By the late 1950s, Ferrari recognized the growing demand from young, affluent American enthusiasts for a sports car offering both performance and glamour. At the urging of influential distributors Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann, Ferrari developed a new, open-top 250 GT variant tailored specifically for the North American market. The concept was clear: a dual-purpose sports car that could serve as elegant weekday transportation and hold its own in weekend competition. The result was the 250 GT California Spider – one of the most iconic and desirable Ferraris ever built.

Styled by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the California Spider was immediately recognized for its rakish lines, minimalist interior appointments, and racing pedigree. The earliest cars were built on the long-wheelbase (LWB) 250 GT chassis and shared mechanical underpinnings with Ferrari’s contemporary Tour de France Berlinetta. In Ferrari tradition, several LWB California Spiders were fitted with competition features such as alloy coachwork, tuned engines, and long-range fuel tanks, leading to strong performances at Le Mans, Sebring, and in SCCA racing.

In 1960, Ferrari developed the model further, with the introduction of the 250 GT SWB California Spider. Based on the recently introduced short-wheelbase Berlinetta chassis, this final evolution of the California Spider offered significant mechanical and aesthetic advancements. The shorter chassis sharpened handling, while standard four-wheel disc brakes and improved suspension components enhanced performance on both road and track. Under the hood, the outside-plug tipo 168 V-12 engine delivered the expected Ferrari qualities: robust power, refined drivability, and relative reliability.

Scaglietti took full advantage of the updated chassis to redesign the body, resulting in a more compact and aggressive form. The SWB version featured more rounded front fenders, muscular rear haunches, and an overall stance that conveyed both elegance and intent. Inside, the SWB California Spider was better appointed than its predecessor, with stitched leather replacing painted surfaces, plush wool carpets in place of rubber mats, and redesigned seating that increased passenger space in the cockpit, making long-distance touring more comfortable.

Despite its increased refinement, the SWB California Spider never lost its sporting character. Several examples competed in prestigious races such as the Targa Florio and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Of the 106 California Spiders built between 1957 and 1963, just 56 were SWB variants – making them among the rarest, most coveted Ferraris of all time.

The example presented here, chassis 2277 GT, stands out as one of the most captivating of these iconic Ferraris – distinguished by its rare original color scheme, glamorous celebrity ownership, appearances in period Italian cinema, and Ferrari Classiche certification.

The history of this car begins in January 1961, when it was completed at the Ferrari factory. Finished in the unique and sophisticated shade of Nocciola (Hazelnut) over Tobacco leather upholstery, the new California Spider was equipped with a trio of 40 mm Weber carburetors, Miletto shock absorbers, an Abarth competition exhaust, and Borrani RW3591 wire wheels wearing Pirelli Cinturato tires.

Soon after completion, 2277 GT was delivered to the official Ferrari agent in Milan, M. Gastone Crepaldi Automobili S.a.s., and sold to its first private owner, Dino Fabbri.

Sig. Fabbri, co-founder of the esteemed Italian publishing house Fratelli Fabbri Editori, was a passionate Ferrari enthusiast with a discerning eye for the marque’s most elegant open-top models – including the 250 GT Series I Cabriolet, 275 GTS, and 365 California Spider. Renowned for his jet-set lifestyle, he maintained lavish residences in Milan, Paris, Megève, and London, and was celebrated for his impeccable style and glamorous social circle.

Following Sig. Fabbri’s ownership, 2277 GT found a fitting new custodian in the celebrated pop star “Little Tony” – an equally charismatic figure with a passion for Italian style and performance.

Born Antonio Ciacci in the Republic of San Marino – a small, independent nation in the heart of Italy – Little Tony was a rock and roll singer who rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Inspired by Little Richard and described as the “Italian Elvis Presley,” he gained international attention as the frontman of Little Tony & His Brothers, initially achieving chart success in Britain with hits like “I Can’t Help It” and “Too Good.” After returning to Italy in the early 1960s, he scored his first Italian No. 1 hit with “Il Ragazzo col Ciuffo” in 1962. He then transitioned into a successful film career, appearing in over 20 films within the popular musicarelli genre. His stardom and glamorous lifestyle were reflected in his impressive collection of exotic sports cars, which included Ferraris such as the 330 GT, 275 GTB/4, and 365 GTB/4, as well as other exotics: Maserati 5000 GT, Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, and several Lamborghini Miuras.

