Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder
The Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder is a prestige sports car developed by the Italian car manufacturer Ferrari. It is presented by the brand as Ferrari 250 Gran Turismo Spyder California or simply Ferrari 250 California. Its name is sometimes incorrectly written Spider instead of 'Spyder' which indicates it is similar to a convertible. It was designed by Pinin Farina and bodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. Starring in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, it became one of the most popular Ferraris.
| Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder | |
|---|---|
Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB at the Goodwood Revival 2009. | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ferrari |
| Production | 1957–1963 (106 produced) |
| Assembly | Carrozzeria Scaglietti, Modena (Italy) |
| Designer | Carrozzeria Pinin Farina |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Longitudinally-mounted, front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L (2953.21 cc) Colombo Tipo 128 and 168 V12 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm (102.4 in) (LWB) 2,400 mm (94.5 in) (SWB) |
| Curb weight | 1,100 kg (2,425 lb) (dry) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Ferrari 365 GTS/4 |
The 250 GT California Spyder a convertible version of the contemporary berlinetta. Powered by the traditional Ferrari V12 engine, it was produced in a hundred copies, divided almost equally between a long wheel-bases (LWB) from 1957 to 1960 and a short wheel-bases (SWB) from 1960 to 1964.
On May 18, 2008, a midnight blue Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB sold at the "Ferrari Leggenda e Passione" auction, organized by Sotheby's, for a record price of EUR 7 million, becoming one of the most expensive retro/classic cars in history. A Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder that belonged to French actor Alain Delon in the 1960s, was purchased on February 5, 2015 for nearly EUR 16.3 million, during an auction in Paris at Artcurial creating a world record for this model at auction.