Once owned by U.S. actor James Coburn, the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, fetched $11 million at an auction in the luxury sports carmaker’s hometown of Maranello. The proud owner is a British national radio DJ celebrity Chris Evans.
The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company’s most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.
Designed for export to America, the 1957 250 GT California Spyder was Scaglietti’s interpretation of an open-top 250 GT. Aluminium was used in the hood, doors and trunk lid, with steel specified elsewhere for most models, though a few aluminium-bodied racing versions were also built. The engine was the same as in the 250 Tour de France racing car with up to 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp). All used the long 2,600 mm (102.4 in) chassis.
45 were made before it was replaced by the SWB version in 1960, and it remains highly valuable for automotive collection, with one example auctioned on August 18, 2007 at Monterey, California for $4.9 million.
Replacing their LWB California Spyder with a SWB version, Scaglietti showed a new 250 GT Spyder California at Geneva in 1960. Based on the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, it also introduced disc brakes and a 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) version of the 250 V12. About 55 were built.
A fiberglass-bodied replica of a 1961 250 GT Spyder California, based on an MG, was featured in the 1986 hit film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
A record price for a 250 GT at auction was set on May 18, 2008 when a black 1961 SWB example that had been owned by The Magnificent Seven star James Coburn was sold for 6.4 million Euros/£5.5 million/$10,894,900 (€7,040,000 including fees). The buyer was Chris Evans, a British radio DJ.
Filed under: DJ celebrity Chris Evans, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, Ferrari California Spyder SWB, Luxury, Luxury Cars, The Most, The Most Expensive, The most expensive cars
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