RHD 250 SWB Cali Spyder

Just seen dealer Tom Hartley tweet that he's bought a rhd 250 SWB Cali Spyder, apparently one of one. Does anyone know anything about it? Special car.

 

400 Super America Cabriolet S1 2311SA????

 

2591 GT

 

Thanks Dave. Very little on it on Barchetta. Is it a well known car? Looks like it's had a slightly sheltered life post Internet. Very little info on it!

 

Thanks for starting the thread. I know nothing further about the car so it will be interesting to see what else comes to light.

 

The LHD car in the pic (copyright Christophe) and the link below is also said to be 2591GT though Mark Shannon said somewhere on this site that it's not it.

See here 2591GT: All Ferraris

See posts 126 and and then 144 on the next page here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vintage-thru-365-gtc4-sponsored-redline-restorations/31456-250-california-spyders-7.html

The UK registration number 4 RU that barchetta.cc says 2591GT was on in 1983 is currently allocated to a 1961 Ferrari of 2953cc according to the RAC. That plate was also on a 1963 RHD 250 GT/L Lusso belonging to Colonel Ronnie Hoare of Maranello Concessionaires in 1963.
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When George Carrick's Spyder California book was written in 1976, 2591GT had not yet been identified as a California Spyder. I wonder if its listed and pictured in Stan Nowak's California book?

 

Just been sent this photo with young Hartley jnr alongside...This car is a total mystery to me.......Never knew it existed. No record of it in the Maranello Concessionaires files so it must have been a personal import....unlikely....and always thought none were built in RHD. Whats interesting is the registration number 4 RU.......Its in sequence with other RU numbers licensed to early MC cars when they were situated in Bournemouth........The late David Clarke had 5 RU and RU 5 on his GTO & Lusso.........and 4413 GT a Lusso I recently sold was originally 4 RU. So its not the original number on the car..........Is it my imagination but are the driving lights in the grill too large ?? Can anyone confirm that it is real and give chassis number ? Just wondering if this is a spoof and Hartley has posted just to wind up Collins ???
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UK Ferrari Owners Club records show 2591 as a Cal spider owned by a Mr Dennis De Ferranti in Ireland but that was circa 2000 and it shows as LHD...........

 

4413GT ...Original Maranello Concessionaires demonstrator...
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2591GT is not noted as being RHD by Stan Nowak in his list of chassis numbers in his book Ferrari on the Road whereas 2311SA is. I'm sure Marcel will know if it was born as a RHD car.

 

According to Ferrari, all 250 Californias, LWB and SWB, were LHD.

See here: http://www.ferrari.com/english/gt_sport%20cars/classiche/all_models/Pages/article_250_california.aspx

"As with the earlier ’LWB’ variant, all ’SWB’ examples were numbered in the odd chassis number road car sequence carrying a ’GT’ suffix, were left-hand drive (despite the concurrent berlinetta being available as RHD), and were fitted with four wheel disc brakes."

Antoine Prunet said in his book Fantastic Ferraris of the 250 GT Spyder California: "Many options were permitted, but no one ever asked for - or received - a right hand drive car."

So it looks like 250 GT SWB California Spyder #2591GT may be "one of one RHD conversion."

 

This car was born RHD. Indeed the only one.

Paul

 

The blue Monaco car is a replica carrying chassis # 2591.
The real 2591 GT is RHD, always has been and is the red car pictured above.

Paul

 

Thanks, Paul. Is the above info referenced in any book?

 

Not that i am aware of. Pictures do exist of 2591 (in RHD configuration, its only configuration) competing in Italy in the early 1960s which I'm sure Tom will publish when the car is ready.

Paul

 

Great information from you, as always, Paul. Will look forward to seeing these pictures that Tom will hopefully publish. Thanks again.

 

Marcel.......Please set the record straight.......Thank you.

 

In the July 1966 issue of Motorsport magazine, the RHD 2591 GT was offered by Dan Margulies Ltd of 36 Queens Gate Mews, London, SW7.

Paul

 

And here is that advert, apologies for the poor reproduction.

Paul
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Car is now sold. Any idea what sort of figure? Would rhd make it more desirable?

Seems Tom Hartley Jnr is doing well in the classic car market, and good on him; he's only 30 as far as I know

Tom Hartley

 

Would like to see some more pics!

 

+1.

 

Wonder if JC has bought it. Sure we'll find out soon enough. The car may have been non existent for 40 years but now it's out, I doubt it will disappear again!

 

So Barchetta is correct and Tom Hartley didn't know what he was selling. The car he sold appears not to be the only RHD California and is 2311SA 400 Superamerica.Presumably Robert M Lee Knows what he has. tongascrew