Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider to Lead Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auctions

Santa Monica, 24th January, 2023

Leading international auction house Gooding & Company has unveiled the star car of its upcoming, highly anticipated two-day Amelia Island Auctions, a sophisticated and one-of-a-kind 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. The event will also feature several premier examples of the finest classic Ferrari models, including a 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, a 250 MM Spider, a 275 GTB/4, and a 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, among others. This incredible lineup of Maranello’s finest Ferraris will cross the auction block on Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at Gooding & Company’s marquee at the Omni Amelia Island Resort.

"We are so proud to present this incredible lineup of some of the finest Ferrari classics in existence at our Amelia Island Auctions, elevating the event’s selection of offerings to include motoring icons from the uppermost echelon of collector favorites,” said Gooding & Company President and Founder, David Gooding. “As evidenced by our star car, the ultra-desirable Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, we are bringing to market some of the greatest Ferrari examples ever presented at our Amelia Island venue. Collectors will surely appreciate that many of these iconic Ferraris are offered with Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification, exceptional provenance consisting of the greatest names in collecting, and top-of-the-line restoration and preservation work carried out by the world’s greatest marque specialists.”

1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (Estimate: $18,000,000 – $20,000,000)

In the late 1950s, Ferrari introduced the California Spider, a high-performance 250 GT featuring striking coachwork by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, aimed at young, well-heeled enthusiasts who wanted a stylish yet highly capable sports car equally at home on the road or on the track. Built specifically for the American market, the California Spider featured a swept-back windscreen, minimal interior appointments, lightweight folding top, and competition-inspired bucket seats. Following earlier examples built on the long-wheelbase (LWB) chassis, Ferrari introduced its short-wheelbase (SWB) iteration in 1960 to complement the launch of the similarly short-wheelbase Berlinetta. The resulting chassis was more sophisticated, with standard four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, a more refined suspension, and new outside-plug tipo 168 engines. The Scaglietti body of the short-wheelbase was accommodated to incorporate a more aggressive and sporty appearance, with curvaceous front fenders, muscular rear haunches, and a more luxurious interior. Between 1957 and 1963, Ferrari built just 106 examples of the 250 GT California Spiders: 50 of the early LWB version, and 56 of the final SWB variant.

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider presented here, chassis no. 3099GT, is among the most desirable SWB variants produced, boasting the preferred covered headlight treatment applied to just 37 examples. Completed in February 1962, 3099GT was finished in the one-off color scheme of an aquamarine-hued Azzurro Metallizzato (MM 16240) exterior with Naturale Connolly Vaumol leather upholstery. Initially displayed as one of several new models on Luigi Chinetti’s stand at the New York International Auto Show in 1962, this example was then shipped to California, where it was used as a daily driver before eventually being acquired circa 1970 by enigmatic car collector Rudi Klein. In 1972, the California Spider was discovered and purchased by Charles Betz and Fred Peters, two pioneering Ferrari collectors based in Southern California. In the early 2000s, Betz and Peters restored 3099GT to exacting concours standards, employing legendary hot rod painter Stan Betz to carefully color-match the exterior to its original splendor.

The restoration was completed in 2004, and 3099GT subsequently made its debut at the 40th Annual Ferrari Club of America National Concours at the Quail Lodge in Carmel. Just two years later, in 2006, it was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, where it won a Platinum Award and the prestigious Judges Cup. In 2008, this California Spider was granted Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification confirming that it still retains its original chassis, coachwork, engine, gearbox, rear axle, and ancillary components. Since then, 3099GT has taken center stage in one of the most important Ferrari collections in North America, rarely displayed publicly and only to the greatest acclaim. In 2010, it received a First in Class award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and in 2020, it received the 250 GT SWB California Spider Cup at the Cavallino Classic. Gooding & Company is honored to present this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire such a remarkable, covered-headlight SWB California Spider, which has belonged to just two significant Ferrari collections since 1972, presented here with Ferrari Classiche certification, incredible provenance, documented history, and a striking, singular color scheme.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta (Estimate: $6,000,000 – $8,000,000)

The 250 GT Berlinetta was introduced in the late 1950s as Ferrari’s response to the FIA’s new GT class championship, incorporating a competition-tuned three-liter V-12 engine and lightweight aluminum coachwork by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. This new model proved especially apt for the grueling, multi-stage Tour de France, which it won for four consecutive years beginning in 1956. Fittingly nicknamed the Tour de France (TdF), approximately 78 examples of the 250 GT Berlinetta model were built in four distinct body styles: no-louver, 14-louver, three-louver, and single-louver. The Tour de France presented here, chassis 0909GT, is the seventh of just 36 single-louver variants, and one of an even fewer number originally fashioned with the elegant covered-headlight treatment. This example is specified with a competition-prepared type 128C engine, 8 x 34 final drive ratio, polished Borrani wire wheels, and dark red bodywork over black leather upholstery. Chassis 0909GT was campaigned in numerous European hill climbs between 1958 and 1961, and was owned by various serious collectors throughout the years.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, this example was under the ownership of the great Swiss collector Carlo Vogele, during whose ownership the car was Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified as retaining its original chassis, bodywork, engine, gearbox, rear end, and other major components. In 2017, 0909GT was sold to the consignor, a respected American collector, who had the Tour de France completely restored by the leading Ferrari specialists at Motion Products Inc. of Neenah, Wisconsin. Its body was tastefully finished in a period-correct paint scheme of silver gray accented by a central tricolore stripe. Following the restoration, 0909GT made its debut at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, and since then, it has received many awards and accolades, including the Platinum Award at Cavallino Classic and Best of Show and the Enzo Ferrari Memorial Award at the 2019 Ferrari Club of America Nationals. As one of the all-time greatest competition Ferraris, this Tour de France Berlinetta is among the most outstanding examples to be found, especially with its covered-headlight, single-louver body style, period hill climb history, and exceptional provenance.

