Dreaming the Ferrari 250 California

27 February 2023 Redazione News, Supercars Lounge

Words Matteo Lavazza / Photos Ferrari Media

There is an extremely purposeless question that every enthusiast will not know and will never be able to answer. What is the best Ferrari of all time? After all, Enzo himself always repeated that it was the one that had yet to be produced, to underline that the search for perfection that for a father and creator never knows the finish line. Everyone has their favorite, that’s for sure, but even in this case it’s not at all easy to extricate oneself from an illustrious history that has given the world and enthusiasts incredible masterpieces. Among icons that do not know classification, one that absolutely represents the importance of the prancing horse in the world is without the slightest doubt the 250 California, the super-luxury cabriolet that exalted the Made in Italy of the 60s “dolce vita” in the image of the so-called American dream. Indeed, the name California was by no means chosen by chance.

We are at the end of the 50s and thanks to the extraordinary work done by the importer Luigi Chinetti and the excellent results obtained in competitions, Ferrari is the luxury sports car for those who matter. The Emilian brand not only represents excellence in terms of style, thanks to the ever-inspired work of its designers, but also the thrill of performance that, by holding that steering wheel with the black horse on a yellow background, immediately brings to mind the motorsport victories. Ferrari is the car to have, the status symbol that more than any other is living a golden age. Situation that the Californian trustee John Von Neumann intends to exploit and bring to his West Coast, proposing to Chinetti a model specifically designed for the American market. Chinetti did not miss the opportunity and – telling everyone this was his intuition – presented the idea to Enzo Ferrari, who commissioned the production of 106 units, with bodywork designed by Scaglietti and the aim of making the states fall in love with it.

Made as a long wheelbase version (from ’58 to ’60) and with a short wheelbase – the so-called SWB – from ’60 to ’63, both coupe and cabriolet version with canvas top, the 250 California was a two-seater with a streamlined shape, an authentic grand tourer that managed to combine performance, comfort and the timeless beauty of a cross-section of Italy that was writing one of the most beautiful chapters on the other side of the ocean.

Under the generous front bonnet there was a mighty 2,953 cc V12 able to ground 240 horsepower, a work of art that was perfected over the years and which was capable of playing a symphony that, beyond 3,000 rpm, transformed itself into a cry that pierced the warm Californian breeze, especially when you took advantage of the favorable weather and drove with the soft top folded down. The two passengers are enveloped in a leather cockpit which, despite the excellent comfort guaranteed by its spaciousness, does not distract from driving, the most romantic thing that can be done aboard this work of art on wheels. The gear lever is close to the right arm of the driver and rather high, guaranteeing the possibility of driving in complete relax, but at the same time concentrating on the dynamic qualities of a GT capable of reaching 250 per hour without too much effort.

The Ferrari 250 GT California not only marked an era, but redefined the concept of absolute beauty and transmitted it to the whole world thanks to a model that transcends any temporal classification, with an apparently simple line that nevertheless explodes with those unmistakable profiles and air intakes, managing to bring together the dual nature of a high-class sports car, incredibly practical for a trip out of town and equally engaging when you press the throttle all the way down, no matters if the soft top is closed or wide open. With that V12 screaming up to 7,000 rpm, the ideal scenario is that of a road that runs along the Pacific, with the wind in your hair and those spoked rims that make your head spin as if fueling this California-own dream.