--- title: Ferrari 250 GT California Spider · HICONIUM description: "Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann saw an American market for an open 250 GT Berlinetta; Scaglietti built 106 across long- and short-wheelbase forms. Wheelbase, headlamps, body material and competition history are separate value files." canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/ferrari/250-gt-california-spider image: https://hiconium.dev/og/vehicle/ferrari/250-gt-california-spider.png --- > HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`. > Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [Vehicles](https://hiconium.dev/models) › [Ferrari](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/ferrari) › 250 GT California Spider > On this page: [The price and the proof](#the-price-and-the-proof) · [Model readouts](#model-readouts) · [Documented sales](#documented-sales) · [An American sales idea became a 106-car Ferrari series.](#overview-heading) · [Technical specifications](#technical-specifications) · [LWB · 1957 to 1960](#lwb-1957-to-1960) · [SWB · 1960 to 1963](#swb-1960-to-1963) · [What moves the price](#what-moves-the-price) · [The people behind the car](#the-people-behind-the-car) · [Luigi Chinetti](#luigi-chinetti) · [John von Neumann](#john-von-neumann) · [Sergio Scaglietti](#sergio-scaglietti) · [Member instruments](#member-instruments) ![A light blue Ferrari 250 GT California Spider with the roof open, front three-quarter view on a warm amber field with glowing haze](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/ferrari-250-gt-california-spider/hero-wide-2560.jpg) # 250 GT California Spider A berlinetta, opened Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann saw an American market for an open 250 GT Berlinetta; Scaglietti built 106 across long- and short-wheelbase forms. Wheelbase, headlamps, body material and competition history are separate value files. 1957 to 1963 · 106 built · Maranello ## The price and the proof Indicative road-car band $7M–$20M · typical $12M · 1 documented road sales. Modeled values are not observed sales. Nothing here is investment advice. Confidence: medium. Sparse public sales and wide configuration spread. Road LWB and SWB cars differ materially; alloy competition cars sit above the band. | Record | Amount | What | Venue | Date | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Model record | $25'305'000 | 1961 SWB California Spider Competizione · 2383 GT | Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach | 2025 | Valuation method and source rules: [HICONIUM standards](https://hiconium.dev/standards). Observed auction results across the wider market: [Market terminal](https://hiconium.dev/market). ### Model readouts Synthetic model · insufficient ledger. model v1 · seed ferrari-250-gt-california-spider. Compound annual growth is modeled price CAGR; S&P 500 is a price index without dividends. Forecast quantiles are not investment advice. | Window | This car* | S&P 500 | Gold | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1Y | -7.8% | +18.8% | +21.9% | | Series | Deepest drawdown | Window | | --- | --- | --- | | This car* | -33.5% | Sep 2023 → Jul 2026 · not recovered | | S&P 500 | -11.1% | Feb 2025 → Apr 2025 · recovered Jul 2025 | | Gold | -18.9% | Feb 2026 → Jul 2026 · not recovered | | Horizon | P10 | P50 | P90 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | +6M | $10'915'364 | $11'904'383 | $12'983'015 | | +12M | $10'599'827 | $11'809'528 | $13'157'285 | | +24M | $10'012'987 | $11'622'079 | $13'489'753 | ### Documented sales 2 recorded. Every public sale on this file, newest first. Amounts keep the recorded currency. Source links appear only when the catalog stores a public auction-lot URL. | Date | Chassis / label | Class | House | Venue | Amount | Currency | Basis | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025 | 1961 | Competizione | Gooding Christie's | Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach | $25'305'000 | USD | | | | 2023 | 1962 | Road | Gooding & Company | Gooding & Company Amelia Island | $18'045'000 | USD | | | ## An American sales idea became a 106-car Ferrari series. Ferrari's US importer Luigi Chinetti and West Coast representative John von Neumann argued for an open version of the 250 GT Berlinetta. Scaglietti built the bodies and Ferrari introduced the first car in 1957. The LWB series ran into 1960; the SWB followed through 1963. Ferrari's own historical account gives 106 in total and distinguishes 240 hp LWB from 280 hp SWB specification. | Highlight | Detail | | --- | --- | | Two wheelbases, one name | The first cars use the 2'600 mm LWB chassis. From 1960 the 2'400 mm SWB chassis brings a lower stance, disc brakes and stronger engine specification. | | Competition changes the ceiling | Some Californias raced in period; one finished fifth at Le Mans in 1959. Alloy body, competition specification and results move those cars outside ordinary road-car comparisons. | | Label | Value | | --- | --- | | Built | 106 | | Body | Scaglietti | | Forms | LWB · SWB | | Market brief | United States | ## Technical specifications ### LWB · 1957 to 1960 | Label | Value | Note | | --- | --- | --- | | Wheelbase | 2'600 mm | | | Engine | 2'953 cc SOHC V12 | | | Power | 240 hp | Ferrari historical account | | Brakes | Drums, then discs | disc brakes introduced during 1959 | ### SWB · 1960 to 1963 | Label | Value | Note | | --- | --- | --- | | Wheelbase | 2'400 mm | | | Engine | 2'953 cc SOHC V12 | | | Power | 280 hp | Ferrari historical account | | Brakes | Four-wheel discs | | | Headlamps | Open or covered | market and chassis specific | ## What moves the price Spans are indicative, drawn from documented public sales. Calibrated multipliers for a specific chassis remain member instruments. | Value driver | Indicative range | Meaning | Documentary evidence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Competition specification and history | +30% to +180% | Alloy body and documented period results place a car above road examples. | Alloy SWB Competizione sold for $25'305'000 in 2025. | | Covered headlamps | +15% to +40% | Original covered-headlamp SWB specification is the most sought road configuration. | | | Factory-confirmed components | +15% to +35% | Original engine, gearbox, differential and body supported by Classiche and records. | | ## The people behind the car ### [Luigi Chinetti](https://hiconium.dev/people/luigi-chinetti) US importer · programme advocate Developed Ferrari's US market and supported the case for an open 250 GT Berlinetta. ### [John von Neumann](https://hiconium.dev/people/john-von-neumann) West Coast representative · programme advocate Identified demand for an open Ferrari suited to California and pressed the factory for the model. ### [Sergio Scaglietti](https://hiconium.dev/people/sergio-scaglietti) Coachbuilder · Carrozzeria Scaglietti Built the California Spider bodies across the LWB and SWB runs. ## Member instruments A HICON Bid is a confidential expression of buying interest on this file. It is not a binding purchase, and HICONIUM holds no funds. [Sign in](https://hiconium.dev/sign-in) to place one. Garage files for an owned chassis are member records and are not listed here. [How membership works](https://hiconium.dev/membership).