Posted 25.11.2021
The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider LWB
An incredible car, its beauty matched by the very few. The 3rd to be built in a limited production run of 50 in total, this particular 250 GT California Spider wears the more desirable covered headlight configuration. The vehicle retains its original type 508 C chassis, 128 C type engine and 508 C gearbox and rear axle.
In late 1958 the impressive Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet entered into production – at this time, another Ferrari prototype appeared, aimed squarely at the U.S market and christened the ‘California Spider’ – a great marketing move we hasten to add!
The car’s creation was principally down to Ferrari’s two U.S agents, Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann.
Luigi and John spotted a considerable gap in the American market. They were each of the belief that the U.S needed another high performance open-top sportscar and one which was not the lavish 250 GT Cabriolet. Production started in 1958 with 14 California Spiders built that year and the remaining 36 built between 1959 and 1960. At least 3 of these were fitted with aluminium bodies and were constructed to competition specification. The Ferrari 250 GT California Spider was believed by many to be one of the prettiest cars ever conceived.
This particular Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider left Maranello’s factory floor on the 9th of July 1958. It then started its lengthy journey to the west coast of America, its destination Hollywood, California – a fitting journey’s end (if only temporary!) for a car destined to be star.
In recent years chassis 0923 GT has appeared at many of the automotive world’s premier events, including; The Ferrari Owners’ Club’s Annual Concours at Broughton Castle and the Goodwood Revival in 1999. The California Spider also participated in the prestigious Cartier Style et Luxe Concours at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and was also entered into the ultra-exclusive Louis Vuitton Concours at the Hurlingham Club in 2000.
