Ferrari and Pininfarina have teamed up on some
achingly beautiful cars over the years. We've come across more than a few
notable examples coming up for auction – but few as gorgeous as this one right
here.
It's a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet – the
very one that the Prancing Horse marque displayed at the Turin and New York
auto shows in 1958 and '59.
The cabrio was purchased virtually right off the
show stand by Prince Mohammed bin Faisal of the Saudi royal family, who drove
it while studying in California in his youth.
For over four decades, it was in the hands of noted
collector John Clinard, who had it restored to its original color scheme: a
light greenish silver called Grigio Conchiglia (seashell grey) over red leather
that might look more at home on, say, an Aston Martin, but catches the eye
pretty darn well, we'd say, on this classic Ferrari.
The 35th of only 41 examples made of the Series I
cabriolet, chassis number 1079 GT is bound to be one of the highlights among
the numerous notable Prancing Horses consigned to Gooding & Company for its
upcoming sale in Scottsdale, Arizona, next month.
With pre-sale estimates placing its value between $7
and 8.5 million, it'll appear alongside a bright red 500 Mondial (US$ 5-5.75m), a
deeper red 250 Europa (US$ 1.6-2m), and a later 250 GT Series II Cabriolet in
black over red (US$ 1.5-1.8m). Photos by Mathieu Heurtault and Mike Maez, courtesy
of Gooding & Company.
