Post by ferrari512s on Mar 23, 2014 18:41:50 GMT -5
Ferrari 250 GT Spyder
The Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California’s name was most appropriate, for the man ordering it was Ferrari’s influential dealer in Southern California, Johnny von Neumann.
“He asked us for a simple spyder,” said Girolamo Gardini, Ferrari’s sales manager from 1948 to 1961.
Von Neumann and the rest of the Ferrari world got that and a lot more.
The Ferrari Spyder California quickly became one of the ultimate “dual-purpose” cars, machines equally at home on street and track.
Such versatility underscored an integral part of the Ferrari 250 legend: the firm’s ability to make a range of products with the same mechanicals but divergent “personalities.”
The Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California was available with lightweight aluminum coachwork or a steel body.
Its chassis, suspension, and drivetrain came from the Ferrari 250 Tour de France sports racer, which itself was nearly identical to the other 250s offered at the time.
While the Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California looked quite similar to the Series I Cabriolet, its interior appointments were considerably more spartan, reflecting its competition orientation.
The Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB is among the most coveted Ferraris.
The Ferrari “Cal Spyder” was launched in early 1958 and received mechanical upgrades throughout its production run, including disc brakes and more-powerful engines.
Its wheelbase matched the other 250 models at 102.3 inches (2600mm), and these “long wheelbase” (LWB) Spyder Californias had both covered and open headlights — the latter in response to new Italian laws.
At 1960’s Geneva Auto Show, Ferrari introduced a new version of the Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California with underpinnings identical to those of the 250 “Short Wheelbase” Berlinetta, which had been unveiled in late 1959.
Wheelbase now measured 94.5 inches (2400mm), and these Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California also had open and covered headlights.
The engine gained 20 horsepower and, as with the Ferrari LWB Spyder California, a number of owners raced their cars.
A genuine work of automotive art, the Pinin Farina-bodied Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California was produced into 1963, and marked the last true open-air dual-purpose Ferrari.
Ferrari 250 California Spyder
This was designed for export to North America. The 1957 250 GT California Spyder was Scaglietti's interpretation of an open-top 250 GT.
Aluminium was used in the hood, doors, and trunk lid, with steel specified elsewhere for most models, though a few aluminium-bodied racing versions were also built.
The engine was the same as in the 250 Tour de France racing car with up to 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp).
All used the long 2,600 mm (102.4 in) chassis and originally fitted Pirelli Cinturato 185VR16 tyres (CA67).
Only 50 were ever made before it was replaced by the SWB version in 1960.
It remains highly valuable for automotive collection, one example auctioned on August 18, 2007 at Monterey, California for $4.9 million.
Source
auto.howstuffworks.com/ferrari-250-gt-spyder-california.htm
Ferrari 250 Diecast Models
Hot Wheels has produced a well detailed 1:18 scale version of this model as can be seen below.
There is also an entertainment 1:64 scale that was released in 2013 for the movie Ferris Beuler's Day off.
Other diecast companies have also produced this model.
Once again we have the Hot Wheels version of the Ferrari 250 California Spyder...
