A stunning 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet by
Pininfarina is set to be auction off by Gooding & Company during Monterey
Car Week in California. Ferrari only ever built 40 examples of the 250 GT Series I Cabriolet,
and of those, just four featured distinctive coachwork by Pininfarina. This
included covered headlights, new side vents, and bumperettes.
The original owner of this particular car, chassis
0789 GT, was one of Ferrari’s VIP clients, Italian playboy and aristocrat
Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, a well-known socialite back in the day. The bodywork
is painted gloss black with a number of exposed chrome accents, but it is the
interior thatreally makes this Ferrari special.
With the exception of the upper half of the
dashboard, the cabin is trimmed entirely in green leather. There are even green
carpets and the shifter boot is also made from green leather. We don’t imagine
the color being to everyone’s taste, but it certainly makes this 250 GT stand
out.
Ruspoli ultimately parted ways with the car which,
throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was owned by a number of different
enthusiasts across Italy. The car was then imported into the United States and
owned by Ron Hein, who commissioned an extensive restoration. In 1994, it won
best in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Santa Barbara Concours
d’Elegance, and the Newport Beach Concours d’Elegance. Additionally, it won
Best of Show at the 1996 FCA Vintage Concours in Carmel Valley, and the Outstanding
GT award at the 1995 and 1997 editions of the Rodeo Drive Concours in Beverly
Hills.
Pre-auction estimates expect the car to sell for
between US$ 7 million and US$ 8 million.
