This matching numbers, 5-speed, right-hand drive Ferrari has a clear, fascinating and well documented history starting life as a Vignale Coupe. It participated in the Mille Miglia in 1952 and 1954, winning the 1953 Tuscany Cup race as well as many period hill climb podium finishes. In 1953 Siro Sbaci of Florence had a competition three-carb set up installed by Garage La Rotunda, the Ferrari dealer in Florence. The three carb set up increasing horsepower from 150 to 170 at 6500 rpm.
Circa 1961 this Vignale Coupe was re-bodied by Piero Drogo into an alloy California style spyder. Piero Drogo was well known for custom bodywork as well as the builder of the Dino 206SP and the iconic Ferrari 330/P4. Shortly thereafter, the Spyder was sold to Count Giovanni Lurani Cernuschi, the well-respected Count being a three time class winner in the Mille Miglia in 1933, 1948 and 1952 and the class winner at Le Mans in 1951.
By 1990 the California Spyder arrived in America.
The Spyder is featured in:
- -CAVALLINO #80 April/May 1994,
- -Marcel Massini's book: Ferrari by Vignale, pps. 104 and 105
- -Stan Nowak's book: Ferrari Spyder California p. 112 and
- -DROGO -Official Coachbuilder of Scuderia Ferrari (Jack Koobs de Hartog and Marc de Rijck) p. 50
The California has had a $48,000 engine rebuild by Motion Products as well as a complete body restoration by Joe Piscazzi's America Autobody, Akron, Ohio.
The car has been enthusiastically campaigned in the Ferrari Historic Challenge, Palm Beach Cavallino Classic, and is a veteran of many rallies and events. It has been meticulously maintained with a file of receipts approaching $400,000.
This unique Ferrari remains ready to be driven in its next rally or racing adventure being so well sorted and looked after and is eligible for every historic race on the planet. Effervescent and responsive it embodies and delivers all the magic that Ferrari has been known for through the years.
