Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spider California issue 16

Cavalleria Series

LanguageItalian language icon Italian
AuthorDavid G. Seibert
PhotographerPietro Carrieri
EditorDavide Franzini
PublishingCavalleria S.A., ISBN 3-905268-15-9
Dimensions110 pages, 278 x 315 mm
Cover of Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spider California issue 16, Cavalleria Series
Backcover of Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spider California issue 16, Cavalleria Series

Ferrari 250 GT SWB Spider California (s/n 3995 GT)

Finito di stampare nel mese di Marzo 1997 dalla Vela WEB di Binasco (MI)

Prestigious series of 15 + 1 books that cover the cars in ownership of Italian Giorgio Perfetti. Large format hardcover books in a sturdy and glossy slipcase. Each issue highlights the history of one particular chassis and its siblings. Written by knowledgeable Ferrari experts, illustration with lavish historical images and superb studio images of the featured car.

Table of Contents

PageSectionDescription
6Spider CaliforniaOrigini della 250 Spider Californa
Californie! Pour le commun des mortels, ce mot désigne une partie de l'Ouest Américain, réputé pour son climat ensoleillé, Hollywood et ses films, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, un style de vie décontracté et le royaume de l'automobile. Pour les amateurs de voiture, le mot désigne aussi l'un des modèles très enviés: la 250 GT Spider California.
24Spider CaliforniaDétails de la 250 Short Wheelbase Spider California
Vers la fin 1959 Ferrari s'apprêtait à remplacer la 250 LWB Berlinetta par une nouvelle version, et la carrosserie des sept dernières LWB Berlinetta construites faisait penser au style de la nouvelle voiture. Cette Ferrari, connue sous le nom de 250 GT SWB (pour Short WheelBase) Berlinetta, fut construite sur un châssis de 2400 mm d'empattement, désigné comme le type 539 (le châssis fut construit par Vaccari à Modène).
36Spider CaliforniaLa SWB California en compétition
Les SWB California et Berlinetta furent construits sur le même châssis, et, étant donné les performances en course de la Berlinetta, on pourrait s'attendre à de nombreux engagements de la California également. Tel nu fut pas le cas. La raison principale résidait sans doute dans la rigidité supplémentaire du châssis de la voiture fermée, due aux support tubulaires du toit.
52Spider CaliforniaAprès la SWB California
La 250 SWB Spider California n'était pas le première Ferrari à porter le nom California - ni ne serait la dernière - mais lorsque la production de la SWB Spider California cessa en 1963, la demande de voitures de sport polyvalentes et coûteuses avait diminué. Les ateliers Ferrari aux capacités limitées devaient se tourner vers des marchés plus porteurs.
59Spider CaliforniaLa brochure de vente du SWB Spider California
Ferrari fit une brochure de vente pour la LWB California et la LWB Berlinetta, mais réserva une brochure unique à la version SWB, intitulée "Ferrari 250 Granturismo Spider California" et composée de 4 pages seulement.
62Chassis 3995 GTFerrari 250 GT SWB Spider California - chassis Nº 3995 GT
90Spider CaliforniaFiche Technique
92Spider CaliforniaHistorique des Chassis
108Spider CaliforniaPalmares
PageSectionDescription
6Spider CaliforniaOrigini della 250 Spider Californa
California! To most people, the word describes a part of the western United States, known for perfect sunny weather, Hollywood and motion pictures, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, a casual, carefree lifestyle, and topdown motoring. To automotive enthusiasts all those same meanings apply, but the word "California" also describes one of the most desired models ever produced by a manufacturer building nothing but desirable cars: the Ferrari 250 GT Spider California.
24Spider CaliforniaDetails of the 250 Short Wheelbase Spider California
By the end of 1959 Ferrari was close to replacing the 250 LWB Berlinetta with a new version, and the last seven LWB Berlinettas built had bodywork suggesting the styling of the new car. This new Ferrari, known as the 250 GT SWB (for Short WheelBase) Berlinetta, was built on the 2400 mm wheelbase chassis and designated as the type 539. (The actual chassis, as with most Ferrari to that point, would be constructed by Vaccari in Modena).
