Alongside the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Spyder California, a prominent collection of Ferraris was on display at the Pebble Beach Concours, with no fewer than twenty-one examples of Maranello’s most classically elegant output making the trip to Monterey, California, entered across four classes.

Alongside the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Spyder California, a prominent collection of Ferraris was on display at the Pebble Beach Concours, with no fewer than twenty-one examples of Maranello’s most classically elegant output making the trip to Monterey, California, entered across four classes.

Fans of the California model were well catered for. The Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car Trophy was awarded to James A. Patterson’s 1959 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Spyder California; another of the three roadgoing examples of this model on display, Peter S. Kalikow’s 1961 SWB example, took out the People’s Choice Award. Two competition examples of the California were also in attendance – one a 1959 LWB model entered by Martin Gruss of Palm Beach, Florida, whilst the other, from 1960, was a SWB example belonging to P. Paul Pappalardo, of Greenwich, Connecticut. In addition, there was a unique example, and a real star of the show – Brandon Wang’s 1957 Pinin Farina California prototype, which had made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean from London.

A further six cars were entered in the ‘Ferrari Competition’ class. These included a 1951 212 Export Vignale Coupe from the Caballeriza Collection in Monterey, Mexico; a 1955 500 Mondial Series II Scaglietti Roadster; Tax and Tambi Otto’s 1960 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Berlinetta Competizione; a 1963 330 LMB Scaglietti Le Mans Berlinetta from White Plains, New York, entered by Nicola A. Soprano; Arnold Meier’s 1968 312 P Cigala & Berlinetti Turin Berlinetta; and a 1972 312 PB Spider, owned by Steven Read of Berkeley, which took out third in class. In addition to claiming the ‘Enzo Ferrari Trophy’, the 500 Mondial, entered by RADM and Mrs Robert Phillips of Arlington, Virginia, took out first prize in this class, ahead of the 212 Export Vignale Coupe.

From Beecher, Illinois, Chris LaPorte’s superb 1957 410 Super America Series II Pinin Farina Coupe took out the ‘Postwar Preservation through 1967’ class, ahead of Steve and Jeanne Katzman’s 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder, and a 1953 Delahaye 235 Chapron Coupe entered by Brian and Jeannine Hoyt of Hayward, California.

Amongst the most competitive of all the classes at Pebble Beach is the ‘Ferrari Grand Touring’ category, and this year was no exception, with no fewer than eight entries. Highlights included the only 400 Super America built by the factory with Spyder California coachwork – its first outing anywhere in the world – whilst another rarity was a very early 195 Inter Berlinetta Carrozzeria Touring from 1950, entered by Richard Martin and Christine MacDonald of Sonoma. Also entered in this class were a 1955 250 GT Europa Pinin Farina Coupe; a 1956 250 GT Boano Coupe; Lee Herrington’s 1956 410 Super America Series I Pinin Farina Coupe; and a 400 Super America Pinin Farina Cabriolet from 1961, owned by Wayne and Marilyn Nelson of Longwood, Florida, which placed third in class. Second went to Jack E. Thomas’ 1951 340 America Ghia Coupe, with the overall prize awarded to the 1958 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series I, entered by Peter and Kacey McCoy of Beverly Hills, California.

by Shant Fabricatorian