<< Prev Page 2 of 2 The Pinin Farina penned body was built in a separate workshop instead of the coach builders main factory to ensure that each car could receive the customisations as per the customer's request. Despite the many detail differences there are several design cues that are shared by most of the 36 production cars like the covered headlights, the 'bumperettes' on the nose, the bonnetscoop, the 'kink' right behind the doors and the small taillights mounted on top of the rear fender. While the latter looked particularly well, they were quite hard to see and were replaced by more regular tail lights on the last car. Another distinguishing feature to be replaced by more conventional equipment on the final cars were the 'bumperettes', which really offered very little protection. The interiors were also subject of much customisation, so it is not surprising that Sergio Pininfarina once referred to the 250 GT Cabriolet as a series of one-offs. Unlike the aluminium coupes, the Cabriolets were built from steel for additional rigidity.
With the design finalized, production commenced halfway through 1957 and first deliveries to the rich and often famous customers were in the fall of that same year. Being very much Ferrari's and Pinin Farina's most prominent model, no fewer than ten different examples were shown at as many motor shows in the following years. Production ended in 1959, when 250 GT Cabriolet was replaced with a less extravagantly styled Cabriolet, which was known as the 'Series II Cabriolet' and followed the lines of the Pinin Farina penned 250 GT Coupe introduced in 1958. For those not seeking the luxury offered by the 250 GT Cabriolet, Ferrari introduced a second open 250 GT in 1958; the California Spyder. Styled by Pinin Farina, but bodied by Scaglietti this two-seater was much more closely related to the highly successful 250 GT racing cars. In fact several examples were equipped with alloy bodies and raced quite extensively. Among its most important victories was a GT-class win during the 1960 Sebring 12 Hours race.
Today the exquisite 250 GT Cabriolet is quite often overlooked as the California Spyder with its competition pedigree grabs most of the attention. This is no more apparent when comparing values, which are three to four times higher for the California Spyder. One of the first Ferraris built in any significant number by Pinin Farina, the 250 GT Cabriolet nevertheless remains as one of the most beautiful and superbly detailed Ferraris ever built. It is most fitting that a larger number of the surviving examples are today part of prominent Ferrari collections. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet
The Pinin Farina penned body was built in a separate workshop instead of the coach builders main factory to ensure that each car could receive the customisations as per the customer's request. Despite the many detail differences there are several design cues that are shared by most of the 36 production cars like the covered headlights, the 'bumperettes' on the nose, the bonnetscoop, the 'kink' right behind the doors and the small taillights mounted on top of the rear fender. While the latter looked particularly well, they were quite hard to see and were replaced by more regular tail lights on the last car. Another distinguishing feature to be replaced by more conventional equipment on the final cars were the 'bumperettes', which really offered very little protection. The interiors were also subject of much customisation, so it is not surprising that Sergio Pininfarina once referred to the 250 GT Cabriolet as a series of one-offs. Unlike the aluminium coupes, the Cabriolets were built from steel for additional rigidity.