Original, covered-headlight 250 GT California Spider, no. 24 of 50
Matching numbers, Ferrari Classiche Certified
Delivered new via Vincenzo Malago & C. (Rome) and Luigi Chinetti (New York) to Italo-American singer Lorenzo Scapone, stage name ‘Enzo Stuarti’
Presented in outstanding condition
1984 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance Class Winner
The Ferrari
250 California Spider
The two
worlds that get any tifosi’ blood flowing, “California Spider”. Considered by
many to be the most beautiful car to leave the Maranello factory gates, the
California Spider certainly had the performance to back up its spectacular
presence.
Designed
primarily for export to the North American market, the California Spyder was
Scaglietti’s interpretation of an open-top 250 GT and a total of 50 long
wheelbase examples were manufactured before production was moved onto the short
wheelbase 250 GT chassis.
This LWB
250 California Spider
The car we
have pleasure in offering here, chassis 1379 GT, was delivered in June 1959 via
Luigi Chinetti in New York and the Rome Ferrari dealer Vincenzo Malago &
Co. The first owner was Mr Lorenzo Scapone, an Italian-born singer, often known
by his Broadway name ‘Enzo Stuarti’. This is the 24th car built and was
supplied new with a steel body, and as standard in period, aluminium bonnet,
doors and boot and specified with covered headlights. Recording for labels such
as Epic and Colombia, Scapone was also a regular on popular TV talk shows
including Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson. His success in the New World allowed
him to indulge in his great passion: motor racing, fast cars and Ferraris in
particular.
This car
was assembled using the later specification 508 D chassis frame with a Tipo 128
D engine, featuring ‘inside plug’ heads. The triple Weber 36 DCL 3 carburettors
were topped by velocity stacks and as with all examples of this era, it was
fitted with drum brakes.
After
Scapone’s ownership, 1379 GT was fully restored by Berlinetta Motorcars Ltd,
completing the project in Spring 1982 where it was quickly entered in the New
Hope Concours in Pennsylvania, taking 1st place. Later in 1982 this
car continued its success and won Best of Show at both the Prancing Horse Farm
Invitational and the Vanderbilt Invitational.
1379 GT
continued to enter Concours events before joining the esteemed collection of Mr
Joe Hayes of Chicago, a collector known for his appreciation of the finest cars
from Maranello. During Mr Hayes ownership, this car won the Ferrari GT class at
the 1984 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
The current
owner purchased this car from a long-term collector, (since the early 1990’s),
in the USA where the car has resided the majority of its life. As with all the
cars within his collection, the owner chose to prepare this car for Ferrari
Classiche Certification at the official agent, Ferrari & Maserati Orange
County. In preparation, the car was entrusted to marque specialists Charles
Betz and Fred Peters (Vector Industries), both of Orange, California. Betz and
Peters have built great reputations as car restorers and historians with a
barn-find 375 MM and 250 Testarossa to their credit. The pair assessed 1379 GT
and set about the preliminary work, costing $27,000, which included a complete
brake system rebuild, before the car was inspected for Ferrari Classiche
Certification in late-2011.
On February
15th 2012, 1379 GT was granted its Ferrari Classiche ‘Red-Book’
Certification with only the change from velocity stacks to the more practical
air cleaner being noted as the sole variation from its original configuration.
Once the
car had returned from Ferrari the owner chose to carry out a complete body and
interior restoration, changing its colour to the Blu Sera Metallizato, as seen
today. The interior was fully stripped with the relevant components being
replated in either nickel or chrome, the Borrani wire wheels were also
refinished. All carpets were replaced at the same time and the interior being
fully retrimmed. On the bodywork, the bumpers were re-chromed and the iconic
early LWB California Spiders slim exhaust tips were replaced.
The works carried
out by Vector Industries totaled $145,000, and the results are spectacular, the
car is presented in truly stunning condition. Since 2012, further service work
at Ferrari & Maserati Orange County, 2013 totaling $2,700, has kept the
car ‘on the button’. In November 2014, world-class Ferrari engineer Patrick
Ottis rebuilt the cylinder heads at a cost of $10,300. He reported that “the
valves and pistons in this motor are original and from 1959” – testament to
Ferrari’s high standards, and further proof of the provenance of this car.
A long
wheelbase, covered headlight 250 California Spyder is a fabulous proposition,
but a car offered in this condition is even rarer, adding its Pebble Beach
Concours D’Elegance winning pedigree make this car all the more special. A
crown jewel yearning to return to the open roads and show fields.
Price upon request:
Want more details on this car?
Our passion, knowledge and expertise gained from over 40 years of experience offers you a subjective opinion when considering either the sale, or purchase of a car potentially costing millions of pounds.
We are a dynamic, young, friendly team, focused on ensuring our clients always receive the unrivalled service they have come accustomed to from the Girardo & Co. team.
Consign your car