Movies have given us iconic roles and even some memorable scenes. But influence can go beyond these, and the perfect example is this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder—the most expensive movie car sold at auction, worth a whopping $17,160,000! Wondering which movie it starred in? This exact car was featured in the 1963 Academy Award-winning comedy film Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow—starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.
Back when Ferrari wasn’t churning as they do now, the world was gifted with a lot of classics. The 250 GTO set a record for being the most expensive car sold at auction; the 250 GT SWB has drool-worthy looks that alone demand a million bucks. Our car in question is the Ferrari GT California SWB Spyder or simply the convertible 250 SWB.
This drop-top 250 GT SWB holds a prominent place in the lineup of classic Ferraris. For one, the California Spyder was among the last of the 250 lineup before getting replaced by the 275 GTB. Let’s get to know this classic beauty in detail.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder: Let’s Take A Closer Look
Ferrari has been known to push the limits, an aspirational marque that every young boy dreams of owning one day. Through their relentless pursuit for perfection, Ferrari has mastered the art of building engaging sports cars. Though nowadays, all, if not most, of their cars are veering off from what they used to be.
Ferrari’s glory days were during the mid-50s and 60s. Enthusiasts had a lot of options in the form of the 250 GT, 250 GTO, 250 GT SWB, the bread van, and whatnot. The 250 GT California was meant to be the sports car for the young and affluent and was available in LWB and SWB versions. Ferrari based the convertible sports car on the 250 GT SWB’s platform. This meant the California SWB had a reduced wheelbase of 2,400mm, 200mm shorter than the 250 GT Tour de France and the LWB Spyder. It had characteristics closer to those of a racing car than its more luxurious stable mates.
Ferrari started production soon after the California Spyder’s Geneva Motor Show unveil in 1960. The 250 California Spyder was poised to cater to the wealthy. Ferrari was successful at charming residents of the French Riviera and Hollywood, which didn’t come as a surprise since the 250 GT California was considered one of the most elegant Ferraris ever made. All told, Ferrari produced a total of just 106 California Spyders, 56 of them on the short-wheelbase chassis. Of those 56, only about 37 were delivered in the most desirable of all configurations: the very attractive covered-headlamp variant.
Many 250 Cali SWBs have gone between $4-7 million during pre-2011 auctions but now, grabbing one under $10 million is borderline impossible. Hagerty's Price Guide currently lists pricing for a 250 California as $17.5 million for Concours condition car, $16.1 million for a car in excellent condition, $14.9 million for a car in good condition, and $13.7 million for a car in fair condition. In short, a California Spider with no particular history at all will still command an eight-figure price at auction.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder: A Feast for the Eyes With A Mighty V12
There’s no doubt about how beautiful the California Spyder was. The artisans responsible were Pininfarina and Scaglietti. Of course, both of them played very different roles, but their dexterity was an important factor. Pininfarina was responsible for designing the car while Scaglietti took care of the bodywork. The flowing body lines and minimal sculpture made the design a head-turner. The formula was pretty easy given that they’ve already made a few design icons, including many in the 250 lineup.
The body was mostly steel excluding the doors, hood, and boot lid which saw the use of aluminum. The 250 GT California was a front-engined Berlinetta and inherited all the characteristics of its sister cars. The Ferrari 250 Cali Spyder was one of the finest creations ever to leave Maranello. Featuring exciting performance courtesy of Ferrari’s race-proven 3.0-liter V-12 engine with excellent handling and supple ride quality. It was conceived when Enzo Ferrari famously said, "I sell engines. I throw in the car for free." The 3.0-liter V12, which sounds hilarious compared to the current Ferrari V12s, made around 240 hp and was mated to a 4-speed gated shifter sending power to the rear wheels.
An easy way to tell apart the SWB California Spyder from its LWB sibling is by the bodyline. The former has a lower bodyline and has a depression in the hood ahead of the scoop that the LWB does not. The vent in the front fender of the SWB has two fins, while the LWB has three fins.
Sources: Carwow, Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby's