniker has since been dusted off a few times. Highly sought after today, the 250 GT California, especially in SWB form, ranks among the most valuable Ferrari road cars of all time. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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Although very expensive and targeted at Ferrari's wealthiest of clients, it was not particularly luxuriously equipped. For example, the car did not come with a fold-down roof like the regular production Cabriolet, although Ferrari did offer a hard-top. While Enzo Ferrari was hesitant, this bare-bones finish was done as per request of Chinetti and Van Neumann, who were confident that a very pure and very quick roadster would find sufficient customers, much like Porsche's 356 Speedster.