1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Competizione

If you could justify paying too much money for a car, this was the one

by Steve Ahlgrim

Luigi Chinetti loved the 250 GT TdF coupes and saw a market for an open top version. Many Americans lived in warm climates like Florida, Arizona, and particularly California, and so preferred the good looks and the cooler nature of open cars. Chinetti persuaded Ferrari to commission Pininfarina to build an open car based on the TdF. Dubbed the Spyder California, the new design was a masterpiece, and the Spyder California has become an icon among Ferraris.

This Ferrari Spyder California was ordered through Luigi Chinetti and delivered to Bob Grossman in June 1959. Grossman, an aspiring singer, started selling cars to finance voice lessons. By the mid-1950s, he had franchises for Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, and Volkswagen. Grossman raced another long-wheelbase Spyder California, but was having trouble beating the Corvettes. He complained to Chinetti, who promised to come up with “something special,” and s/n 1451GT was the result.

One of 51 long-wheelbase...