Holy crap!!! It has finally come up for sale.....

Anatoly Arutunoff's car: very different, saw it at the wonderful Concorso on the bayou the second year, 2001 I think. Those headlight covers that lift like a gladiator helmet's visor are very interesting.

 

That thing is funky looking! The headlight covers were very interesting. What's the story on the rebody? When was the work done? Very curious. Thanks for posting.

cheers

ken

 

See history at
http://www.symbolicmotors.com/inventory/catalog/1961FerrariCalSpyder-2491GT/2491GT.pdf

 

Here is the text from the symbolic pdf.

Year 1961
Make Ferrari
Model 250 GT SWB
Type "Spider California"
Coachbuilder Scaglietti
Chassis No. 2491/GT
Chassis Type Tipo 539
Engine No. 2491/GT
Engine Type 168
Engine Numero Int. 702F
Gearbox Type 539
Gearbox Numero Int. 105/509 "8 x 32"
Rear Axle Type 539/671
Rear Axle Numero Int. 358/F
Rear Axle Ratio "8 x 32" or 4.0:1
Wheel base. 2400mm
Carburetors 3 x 40 DCL6
Carburetor Nos. 2079, 2095 and 2114
Known Facts specific to this car:
This particular Ferrari was the 17th of just 56 "short-wheelbase" California Spyders
completed by Ferrari. This car was issued a "Certificato d'Origine" on "13.7.61" or July
13th, 1961.
This car was ordered new sold to Sig. Attilio Cupido of Portofino, Italy. Sig. Cupido
ordered the car through the official Genoa, Italy Ferrari Concessionaire. It was road
registered to Sig. Cupido in his home province of Genoa, Italy on July 21st, 1961.
This car was delivered with the following known features:
-Metric gauge faces in black.
-40mm 40 DCL6 carburetors
-Velocity Stacks.
-Ribbed Alloy Gearbox.
-8 x 32 or 4.0:1 final drive ratio.
The car was later purchased by Luigi Chinetti and still later delivered to Carrozzeria
Zagato in Turin, Italy sometime prior to December 1970.
Over a seven month period in the Summer of 1971, the car was given an new open
"Spyder" body for the Turin Motor Show which was held in October of 1971. The car
was given the name "3Z" by Zagato. While at Zagato undergoing work and completion
the car was fitted with Zagato test plate "PROVA MI 725." The car was photographed
repeatedly in and around Zagato's workshops as well as in front of various well known
public buildings in an around Milan.
Carrozzeria Zagato's own statements on the car are as follows:
"1971 saw a strange new collaboration between Ferrari and Zagato. More than 20 yeas
had passed since the completion of the first Zagato Bodied Ferrari, the 1951
"Panoramica." This car the "3Z" was completed for Luigi Chinetti and based on chassis
2491 GT. This car was designed by Giuseppe Mittino who from 1970 on was responsible
for the designs executed by Carrozzeria Zagato. The design of the "3Z" with it's very
powerful and aggressive 12 cylinder engine was itself powerful and bold. The car had
many original new features such as the "eyelid" treatment of the front that hid the lights
partially from view. The car was current when completed with the philosophy of Zagato
at the time. The car had clean, unmarked geometric lines that were also seen on the Alfa
Romeo Junior Z which was the first "wedge" car of the period.
From this point on the true identity and original configuration of this car has been
misidentified by almost every Ferrari publication and journal as originally being a "short
wheelbase berlinetta."
The original Ferrari records, delivery to the original Italian owner and purchase by
Chinetti, delivery to Zagato etc… clearly and without question confirm this car was
originally an SWB California Spyder!
After the Turnin Motor Show, Chinetti imported the car to the Unites States. The car was
sold to a local Doctor the same day it went on display in his showroom.
In the late 1970s, former Tulsa, Oklahoma Authorized Ferrari Dealer, Anatoly Arutunoff
began to search for the car again as he had seen in at the Turin Motor Show and was told
at the time that it was not for sale.
The car was located for him by Stan Nowak in Long Island, New York. In 1979, shortly
after locating the car, Toly Arutunoff agreed to its purchase and has had the car ever
since.
1987 the well known automobile historian and author, John de Boer corresponded with
Ferrari and was informed of the following facts by letter:
"2491 25SWB Spider Scaglietti "California" 2400mm telio 539, motore Tipo 168 N. 2491GT (N. Int.___)
cambio 539 N. 539/105 , ponte tipo 539.671 N. 358F (8/32) con autobloccante, Borrani 6.00 x 16 13.7.61
Certificato d'Origine Attilio Cupido – GE 1972 transformata in Spider "3Z" dalla Zagato (blu
metallizzato) Luigi Chinetti Salone Torino 1971"
In 1994 he published the above information on page 139 of the Italian Car Registry. He
further added the following information:
"Purchased by present owner the day after it was put on display in the window of Chinetti's North
American showroom" Anatoly Arutunoff - OK, US OK Lic. "ExSWB3Z"
In 1997, Arutunoff was invited to participate with this car in the official Ferrari Factory
"50th Anniversary" celebration. While there he was approached by Jean Sage, the head of
the Ferrari Factory Historic Archive Department.
Sage corresponded with Arutunoff informing by formal letter on March 24th, 1997 the
following: (attached at end of this document)
Dear Mr. Arutunoff,
Following my fax dated 22-3-97, I would like to inform you that your car 2491 is not a berlinetta short
wheelbase but a spyder California delivered by the GENOA (Italy) dealer to Mr. Attilio CUPIDO of
Portofino on July 21, 1961. This information to contradict Mr. H. RABB chassis number list which claims
it is was a berlinetta!
Best regards,
(Signed Jean Sage)
A physical inspection of this car was performed on September 28th, 2007. The following
information was confirmed:
Chassis No. 2491/GT
Chassis Type Tipo 539
Engine No. 2491/GT
Engine Type 168
Engine Numero Int. 702F
Gearbox Type 539
Gearbox Numer Int. 105/509 "8 x 32"
Rear Axle Type 539/671
Rear Axle Numero Int. 358/F
Rear Axle Ratio "8 x 32" or 4.0:1
Wheel base. 2400mm
Carburetors 3 x 40 DCL6
Carburetor Nos. 2079, 2095 and 2114
Additionally it was noted that the engine and gearbox all bore multiple matching "match"
marks of "NN". The steering box was date coded "5/61" or May 1961. The Koni
adjustable shock absorbers are all dated coded "10/61" or October 1961.
The car retains all of its original Ferrari 55mm x 92mm frame and support members to
the alloy body work.
The original 250GT SWB California Spyder fuel tank, steering box, radiator, brake
master cylinder, booster, original inner Ssaglietti Coachwork, inner alloy body /
transmission tunnel, front and rear bulk head and riveted FIAM fuel tank are all present,
correct and un-altered.
Conclusion:
With the exception of the visible Alloy Zagato body work, trim, glass, wheels and
interior, this car retains 100% of its original as delivered components approximate to its
construction in the late Spring / Early Summer of 1961.