1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $5,000,000)
In 1953, Ferrari unveiled the 250 Mille Miglia, powered by a capable three-liter V-12 engine that quickly proved its competition potential at Giro di Sicilia, the Pebble Beach Road Races, Monza, and the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti. Ferrari built just 31 examples of the 250 MM, with Pinin Farina bodying the majority in Berlinetta form, leaving Vignale to body the remaining 13, all but one as spiders. Of the 12 Vignale Spiders built for the 250 MM chassis, 10 were fashioned in an updated “Series II” style, featuring compact proportions, rounded forms, and imposing grilles. The 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider presented here, chassis 0274 MM, was the first of three examples built with dramatically staggered seating and a long-range 150-liter fuel tank, a configuration almost surely built at the request of the car’s first owner, Florentine racing driver Piero Scotti. Frequently entered in hill climbs and circuit races, 0274MM garnered an extensive international race history in the 1950s, including the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio.

Formerly owned by noted American collectors P. Paul Pappalardo and Bob Rubin, the 0274MM joined the famed Jess Pourret Ferrari Collection in 1987, where it remained for over three decades. During this time, noted Ferrari specialist DK Engineering did a complete restoration, repainting it in the attractive two-tone livery seen today. After the restoration was completed in 1992, 0274MM went on to participate in many classic Ferrari tours, and even graced the cover of Cavallino magazine. Now available for sale for the first time in over 35 years, this 250 MM Spider presents a very enticing opportunity as a significant early Ferrari possessing aesthetic beauty, a fantastic period race history, exceptional provenance, and mechanical sophistication.

The 250 MM Spider will also be on display at Gooding & Company’s stand at Salon Rétromobile in Paris next week from Wednesday, February 1, to Sunday, February 5; all interested parties in attendance are encouraged to stop by the display and connect with Specialists to inspect this remarkable car in person.

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Estimate: $3,500,000 – $4,000,000)
In 1964, the 275 GTB was introduced alongside its open 275 GTS stablemate to replace the long-running 250 GT and its many variants. The 275 GTB was differentiated with a fully independent suspension layout, and was bodied by Scaglietti. The celebrated four-cam 275 GTB/4, launched in 1966, heralded what many Ferraristi consider to be the finest evolution of the series. The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 offered here, chassis 10803, is a highly desirable, unrestored, and almost entirely original vehicle. Chassis 10803 comes to market with limited ownership and use, and presents with fascinating documentation from new. First sold by Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut to Edward A. Sake of Lake Forest, Illinois, 10803 was then sold to its second owner, Carl C. Gagliano of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1969. It remained with the Gagliano family until early 2013, when Peter Klutt acquired this time-capsule 275 GTB/4 and proceeded to show it to great preservation-class acclaim, due to its exceptional dark blue paint finish and incredibly preserved undercarriage. Under the ownership of a more recent owner, Motion Products Inc. performed a thorough mechanical overhaul, and today, chassis 10803 presents in exceptionally well-preserved but useable condition with under 10,800 miles at the time of cataloguing, ready to be entered by its next loyal custodian in many of the finest driving tours and rallies. Likely one of the most original examples of one of Ferrari’s most beautiful and purposeful models, this time-capsule, low-mileage 275 GTB/4 certainly grants a noteworthy auction opportunity.

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider (Estimate: $2,500,000 – $3,000,000)
Making its debut in Paris in 1968, the 365 GTB/4 succeeded the 275 GTB/4 as Ferrari’s top-of-the-line, two-seat gran turismo, almost immediately adopting the “Daytona” moniker in honor of Ferrari’s podium sweep at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. An especially important model, the 365 GTB/4 Daytona was the last front-engine, V-12 GT model designed before Fiat’s takeover of Ferrari road-car production in 1969. The 365 GTB/4 differed dramatically with its bold Pininfarina styling, rendered in steel and aluminum by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. With a top speed in excess of 170 mph, the Daytona was the fastest production sports car of its day. At the 1969 Frankfurt International Auto Show, Ferrari unveiled a prototype for the Daytona Spider. The most exclusive of the road-going Daytonas, the Spider had a very limited production run, with only 121 examples built and almost all destined for the US market. The 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider presented here, chassis 16793, is the 84th of the 121 cars built by the factory, and was one of just 14 examples originally finished in elegant Argento Metallizzato (Silver Metallic) over black. Acquired by the consignor, a prominent collector, in 2015, 16793 recently underwent a concours-quality bare-metal repaint and detailed cosmetic and mechanical work carried out by the renowned Motion Products Inc. Upon completion of this work, 16793 earned its third Platinum Award and the prestigious ‘La Miglior Daytona Award’ for an outstanding 365 GTB/4 at the 2018 Ferrari Club of America National Meet in Corning, New York. Showing just 17,456 miles at the time of cataloguing, this fast, beautiful, and rare GTB/4 Daytona Spider embodies all the fine qualities of an Italian sports car, and with its color scheme, low mileage, and award-winning restoration, just may very well be the finest of its type.

The Amelia Island Auctions will present an additional number of significant classic Ferrari examples, including a time-capsule, US-specification 1990 Ferrari F40 (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $3,500,000) and a rare 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,5000,000) with just three owners from new and accompanied with extensive documentation and provenance. Also offered is a short-nose Rosso Rubino over black 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,400,000) that was featured in the Italian film Un Detective (1969) starring Franco Nero. Serious Ferrari collectors will also be intrigued by the Platinum Award-winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,400,000), and the well-kept, low-mileage 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona (Estimate: $550,000 – $650,000) offered from over 32 years of single family ownership.

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