Now Sheehan making a go of it... http://www.ferraris-online.com/pages/carintro.php?reqcardir=FE-250GT-2491 The car was shown at the 2003 Italian Carfest here in Texas. No one knew what it was or really paid it much attention. Please share some stories about Toly. Is he still around? He didn't hang out at the show much at all. I saw him drop the car off and then return for the awards, which I'm not sure he won any among field of 308's. If I would have known more about the car or Toly I would have spent all day with him. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Buy it for $3.5 million, commission a complete and accurate rebody back to original specs and then invest even more money into Classiche certification in an attempt to silence everyone who would say that it was never a Cal Spyder to begin with but was originally an SWB Berlinetta. Oh, and then sell the Zagato body to someone with a rusted-out PF Coupe, a love of peculiar design and a dream.
A couple of pictures I took in Elkhart Lake in 1984. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Depending on how you view this, the design was futuristic, indeed. Let those in lust open their wallet. w/ smiles Jimmy
It's like a piece of mid-century modern furniture. Not always pretty but it has an integrity and history all its own. Sometimes it's an aesthetic, sometimes it's historic influence on other designs. I've always thought this was odd but an interesting piece of Zagato history. That said... Up to now I thought this was originally a SWB berlinetta. Having just read the thread and realized it's a Cal Spyder, I have to agree with those who'd have the proper body re-created. The short-wheelbase CS is simply one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
was sent to me today actually, from Sheehan: "We are pleased to offer 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB 3Z Zagato S/n 2491 GT. This unique Zagato-bodied Ferrari has had only three owners from new. It has been with the current owner for thirty years and still has its original 250 GT SWB California Spyder drivetrain and chassis. It is the perfect addition for the collector who wants to restore, to show and to race a unique "one-off" 250 GT SWB "Hot-rod" Zagato spyder at any of the major events. Priced at half the price of other 250 GT SWB California Spyders at $3,495,000." clearly you're paying for the rarity, not the styling desirability
Yes, it is rare, but I'm just not feeling it. For 3.5 million, there are much better looking Ferraris like the early 1960's cars. I bet you can pick one of those up and have a million or two to spare. Much better looking cars and still rare.
+1. Also - I think Sheehan is a bit optimistic when he says it's half the price of a normal SWB Spyder: at the Maranello auction a lovely one was a no-sale at the high bid of around $5.6 million. I think you'd struggle to get $7 million today even if Chris Evans was buying another one. If it was me, I'd buy an LWB Spyder and use the change for some other lovely thing. 275 GTB/4 or something. Onno
I would take 7605 even if they were both offered to me for $1. Goodness. $3.5 million dollars. The emperor has no clothes.
Never been a fan of the Zagato designs of this era......but I sure do love the controversy that they stir up among the ferrari chatters....;-) Tritone
Without a doubt the ugliest Ferrari ever. Wow. I don't even know what to say anymore. $3.5mm, seriously? LOL!
The car and it's history is very interesting. Not a fan of it's exterior. Can any one else beside me see a resemblance to a Daytona Spider in it's form? Therefore, Daytona Spider + 250 power train = $3.5MM Geno
I do too in a strange way. Styling is not to my taste but I hope the new owner doesn't return it to the original body styling. That would just destroy the history of the car. It also slightly reminds me of the Alfa Montreal another car from the early seventies. I suppose this would have looked quite contempory in 1971 and the original body a little dated?
I regret to discuss values but, to me, the question is if it's worth more as a "potential" 250 GT Cal Spyder (given the still-correct underpinnings) or the SWB Zagato with its history and quirks it carries with it currently. That $3.5 number seems awfully sweaty given the response to its aesthetic seen here. I'd guess a new California body would be in this car's future.
I hope not. I don't care for the design although I'm very happy to live in a world where others (and its long-term owner) do. I would not be surprised if it languished at that price until such time that someone who REALLY loved it made a deal for it at, what I would guess would be, a discount to that figure. We'll see.
A little harsh but this body does not rank with the other Zagato bodies on Ferrari chassis. It certainly is not in anyway equal to the Scaglietti 250 California coachwork. It would be interesting to hear what Classiche would do in classifying this car. My prediction is a cirtificate with classified limitations. just one man's opinion tongascrew
Blackjag: Most, perhaps all, of the cars rebodied in those days by Chinetti, Tom Meade, and others were done as a way of saving a car that had been in a serious event. Therefore, the original bodies were just scrap, and sent to the metal recycler. I have no personal knowledge of the car in question, so take what I say at face value.