 

Some Dino's coming up for sale?

 

Price? I guess if you have to ask, you can't afford it?

James in Denver

 

Surely the steering wheel was part of the "trim" added by Zagato during the conversion? Very nice to see the car in an unrestored condition.

John

 

So, is it worth more as-is, or if it were rebodied back to a standard cal spyder?

I have to say I kind of like it, which I can't say about that many Zagato designs, especially from that era.

I love the blue GTE on their website, incidentally! Heresy, I know, but I think I'd take that before I'd take the spyder.

 

I have received most of the remaining history from Ferrari and will try and post it later today. Cheers, Bill Noon

 

The nicest Fiero conversion I have seen

 

This car was one of the articles in Style Auto #31 pages 109-112. The original color was mid blue with light beige interior. Style Auto was a professional automotive magazine in the late '60s through the mid '70s.

Jeff

 

Does Ferrari consider this car an Authorised Re-Body?

 

Ugh. Don't like it at all. How could the company that created the glorious Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato have been responsible for this?

I guess we know where the inspiration for some of Michelotti's work and also (IIRC) the Bertone 308 GT Rainbow came from.

Neil

 

I saw this car a few weeks back when I visited with Bill at Symbolic.

I guess the expectation is to turn this back into a SWB california?

 

Truly unique car. Seen in so many publications you can't tell.
Those who will try to make total crap like re-bodying this as a Scagg California should be shot dead as the Talibans they are.
No matter if you like the design or not, there are numerous Scaggs on the market and this one is unique.

And what is unique is priceless...

If you want a car that no one else will have... This one is for you.

 

While I truly dislike the look it seems to be a bit of Ferrari history and to my sensibilities a conversion back to SWB Cal would be a mistake. Admittedly a good looking mistake, but still the wrong move. At that point it would truly be just a modern body on a real chassis; a bitsa car. Glad it will be someone else's dilemma as I would be an unhappy owner either way. Cheers, George

 

Toly: An interesting character who always stood out in a cast of interesting characters. Gotta love a man who would hang on to a car that long!

