Most stylish Ferrari to compete at Le Mans comes up for sale

No doubt, this 1959 250 GT LWB California Spider is the most stylish Ferrari to have competed at Le Mans. And the fifth-place finish it scored is quite the result at that. This ex-NART entry is part of Broad Arrow’s Amelia Auction, on March 7-8.

The Ferrari 250 GT coupes were regular entrants at the Le Mans 24 Hours, often entered by wealthy privateers. But the California Spider is much more remarkable. In fact, Bob Grossman’s car was ready on June 15^th, 1959, just five days ahead of the race in Le Mans. It was part of Luigi Chinetti’s NART entries, Ferrari’s importer for the USA.

One of eight

Grossman’s 250 GT LWB California Spider was one of just eight aluminium-bodied Competizione models, in fact it was the second one built. Chassis #1451 GT came with a Type 128 F competition V12 engine that gave in excess of 260 hp. It had the high-lift camshafts of the Testa Rossa and a triple Weber 40 DCL6 carburettor setup. The Competizione also had a larger fuel tank, and a quick filler cap in the trunk.

Rush job

For Grossman, 1959 was his first Le Mans. He teamed up with Le Mans local Fernand Tavano, and together they drove the untested 250 convertible to an outstanding fifth place overall, claiming third in the GT class as well. After the race, the Ferrari returned to Maranello to be properly finished in metallic silver. In fact, Ferrari gave it just a very basic paint job in the rush to get it to Le Mans on time.

More racing

Grossman brought the California Spider over to the USA, where he raced it in SCCA events and at the Nassau Speed Weeks. 1960 saw overall victories at the SCCA Nationals in Bridgehamption and at the Vanderbilt Cup at Roosevelt Raceway. Bob Grossman sold the California Spider that same year, and for some years its whereabouts were unknown. It later resurfaced and had different owners, who took it to prestigious Concours like Pebble Beach. It had been restored in 1981, at which time it was painted red. In 2011, its then-owner commissioned a full restoration and put it back to Le Mans specification.

As one of Ferrari’s more remarkable GT racers, #1451 GT now comes up for auction it Broad Arrow’s Amelia sale, during the Amelia Concours in Florida in March. It is estimated to reach a price of $10-14 million (€9.6-13.4 million).

More info on the Amelia sale here.