When it comes to automotive excellence, few names inspire as much awe as Scaglietti, combined with the iconic Ferrari silhouette. At the prestigious RM Sotheby's auction in Paris, a true masterpiece from 1960 - the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - changed hands for a staggering €14,067,500. This record not only confirms the model's status as a “blue chip” investment, but also makes it one of the most expensive cars ever sold at a public auction in the French capital.
This particular example is only the third of a total of 56 short wheelbase (SWB) cars produced and one of the extremely rare 39 equipped with factory-sealed headlights. Assembled in September 1960, the car has spent most of its life in the care of just four collectors, the last of whom kept it for three decades. The car has the coveted “Red Book“ from Ferrari Classiche, which is indisputable proof that the engine, body and rear axle are exactly the ones with which the car left Maranello 66 years ago.
Under the elegant hood is the legendary Colombo V12 engine, which works in perfect synchrony with the disc brakes on all four wheels - a true technological peak for its era. The new owner received not just a car, but a real historical treasure, accompanied by the original Borrani wire wheels and even an additional 3.8-liter unit, prepared in 2019 for participation in retro rallies. In a world where new supercars rely on software, this analog jewel is a reminder of the times when every curve of the body was shaped by hand and the sound of a V12 was the only soundtrack a gentleman needed.