 

Market doesn't seem to care how bad a rebodied car looks. If this car gets rebodied with all likelyhood the result is almost as different from original as it is now (wrong features, wrong detailing, wrong shape) but nobody seems to care as joe average in the car event doesn't see any difference. Sad but true. Best wishes, Kare

PS. FWIW sudden claim that it started life as a Cal Spider also smells... suspicious to say the least. Doesn't make much difference as long as the car stays as what it is, but if it gets rebodied... well then it suddenly will make a huge difference.

 

Sorry this took so long. Below is the history with the additional inputs from Ferrari and others as referenced.

Email or ring me if I can assist anyone specifically with the car. (bnoon@symbolicmotors.com (619) 840-7811)


Year 1961
Model 250 GT SWB
Type "Spider California"
Coachbuilder Scaglietti
Chassis No. 2491/GT
Engine No. 2491/GT
Engine Numero Int. 702F
Chassis Type Tipo 539
Engine Type 168
Exterior Color Grigio Argento (Gray Silver)
Interior Color / Type Red (Conolly Leather ref VM3171)
Gearbox Type Tipo 539
Gearbox Numero Int. 105/509 "8 x 32"
Rear Axle Type 539/671
Rear Axle Numero Int. 358/F
Rear Axle Ratio "8 x 32" or 4.0:1
Wheel base. 2400mm
Carburetors 3 x 40 DCL6
Carburetor Nos. 2079, 2095 and 211

17th of 56 "short-wheelbase" California Spyders completed. Issued a "Certificato d'Origine" on "13.7.61" (July 13th, 1961.) Ordered new, sold and invoiced to Sig. Attilio Cupido of Portofino, Italy. Order processed through official Genoa, Italy Ferrari Concessionaire, PARAUTO and processed by Sig. C. Barbarossa.. Road registered to Sig. Cupido in his home province of Genoa, Italy on July 21st, 1961.

This car was completed and delivered with the following features:
-Covered Head Lights (Fari anteriori Coperti)
-Tipo 130 (10mm Camshafts) (Alberi distribuzione 130/17229/230 Alzaia 10)
-9.5:1 Compression Ratio (Rapp. 9.5)
-40mm “40 DCL6” carburetors (Carburatore Tipo WEBER 40 DCL6)
-Velocity Stacks (Press d’aria Trombette)
-Ribbed Alloy Gearbox (Cambio Tipo 539/55485)
-8 x 32 (4.0:1) final drive ratio (Coppia conica 8 x 32)
-Abarth Exhaust System (Marmitta di scarico ABARTH)
-100-liter Fuel Tank (Serbatoio carburante tipo 539/820286 capacita lt. 100)
-Metric gauge faces in black. (Stumenti di bordo Borletti competizione in km.)

1969, sold by Cupido to Luigi Chinetti via PARAUTO di L. Ravina and then delivered to Carrozzeria Zagato, Turin, Italy. Chinetti commissioned a new open "Spyder" body for the car in time for the Turin Motor Show for October of 1970. Delays and revisions to the car’s appearance forced the car to instead make its new debut in the October 1971 Turin Motor Show. The car was given the name "3Z" by Zagato. While at Zagato undergoing work and completion the car was fitted with Zagato test plate "PROVA MI 725." The car was photographed repeatedly in and around Zagato's workshops as well as in front of various well known public buildings in an around Milan.

Carrozzeria Zagato's identifies the car as follows:
"1971 saw a strange new collaboration between Ferrari and Zagato. More than 20 yeas had passed since the completion of the first Zagato Bodied Ferrari, the 1951 "Panoramica." This car the "3Z" was completed for Luigi Chinetti and based on Ferrari 2491 GT. This car was designed by Giuseppe Mittino who from 1970 on was responsible for the designs executed by Carrozzeria Zagato. The design of the "3Z" with it's very powerful and aggressive 12 cylinder engine was itself powerful and bold. The car had many original new features such as the "eyelid" treatment of the front that hid the lights partially from view. The car was current when completed with the philosophy of Zagato at the time. The car had clean, unmarked geometric lines that were also seen on the Alfa Romeo Junior Z which was the first "wedge" car of the period."

From 1971 on the true identity and original configuration of this car was lost. All subsequent publications and journals identify the car as originally being a "short wheelbase berlinetta, or “short wheelbase competition berlinetta.” The original Ferrari records, delivery to the original Italian owner and purchase by Chinetti, delivery to Zagato etc… clearly and without question confirm this car was originally an SWB California Spyder!

