“Officially, it is known as the Ferrari 250 Granturismo Spyder California; but, to those who have driven, ridden in or seen one speed by, it can only produce an all-encompassing feeling of respect for what must be recognized as the epitome of a classic open sports car – solid power with reliability and versatility, a convertible top, excellent road holding and handling, and a style that speaks for itself.” – George M. Carrick, The Spyder California: A Ferrari of Particular Di

The Ferrari 250 GT berlinetta passo corto rightfully holds strong favor with today’s collectors, combining a design and competition pedigree that is nearly unequaled. The Short-Wheelbase, or SWB, as it is affectionately known, occupies a unique and important link in the Ferrari racing lineage as a short-wheelbase evolution of the uber-successful 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ berlinetta that dominated the late 1950s, and a direct precursor to that apogee of front-engine road-racing

While the Colombo-designed V-12 engines of Ferrari’s road and race cars stole the hearts and minds of well-heeled individuals and enthusiasts during the early 1960s, there is no question that the marque’s smaller-displacement Sports Prototypes played an important role in the development and coming-of-age of the marque. Taking to the track for the first time in the 1961 season, the 246 SP pioneered Ferrari’s mid-engined racing efforts, beginning a glorious line of automobiles

Ferrari’s 212 Inter was the evolution of the iconic 166/195 series, with its legendary Colombo V-12 engine displacing over 2.5 liters. When optioned with competition-inspired three Weber carburetors, horsepower was increased to 170, and a five-speed gearbox made the car an exhilarating performer, equally adept at sports car racing or grand touring. Only 80 examples were produced from 1951 to 1952. A variety of coachbuilders clothed the 212 series, including unique interpretat

Between 1957 and 1959, Carrozzeria Pinin Farina produced a series of 40 special Cabriolets – each exquisitely designed and constructed – on Ferrari’s legendary 250 GT chassis. The Series I Cabriolets, as they are referred to today, were constructed in Pinin Farina’s custom shop in Torino. This was done not only to maintain superior build quality, but also to accommodate the many special requests made by Ferrari’s most important clients. Although many detail differences can be

Although it could be argued that the 250 GT series of road-going models solidified Ferrari’s reputation as a builder of sports and grand touring cars, the platform was becoming a bit long in the tooth by 1963. Its much-anticipated replacement, the 275 GTB, debuted alongside the drop-top 275 GTS at the 1964 Paris Motor Show to great acclaim, affirming that Ferrari still had a bright future. Almost identical in name, these two models were certainly not identical in ethos. The 2

In the early years of Ferrari, every original owner tended to be an exceptionally distinctive individual. Few met that criteria more than Robert C. Wilke, owner of the Leader Card Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wilke loved speed; he began sponsoring an Indianapolis team in the 1930s and continued until his death in 1970, a familiar figure in the paddock for his boisterous manner and ever-present cowboy hat. Bob Wilke was a personal friend of Enzo Ferrari and, with his racin

It is a cliché to say that a special automobile needs no introduction - but the Ferrari 250 California, an open-top machine offering space for two people and their luggage on a performance-bred chassis, truly meets that criteria. Originally engineered as a convertible version of the 250 GT berlinetta “TdF,” it proved a tremendous success and was continued on that model’s short-wheelbase (SWB) successor chassis, now measuring 2,400 mm between the axles. Celebrities such as Ala

The 312 T presented here, chassis 022, is one of just five of the evolutionary “transversale” Grand Prix cars built by Ferrari for the 1975 Formula One season. The 312 T model, designed by Mauro Forghieri, features a number of design changes from its 312 B3 predecessor, including the transverse mounted gearbox that is reflected in the “T” designation in the car’s name. This new design positions the gearbox ahead of the rear axle to give a lower polar moment of inertia for imp

The Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta has long been seen as one of the most sought-after GT racing cars of the 1950s, with just 78 examples produced. Chassis 0903 GT is the fourth of only 36 single-louver Tour de France Berlinettas built. Delivered new to Sweden, this Tour de France was initially owned by two Swedish race car drivers; first by noted driving ace Sture Nottorp and later Kjell Lundberg. After remaining in Sweden for decades, the TdF eventually made its wa