Early in Little Tony’s ownership, 2277 GT was refinished in light metallic blue-green with light, almost off-white upholstery, and was registered in his native San Marino as “3150 RSM.” During his ownership, Little Tony’s California Spider made a cameo in one of his films, Riderà! (Cuore Matto) (1967), directed by Bruno Corbucci and produced by West Film.

In 1967, Little Tony sold 2277 GT to 21-year-old Roman car enthusiast Antonio Palma. He registered the Ferrari as “Roma-A88189” and had it repainted in a more traditional color scheme – red with black upholstery. In this new guise, the California Spider made two further film appearances: La Più Bella Coppia del Mondo (1968) and the comedy Sissignore (1968), starring Ugo Tognazzi. The latter features the Ferrari in what is often cited as one of the most dangerous car chase sequences ever filmed, as 2277 GT tears through public roads in a high-speed duel with a Lamborghini Miura P400.

In February 1968, 2277 GT changed hands once again, remaining in Rome under the ownership of Romano Pietrosanti. That September, it was sold through dealer SAS Motor to Sharon Nina Damion of Laurelton, New York, marking the car’s transition from Italian to American ownership. By late 1968, the California Spider had arrived on US soil, landing briefly with a used car dealer in Mineola, New York, before being acquired in 1969 by William Caldwell of Syosset, Long Island.

A dedicated enthusiast, Mr. Caldwell retained 2277 GT for roughly a decade, along with a companion 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe. During his ownership, the California Spider was shown at the second annual FCA Northeast Regional along with a companion 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe. During his ownership, the California Spider was shown at the second annual FCA Northeast Regional meet on Long Island and was later equipped with a hardtop he sourced from a New York Times classified ad – adding a distinctive personal touch to this already storied Ferrari.

In late 1980, Mr. Caldwell sold 2277 GT to Steven Kessler Motorcars of New York City. Two years later, it was acquired by Jerome Morici of Clifton, New Jersey, who maintained ownership until 1993, when the car passed to John Edelman of New Mexico.

By 1995, Symbolic Motor Car Co. of La Jolla, California, purchased 2277 GT and sold it to noted Chicago-area collector Dean Becker. Under Mr. Becker’s stewardship, the Ferrari was showcased at the 5th Annual Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, where it was presented by Charles Arnott and George Carrick, the author of the acclaimed book The Spyder California: A Ferrari of Particular Distinction.

In 1996, ownership transferred to a highly respected Ferrari collector who returned the California Spider to the Cavallino Classic in 2002 before selling it in 2006 to Paul Michaels of London, England, continuing the car’s transatlantic provenance.

During Mr. Michaels’ ownership, the Ferrari was treated to mechanical and cosmetic improvements, with work carried out by GTO Engineering, Roelofs Engineering, and Michaels’ own firm, Hexagon Classics. Later in his ownership, 2277 GT was featured in several articles published in Octane, Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, and Red Racing Green magazines. After passing through an Australia-based collection, 2277 GT has returned to the US, and is offered today from a distinguished collection comprised of the finest postwar sports cars.

Recently refinished in its stunning factory-original color scheme, 2277 GT remains as fashionable and distinctive as when it first turned heads in 1961. Its authenticity is validated by Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification and copies of the original build sheets, while its remarkable provenance is documented by detailed reports produced by historians Marcel Massini and Archivio Targhe. Accompanied by a tool kit, original owner’s manual, and period sales brochure, this exceptional Ferrari brings together rarity, originality, star-studded history, and cinematic flair – making 2277 GT one of the most compelling and collectible examples of the celebrated SWB California Spider.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1960.