Immediately after the Turnin Motor Show, Chinetti imported the car to the Unites States. The car was sold upon arrival to a local Doctor from Long Island, New York.

On April 1st to the 8th, 1979 the New York Times ran an advertisement for Concours International Motors at 671 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head, New York. The advertisement listed the following: “RARE 1966 ZAGATO CONVERTIBLE All Aluminum-one of a kind” The following Sunday on the 15th of April, they ran another add identifying the car as follows: “1966 FERRARI ZUGATO CONVERTIBLE-1 of kind” The same add repeated again on Sunday, April 29th. Ferrari historian-enthusiast and part-time dealer, Stan Nowak saw the add and immediately informed authorized Oklahoma, Ferrari Dealer, Toly Arutunoff that it was available for purchase. Arutunoff contacted Concours International Motors owners, Chuck Nesbitt and Al Meyer and immediately agreed to the car’s purchase. He flew out to JFK in the first week of May, 1979, purchased the car on the spot and has owned it ever since. This was not however Arutunoff’s first experience with the car, at the Turin Motor Show eight years earlier, he inspected and photographed the car in detail. He had also spoken at great lengths with Zagato’s representatives regarding the possibility of purchasing the car directly off the show stand. His offers were flatly refused and when the car became available for only the third time ever, he did not hesitate to proceed with its purchase.

In 1987 the well known automobile historian and author, John de Boer corresponded with Ferrari and was informed of the following facts by letter:

"2491 25SWB Spider Scaglietti "California" 2400mm telio 539, motore Tipo 168 N. 2491GT (N. Int.___) cambio 539 N. 539/105 , ponte tipo 539.671 N. 358F (8/32) con autobloccante, Borrani 6.00 x 16 13.7.61 Certificato d'Origine Attilio Cupido – GE 1972 transformata in Spider "3Z" dalla Zagato (blu metallizzato) Luigi Chinetti Salone Torino 1971"

In 1994 he published the above information on page 139 of the Italian Car Registry. He further added the following information:

"Purchased by present owner the day after it was put on display in the window of Chinetti's North American showroom" Anatoly Arutunoff - OK, US OK Lic. "ExSWB3Z"

In 1997, Arutunoff was invited to participate with this car in the official Ferrari Factory "50th Anniversary" celebration. While there he was approached by Jean Sage, the head of the Ferrari Factory Historic Archive Department. Sage corresponded with Arutunoff informing him by formal letter on March 24th, 1997 the following:

Dear Mr. Arutunoff,
Following my fax dated 22-3-97, I would like to inform you that your car 2491 is not a berlinetta short wheelbase but a spyder California delivered by the GENOA (Italy) dealer to Mr. Attilio CUPIDO of Portofino on July 21, 1961. This information to contradict Mr. H. RABB chassis number list which claims it is was a berlinetta!

Best regards,
(Signed Jean Sage)

A physical inspection of this car, records and documents was performed on September 28th, 2007 confirming all of the above recorded facts. Additionally it was noted that the engine and gearbox all bore multiple matching "match" marks of "NN". The steering box was date coded "5/61" or May 1961. The Koni adjustable shock absorbers are all dated coded "10/61" or October 1961. The car retains all of its original Ferrari 55mm x 92mm frame and support members to the alloy body work.

The original 250GT SWB California Spyder fuel tank, steering box, radiator, brake master cylinder, booster, original inner Scaglietti Coachwork, inner alloy body / transmission tunnel, front and rear bulk head and riveted FIAM fuel tank are all present, correct and un-altered.

Conclusion:
With the exception of the visible Alloy outer Zagato coachwork, trim, glass, wheels and interior, this car retains 100% of its original as delivered “California Spyder” components appropriate and approximate to its construction in July of 1961.

 

Get that poor car back to Ferrari for a restoration.

 

Yes I never found it pretty but it is very interesting, was owned forever by a true character and is one of those intriguing one offs that fleshes out Ferrari's history.

I hope Toly has written a colorful record of his life and times with the car, it would be sad to lose that and I would love to read it, hint, hint.

 

Great researched history as always Bill. It's been 10 years; what are you going to bring up to Toronto this summer for the FCA show this time around?
CH

 

For anyone interested I scanned the 4 pages form Car Styling #31. These photos are the original Zagato photos and article when the car was shown. I tried to post them here but my file size in both jpeg and pdf are too large for the Fchat limits. If anyone want to make the file size reduction let me have your e-mail and I will happily send them over.

By the wat, Car Styling is long since out of business so I do not expect any copyright issues.

Jeff

 

These were published when the car was first shown.

Jeff
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