Beschreibung:

1959 FERRARI 250 GT LONG WHEEL BASE SPYDER CALIFORNIA COACHWORK BY SCAGLIETTI Chassis No. 1501 GT Engine No. 1501 GT (Type 128D) Black with tan leather interior Engine: V 12, single overhead camshaft, per bank, 2,953cc, 250bhp at 7,000rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Brakes: factory fitted four wheel Dunlop disc; Suspension: front, independent with coil springs, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs. Left hand drive. Luigi Chinetti, the famous American Ferrari importer and driver, eventually convinced Enzo Ferrari to produce an open version of the highly succesful competition 250 Berlinetta. The resultant "Spyder California" was clearly aimed at the American market, and the first prototype was completed in December of 1957. Its mechanical specification was very similar to the 250GT Tour de France. The incredible Pinin Farina design was built by Scaglietti and provided an elegant two seater sports car that has to this day lost none of its appeal. Following the initial series of cars, a revised second series was produced with an engine and chassis that were more akin to the 250 SWB Berlinetta, of which only 27 examples were built. The second series cars were fitted with the improved 128D Type motor with reinforced connecting rods, an improved crankshaft and twin distributors. At the end of this series a few chassis such as the one offered here benefitted dramatically by being fitted with Dunlop disc brakes. Chassis 1501 GT is one of two known sister cars ordered from Ferrari in 1959 by the Innocenti family, manufacturers of Lambretta Motor Scooters. Factory build sheets indicate that chassis No. 1501 GT was commissioned from Ferrari by Luigi Innocenti for his cousin Carlo Innocenti of Rome. Luigi Innocenti retained the similar Spyder California, 1411 GT for his own use. Peter Coltrin's photographs of 1501 GT taken in Italy, in November, 1959, which appear throughout Stanley Nowak's book "Spyder California" show the car virtually as it is today with the exception of bumper overiders. Also George Carrick's book on the Spyder California contains photos of 1501 GT which clearly show some of the characteristic features of the car. These include factory velocity stacks, covered headlights trimmed by chromed strips, chromed trim on the hood scoop, front running lights and the highly attractive and unusual squared-off treatment of the stainless steel door handles, a feature repeated on the trunk lock surround. The interior, upholstered in tan leather is believed to be original. The engine of 1501 GT is the original, (1501 GT), and is to the correct specification type 128 D. Factory performance enhancements inspired by Ferrari's Racing program include not only the carburetor velocity stacks but also a competition cylinder head and a compression ratio of 9.3:1. The engine has been rebuilt and it is repainted in its original black color. Interestingly 1501 still retains its Italian registration plates that make it so easily identifiable in the many published photographs. Most importantly, this Spyder California features one of the first applications of Dunlop disc brakes to a Ferrari road car making it exceedingly more pleasurable to drive than the drum braked cars. The odometer reading of 85,000 kilometers (52,000 miles) is believed to be accurate. Subsequent to Carlo Innocenti's ownership, 1501 GT was sold to Piero Drogo of Modena, and was later owned by opera tenor Mario del Monaco. Late in 1972, the car was sold to Luigi Chinetti and imported into the United States. In 1973 it was purchased by Mr. Marc Goldschmidt of Montpelier, Vermont who in turn sold it to Wayne Nelson of Indianapolis until it was purchased by its current owner. 1501 GT was featured in the Ferrari Owners Club of America Concours at Monterey, honoring the Spyder California and more recently participated in the Colorado Grand rally where it performed faultlessly. Perhaps noted Ferrari historian Antoine Prunet sumed up the Spyder California best: Its limited pr