you are probably not going to use 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti as a daily ride, not because it is a rare find, but most likely of its projected auction price tag of between $7 million and $9 million. the 11th of the 50 ever made, this 250 GT LWB California Spider is not to be confused with the 250 GT Cabriolet cos’ this open top version was no boulevard cruiser; it was a ride with some serious competition pedigree tucked underneath its beautiful form and one that was made to satisfy a man’s need for speed and the desire for an open two-seater.
with only 50 produced and being five and half decades old, the 250 GT LWB California Spider is indeed a rarity in the classic automobile collectors’ world, but lucky for those with loads of cash to drop, you will have a shot in snagging this rare prancing horse ride when it goes under the gavel at RM Auctions’ Arizona sale on the January 17, 2014. powered by a 222.5 hp 3-liter V12 engine featuring single overhead-camshaft technology and triple Weber carburetors, and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, the 250 GT LWB California Spider is packed with specifications that were well ahead of its time.
technical details include an independent front suspension via A-arms, coil springs, and telescopic shocks, rear suspension via live axle, semi-elliptic springs, and hydraulic shocks, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes (and the quad tailpipes was a neat touch of sportiness too). this particular example that bears the chassis number 1055 GT and a matching engine number 1055 GT was treated to “a full concours-level restoration” in 1992/93 and after more changing of hands, the engine was rebuilt by a marque specialist in the Netherlands in 1998.
with just 50 made and God knows how many are still in such pristine condition and not in the junkyard, which makes this 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti even the more desirable (more so than it was 55 years ago, if we might add), regardless of however many ownerships it had in between. for the unconvinced folks and automobile fans alike, may we invite you to join us for more images of this awesomeness in the image gallery below.
