1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider LWB
- Colour
- Red over tan leather (restored; originally white over black)
Chassis 1503 GT is the 35th of 50 long-wheelbase Ferrari California Spiders, bodied by Scaglietti and completed in October 1959. Delivered new to Venezuela through official importer Carlos Kauffmann, it passed through several American owners before undergoing a celebrated full restoration by Wayne Obry of Motion Products in Neenah, Wisconsin, under the direction of collector L. Jack Ruscilli. The restored car swept the concours circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s, earning Best in Class at Pebble Beach and Meadow Brook in 1988 and Best of Show at the FCA National Concours in 1989, among more than 35 awards in total.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €7,855,000 (≈ $8.64M)
- 1959 → 1960Private saleOtto Rodriguez Vincentinipartial documentation
Young Caracas socialite who purchased the car new from the importer. Died as the victim of a robbery while in the vehicle; car was subsequently returned to Kauffmann.
- 1959-11-01 → 1960Factory deliveryCarlos Kauffmannpartial documentation
Official Venezuelan importer based in Caracas who received the car from the factory and held it briefly before selling to the first private buyer. Car returned to him after the death of the first owner and was repaired prior to resale.
- 1960 → 1963Acquisition unknownCarlos Kauffmannpartial documentation
Retrieved the car following the owner's death, had it repaired and reconditioned before exporting it to a US buyer in 1963.
- 1963 → 1985Private saleArthur Dennis Stevenspartial documentation
Evanston, Illinois resident who imported the car with roughly 7,500 km on the odometer. Drove it occasionally between Evanston and Chicago before placing it in long-term storage in suburban Chicago for approximately two decades.
- 1985 → 1987Private saleRichard Freshmanpartial documentation
Well-known Ferrari collector from Malibu, California, who acquired the car showing around 31,000 km. Ownership was relatively short-lived.
- 1987 → 1987Acquisition unknownUnidentified short-term owner, firstnone documentation
One of two brief intermediate owners between Freshman and Ruscilli; no further details provided.
- 1987 → 1987Acquisition unknownUnidentified short-term owner, secondnone documentation
Second of two brief intermediate owners before Ruscilli's acquisition; no further details provided.
- 1987 → 1998Private saleL. Jack Ruscillifull documentation
Columbus, Ohio owner who commissioned a full concours restoration by Wayne Obry at Motion Products in Wisconsin. Repainted Rosso over tan leather; the car toured the US extensively winning over 35 awards before being sold in 1998.
- 1998 →Private saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Kept the car in a private collection with minimal use; only significant public appearance was a single concours event in 2003. Odometer advanced barely 700 km during this ownership period.
Competition
- 1988Meadow Brook Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
One of the car's first major awards following the Motion Products restoration; part of a multi-year US concours tour.
- 1988Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Awarded the same year as Meadow Brook, confirming the restoration's high standard.
- 1989FCA National ConcoursBest of Show
Top award at the Ferrari Club of America national event, one year after the Pebble Beach and Meadow Brook class wins.
- 2003XII Palm Beach Cavallino ClassicPlatinum award
Sole public appearance under current ownership; the car had been in private storage since 1998.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963Repair
The car was cleaned, repaired, and reconditioned by or under the direction of Carlos Kauffmann following the robbery incident in which the original owner died.
Work carried out prior to the car's export to the United States.
- 1987RestorationMotion Products
Full restoration returning the car to its original delivery specification, with the sole exception of a colour change from Bianco over Nero to Rosso over tan leather. Documented with a photographic portfolio.
Commissioned by L. Jack Ruscilli and executed by Wayne Obry. The quality of the work was widely credited with raising standards for Ferrari restorations of the era.
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