La 250 Ferrari 1961 GT SWB California Spider Competizione (estimate: over $20.000.000) will be the subject of a two-day auction event. One of only two alloy-bodied, competition-spec 250 GT SWB California Spiders built, this car is among the most significant ever presented at public auction. In addition to this California Spider Competizione, the rest of Gooding Christie's's portfolio will be auctioned on Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th, at the company's renowned Pebble Beach venue.
The Story: Few cars are as evocative and revered as the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.
Already a rare and exclusive breed, with only 56 examples built in totalFerrari built three of them with lightweight aluminum bodies, and of those three, only two were built to competition specification, including this remarkable car on offer, chassis 2383 GT. Equipped by Carrozzeria Scaglietti with lightweight aluminum bodywork, covered headlights, and a rare removable aluminum hardtop, 2383 GT featured a competition-style quick-release external fuel filler neck. Originally painted Grigio Argento over blue leather, 2383 GT was a force to be reckoned with, powered by a competition-spec Tipo 168 engine. Its 9,5:1 compression ratio is the highest ever recorded for a California Spider SWB, and its estimated power output of 280 hp is approximately 40 hp more than standard. 2383 GT was delivered new to Stuttgart, Germany-based racing driver Ernst Lautenschlager, who dedicated himself extensively to his one-and-only Ferrari in hillclimbs and circuit races throughout Germany and Austria. In 1961, he competed in the Preis von Tirol (Innsbruck) and two hillclimbs, the Schorndorfer and Eberbach, achieving two first-place finishes. His final appearance behind the wheel of 2383 GT was at the Solitude GT in July 1962, where he finished fourth in class and eleventh overall. The California Spider remained in Germany and Switzerland with a handful of owners before arriving in the United States in 1968, when it was purchased by Ferrari pioneer Lee Wilson of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Wilson proudly displayed 2383 GT at numerous FCA events and rallies, even lending it to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.
In the mid-80s, 2383 GT was purchased by famed television producer and Ferrari collector Greg Garrison
With the exception of the 1994 Concorso Internazionale FCA in Monterey, Mr. Garrison kept 2383 GT in his prized collection of one-of-a-kind Ferraris, keeping it out of the public eye. The current owner purchased this extraordinary California Spider from Garrison in 1999 and subsequently commissioned Italian master craftsman Dino Cognolato to undertake a meticulous restoration. The car was repainted in its current livery, an elegant Grigio Fumo, an understated yet elegant choice. Specially, the consignor brought 2383 GT back to Stuttgart, returning it to Ernst Lautenschlager and competing in the Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge in 2001 (under the watchful eye of its first owner). Throughout its 25-year history, 2383 GT has remained a centerpiece of one of the world's most admired and respected Ferrari collections. During this period, 2383 GT successfully participated in virtually every top-level event, from the Le Mans Classic to the Salon Privé, the Concours d'Elegance at Chantilly and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This is no ordinary California Spider: it is one of only two alloy-bodied, competition-specification examples, with a period racing pedigree, a prestigious ownership history, and exceptional documentation, including Ferrari Classiche certification. Never exhibited at Pebble Beach or Villa d'Este, nor offered to the public since the mid-60s, 2383 GT represents the pinnacle of Ferrari motorsport. A momentous occasion for Gooding Christie's, the unveiling of 2383 GT is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the collecting world at large.
INFO: Pebble Beach Auctions – Friday, August 15th at 16:00 PM PDT and Saturday, August 16th at 11:00 AM PDT. Location: Pebble Beach Parc du Concours. Public preview: Wednesday, August 13th through Saturday, August 16th. General admission: $50, includes admission for one person to the exhibition and auction.
