There are Ferraris and then there are, well, special Ferraris.

While most collectors are familiar with the legendary 250 line of Ferraris that includes the GTO, the fabulous 250 SWB and the 250 California Spyder (both LWB and SWB) many collectors are not familiar with the car in the main picture. It is a Ferrari 250GT Series 1 Cabriolet.

Often confused with the 250 S2 (series 2) model, the series one model is much rarer and a completely different car. Only 40 examples of the S1 were made (over 200 series II cars were made), making the car more rare than even a California spyder (LWB-51 or SWB -55) of which a total of 106 were made.

The Ferrari 250 S1 Cabriolet was introduced in 1956 and with the particular tail lights is considered by many (including LME) to be the most elegant and beautiful car that Pininfarina ever designed for Ferrari. The 250 S1 car shares some similarity to a California spyder (chassis and design, front panel instrument layout). Whereas a California spyder is more aggressive in lines and carries a more potent engine, the 250 S1 is clearly a more refined car, perhaps more suited to a connoisseur of only the finest and rarest vintage cars. 

Gooding & Co is selling a S1 car from 1957 in its upcoming Scottsdale auction which takes place in Arizona on 17th-18th of January. The car for sale is the 14th (of 40) made, and carries some special features such as original bumperettes, factory supplied disc brakes (added by the Ferrari factory in 1962) and a more powerful outside plug engine (supplied by the factory in 1969) with twin distributors and special Weber 40DC carburettors. The car is presented in a beautiful dark blue with beige interior (the original colors are Bianco exterior with blue interior). The car was restored (new paint and new interior but no engine work) by Dennison International which are among the top Ferrari restoration firms in the world.

Gooding estimates the car between $4-5’ooo’ooo. For more details on the car please click here.

(Main picture credit: Marcel Massini- please note- the car in the main picture is not the actual car for sale)

by Edmond Saran