I would have liked to show you more of the models that will be auctioned during the RM Sotheby's Amelia Island sale this weekend in Florida. But I ran out of time 😀. So after the 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe presented in my last post, here is the star of the sale with this 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider with a coachwork by Scaglietti, a rare version of the California Spider with covered headlight.

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Of course the price is as high as the rarity, starting price around 9 million US dollars. Superb model... But a little too expensive for my bank account (even after discussion with my banker) 😀

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History of Ferrari 250 GT

First, back to the original Ferrari 250 GT presented during the Geneva Salon in March 1956, Enzo Ferrari wanted a new coachwork for his new road car (in order to finance his passion for racing cars) and asked to Pininfarina instead of Vignale, the most popular carrozzeria among Ferrari's customers. Huge success... And one year later, on the other side of the Atlantic, John von Neumann, not the mathematician but a Californian importer of Ferrari, had the idea to bring back the concept of cars that could race and then be able to go home quietly with. A new version of 250 GT was born : the California Spider.

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The California Spided has the same chassis as the 250 GT Tour de France with a coachwork penned byr Sergio Scagliettiwith these cool louvered vents near to the front wheels. From its first races, this model crossed the finish line in a good position, class victory at the 1959 Sebring and 5th overall at Le Mans the same year. Only 50 luxury examples were built on the LWB (long-wheelbase) chassis.

Specification

The Ferrari 250 GT was equipped with the same engine of the 250 Tour de France delivering 240 hp at 7,000 rpm. This model (chassis n°1203) is the 17th of the 50 examples of the LWB California Spider produced in 1959. Orignally, the car was finished in Blu Genziana over an interior of beige leather and was sold in the US to Luigi Chinetti, Italian racer and for many year the exclusive American importer of Ferrari automobiles to the United States.

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The car went through several owners in the USA before going to England in 2011 for a full restoration by Ferrari specialist Ian Barkaway. The car was painted in Amaranto over a Saddle leather interior. Beautiful result with this Nardi wood steering wheel and Borletti instruments.