Rare 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider to Headline Broad Arrow's 2025 Amelia Auction
Broad Arrow Auctions, a Hagerty (NYSE: HGTY) company, is excited to present a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider with coachwork by Scaglietti, chassis no. 1451 GT, as the main attraction at its upcoming Amelia Auction on March 7-8, 2025. This car, one of the most significant of its kind, is expected to fetch between $10,000,000 and $14,000,000 at the prestigious event at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida.
This exceptional Ferrari is the second of only eight aluminium-bodied 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione models ever made. With chassis no. 1451 features a storied Le Mans history and is one of Ferraris's most notable competitions. It was the first California Spider equipped at the factory with the competition-specification, outside-plug Type 128 F engine. This car also includes a variety of rare competition enhancements such as a Type 508 D ribbed gearbox, a 9.6:1 compression ratio producing 262.5 horsepower, an external oil cooler, a more robust suspension, and a long-range, 35-gallon fuel tank with an external fuel filler.
The car was completed on June 15, 1959, just five days before the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it competed under Luigi Chinetti’s N.A.R.T. piloted by American car dealer and racer Robert “Bob” Grossman and co-driver Fernand Tavano. Despite this being Grossman’s debut at Le Mans, he drove the car to the most successful result ever for a 250 GT California Spider in competition, achieving an impressive fifth place overall and third in the GT Class.
Barney Ruprecht, VP of Auctions at Broad Arrow, states, “This car is the pinnacle of all open-top Ferraris and stands as a paragon of desirability for any collector convertible. The combination of its Le Mans and U.S. racing heritage, along with chassis no. 1451 GT’s remarkable existence underscores the 250 GT California Spider’s legendary status—a vehicle just as adept at winning at Le Mans as earning top honours at the most exclusive concours events in the world.”
After its racing debut, the Spider was returned to the factory for a proper finish in metallic silver, a colour it still sports. It was then imported to the United States and continued to race successfully with Grossman in 1959 and 1960. Under later owners, the car showcased its versatility in historic racing and rallying while also making notable appearances at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the 1980s, 1990s, 2010s, and 2024.
Today, this 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider remains a definitive example of Ferrari’s iconic dual-purpose sports cars. With its extensive racing pedigree and ongoing concours relevance, the chassis 1451 GT stands out for its historical significance and meticulous preservation of original features, as validated by its Ferrari Classiche certification.
This California Spider is the most valuable car Broad Arrow has ever presented at auction, marking a historic moment for Amelia Island's auction week. Prospective bidders can find more details at broadarrowauctions.com or by contacting a Broad Arrow car specialist at +1 313 312 0780. Broad Arrow also welcomes consignments for the few remaining slots at its 2025 Amelia Auction.
