Fantasy Junction

Description

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder
s/n 1425 GT, engine number 1425 GT, numero interno 544D
Red with Black Interior

Simply put, the California Spyder is one of the most iconic, desirable, and stunning Ferraris ever produced. A more sporting alternative to the elegant PF Cabriolet, the California owes its existence to Ferrari’s two U.S. distributors, Johnny von Neumann and Luigi Chinetti. They advocated for a more compact and sporting open variant of the 250 powered by the most potent 3.0 liter street-oriented V12 Ferrari made. The result was essentially an open version of the 250 Tour de France, and indeed California Spyders were successfully driven competitively, including a fifth overall at the 1959 Le Mans race by Chinetti’s North American Racing Team, as well as a GT class win at the 1959 12 Hours of Sebring.

Like the Tour de France from which it was derived, the California Spyder evolved continuously and was offered with both open and covered headlamps. By mid 1958, the cars had been mechanically refined to include reinforced connecting rods and crankshaft, revised cylinder heads with new valves, larger intake manifolds, and the new type 508D chassis, which retained the long 2600 millimeter wheelbase. A total of 50 examples were built, of which this car, 1425 GT, was the 27th built.

A 1959 example, 1425 GT incorporates the mid-run improvements and is further distinguished by the optional factory fitment of cold air box and velocity stacks, which are visually purposeful and were intended to provide cooler, faster-moving air to allow the motor to produce more power. The car also features the handsome rear end treatment reminiscent of both the Series II 250 PF Cabriolet and the SWB California Spyder, which appeared partway through LWB California Spyder production. The car was originally finished in white with a black leather interior and was equipped with open headlights.

This car participated in an official press photo shoot at the Port of Naples and was sold to its first owner, Livia Mustica, in Naples on 30 July 1959. She retained the car until July of 1968 before passing it on to a short term owner who kept the car approximately six months before selling it to Tom Meade. Born in California, Meade moved to Italy in 1960 and had a business brokering and customizing Italian sports cars, commissioning the Nembo Spyders, Thomassismas, and personalizing other Ferraris and Maseratis.

Upon acquiring 1425 GT, Meade refinished it in red and fitted the car with the covered headlights it retains today. In the Summer of 1969, Meade received an inquiry from a Lockheed Engineer in the San Francisco area of California by the name of Johnny Johnson to whom he had previously sold a 250 Pininfarina Cabriolet. One of Johnson’s coworkers, Jack Castor was looking for his first Ferrari, having previously owned a Jaguar XK150 Roadster. In a letter to Johnson dated 8 July 1969, Meade provided a list of sports cars he had for sale, including a 1959 Ferrari California, described as follows:
“Bubble headlights bright red/black excellent conditions also a collectors car. $2,950.” Castor was familiar with the model and was excited by the opportunity to purchase one, although he did not have the $3750 required to buy, ship, and import the car. He used his Volkswagen Beetle as collateral to secure a loan from the Lockheed Credit Union and planned a trip to Italy to see it.

Castor described his visit with Meade the first time he saw the Ferrari in a 2012 article in Forza magazine: “He took me across town to an old man who was just putting the car back together; it had been painted, and he was fitting the headlight trim and bumpers and stuff. It was in a one-car garage, so I really couldn’t stand back and see everything. I never even heard the car run, but I figured, ‘Well, I can always sell it when I get home and maybe pay for the vacation.’”

Castor agreed to buy the car and in August 1969, the California Spyder was shipped from Genova to San Francisco aboard the SS Paolo d’Amico. Castor drove the car on “an occasional basis” until 1979 or 1980, when he retired it from the road, after noticing that the oil pressure dropped during hard cornering. For the next 25 years the Ferrari sat while Jack indulged in other transportation-related adventures including a cross-country trip on a century-old “Penny Farthing” high-wheel bicycle. Castor owned other interesting cars as well, including Elvis Presley’s BMW 507.

In the mid 2000s, Castor decided to recommission 1425 GT, which he entrusted to Ferrari expert Patrick Ottis. For the last 10 or so years of his life, Castor enjoyed the car regularly, driving it down to Monterey from Half Moon Bay each August for Car Week, and he displayed it Concorso Italiano in 2007 and 2010. He remarked in the Forza article that, “I drive this car now far more than I did back when I first bought it. Most Cal Spyders are restored, perfect, and are trucked to shows. I like this one the way it is, so I don’t have to worry about getting a scratch. I can just drive it and enjoy it.”

Castor kept the car essentially unchanged until his recent death, and the car remains cosmetically unrestored with its original interior and red paint job performed in 1969. It has fantastic patina with cracking to the paint, and some imperfections in the rockers and doors. The car is otherwise solid, including the undercarriage. The chrome shows some pitting and other forms of aging, but the car is complete and correct and wonderfully undisturbed thanks to Castor’s careful stewardship.

The story is similar inside the car with cracking to the original leather upholstery, but a wonderfully correct and unadulterated presentation that is becoming increasingly rare. The dashboard is unrestored and retains its correct instruments in very nice original condition. The correct steering wheel is also in place and in excellent unrestored condition.

The engine compartment is also unrestored and very honest in presentation. There is some cosmetic patina but its overall presentation is evocative and correct, with the cold air box, velocity stacks, yellow fuel lines, and Marchal horn compressor. A modern Optima battery has been fitted. The trunk has been trimmed in black carpet and has two spare Borrani wire wheels. John de Boer, steward of the Italian Car Registry inspected the car in January 2015 noted that the chassis plate, engine stamp, timing cover stamp, and numero interno stamp are all correct, original, and consistent with other Ferrari engines of the period. He also performed a compression check that indicated strong compression on all 12 cylinders.

The car runs and drives very well and is not in need of mechanical restoration. The engine starts easily and runs well with excellent carburetion. It does smoke some, which is likely from the valve guides as the compression is excellent. The gearbox works very well, with great synchromesh when warm or cold, including second gear. The instruments work, and the steering and chassis are confidence-inspiring and pleasurable in their operation. The differential is quiet, with none of the howl that is often present in 250 series cars.

The car is fantastically documented with nearly a foot thick stack of documentation and a binder tracking not only this car in detail, but the majority of California Spyders built. Castor retained everything related to this car, down to the invoice from the rental car in Italy when he visited. There is also a plethora of other documentation including invoices and correspondence from Meade (including the original letter describing this car that ultimately precipitated its purchase), Scaglietti, Ferrari, and many documents relating to its shipment, insurance, and maintenance over the decades. There is also an original California Spyder pamphlet and one for the Tour de France/California Spyder. There are also many old photos of the car, and photocopies of the Uso e Mantunenzione (owner’s manual) book, parts book, and tune up specifications book. The original tool roll is also included with the car.

This car is truly distinguished by its character. In an age in which more and more classic Ferraris receive shinier and more perfect restorations, this car is a true stand-out. It represents a truly unique opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable Ferraris ever produced. Coming from 45 years of enthusiastic ownership, it is a wonderfully unrestored long wheelbase California Spyder with all the associated updates of the later production cars. A factory cold air box/velocity stack car, it is extremely complete with tool roll, original spare wheel, and extensive documentation that includes ownership records, service invoices, shipping documents, period images, parts catalogues, and several written offers received (and refused) to buy the car over the years.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608