36Spider CaliforniaRacing the SWB California
The SWB Spider California and the SWB Berlinetta were built on the same chassis, and with the outstanding racing record of the Berlinetta, one would expect that the SWB California was actively raced as well. Such was not the case. The major reason that so few Californias were raced in contrast to the Berlinetta might be the additional chassis rigidity of the closed car, created by the tubing supports for the roof.
52Spider CaliforniaAfter the SWB California
The 250 SWB Spider California was not the first Ferrari to bear the California name, and it would not be the last, but by the time production of the SWB California ended in 1963, seemingly the demand for the California, and similar expensive dual purpose sports cars, had diminished. Ferrari's limited production facilities were used to build cars for which there was a continuing market.
59Spider CaliforniaThe SWB Spider California sales brochure
Ferrari has produced a sales brochure for both the LWB Spider California and the LWB Berlinetta, but for the SWB version a brochure was created unique to that model. The simple brochure, entitled "Ferrari 250 Gran Turismo Spider California", consisted of only four pages.
62Chassis 3995 GTFerrari 250 GT SWB Spider California - chassis Nº 3995 GT
90Spider CaliforniaTechnical Data Sheet
92Spider CaliforniaHistory of the Frames
108Spider CaliforniaRacing Record
PageSectionDescription
6Spider CaliforniaOrigini della 250 Spider Californa
California! Un nome che evoca immediatamente la costa occidentale degli Stati Uniti, nota per l'immancabile clima soleggiato, Hollywood con il mondo del cinema, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, uno stile di vita disinvolto e rilassato, auto di lusso.
Tali associazioni di idee valgono anche per gli appassionati di automobilismo, ma a loro, la parola "California" evoca inoltre uno dei più ambiti modelli mai realizzati da un costruttore di auto esclusive: la Ferrari 250 GT Spider California.
24Spider CaliforniaDettagli della 250 Short Wheelbase Spider California
Alla fine del 1959, la Ferrari era pronta a sostituire la 250 LWB Berlinetta con una nuova versione, il cui stile sarebbe stato ispirato al design delle ultime sette LWB Berlinetta. La nuove Ferrari, nota come la 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, fu costruita su un telaio ad interasse di 2400 mm e con un design simile al modello 539 (il telaio, come tutti i telai Ferrari in qual periodo, fu costruito dalla Vaccari di Modena).
36Spider CaliforniaLa SWB California in gara
La SWB Spider California e la SWB Berlinetta furono costruite sullo stesso telaio e, dati i sorprendenti record della Berlinetta durante le competizioni, ci si aspettavano pari prestazioni anche da parte della Spider California. Ma tali aspettative rimasero deluse. Il motivo principale per cui le Spider California presero parte a poche competizioni rispetto alla Berlinetta, può essere ricercato nella maggiore rigidità del telaio della Berlina, creato dal fascio tubolare per il tetto.
52Spider CaliforniaDopo la SWB California
La 250 SWB Spider non fu la prima Ferrari a portare il nome California e non sarebbe stata l'ultima, ma la diminuzione della domanda di auto sportive così costose provocò, nel 1963, la fine della sua fabbricazione. I limitati impianti di produzione Ferrari nero utilizzati per costruire auto dal mercato costante.
59Spider CaliforniaLa brochure di vendita della SWB Spider California
La Ferrari ha curato un'unica brochure di vendita sia per la LWB Spider California, che per la LWB Berlinetta, mentre ne ha ideata une esclusivamente per la versione SWB: soltanto quattro pagine dal titolo "Ferrari 250 Granturismo Spider California".
62Chassis 3995 GTFerrari 250 GT SWB Spider California - chassis Nº 3995 GT
90Spider CaliforniaScheda Tecnica
92Spider CaliforniaCronistoria dei Telai
108Spider CaliforniaPalmares