Cars & Bikes – 3 |

There are really two different 250GT California cars. The first one produced from 1957 to 1960 was based on the Ferrari 250GT Tour De France, which had its top removed, and a coupe became a convertible. Pinin Farina designed these spiders and they were built by Scaglietti built them. The initial request came from Ferrari’s North American importer. This run of 49 cars are now referred to as the LWB or long wheel base models.

The Ferrari 250GT SWB (Short Wheel Base) California was built from 1960 to 1963. It is considered one of the most desirable and beautiful cars ever made. How desirable? At the RM auction on May 18, 2008 a 1961 model sold for $10,894,900, setting a new record. The car had been owned by actor James Coburn, which may have helped a little in the final price. From a mechanical standpoint the 250GT SWB was powered by a V12, rated at 280bph. Top speed was about 145mph. A little unusual was a four speed manual gearbox rather than the five speed. These particular cars now had disc brakes front and rear. The purchaser had a choice of either an aluminum or steel body.

The Italian sports car manufacture, Ferrari, produced the Ferrari Mondial for thirteen years, from nineteen eighty to nineteen ninety three. Ferrari is an Italian based manufacturer based in Maranello, and was founded by Enzo Ferrari in nineteen twenty eight. The extremely successful company, which has had remarkable success in Formula One, began to produce the Ferrari Mondial in nineteen eighty. The Ferrari Mondial was created in to body types; the coupe and the cabriolet, and sold in decent numbers – over six thousand units over the course of its production life span.This particular Ferrari model was a lot more practical than other Ferrari models, with extensive space compared to other cars which share the marque. A higher roof, longer doors, four seats with adequate leg room, and high visibility, proved popular whilst still maintaining the performance levels which are associated with Ferrari.

The Ferrari F355 is a 2 seat coupe which is powered by a mid V8 engine, an engine which was notable more powerful than that fitted to the Ferrari 348, with five valves per cylinder and an increase in capacity. The three point five litre engine produced three hundred and eighty break horse power, with a top speed of one hundred and eighty three miles per hour.

Three body styles were made available over the lifespan of the Ferrari F355; the convertible spider, the Berlinetta coupe, and the targa GTS. The first initial body styles were the coupe and targa, with the spider introduced a year after the production of the car. The Berlinetta body style is the hard top version, which was very popular. The targa body style describes the semi convertible body, whereas the spider is the full convertible model. Over eleven thousand cars were produced in the F355’s life time, proving popular as a Ferrari model.

The hottest star at the Ferrari pavilion without a doubt was the California-Maranello’s first coupe convertible as well as the first Ferrari to feature a dual clutch semi-auto box. As the first drive report from our colleagues at CAR UK suggests, the California is no poodle. With an enticing V8 growl, the California is a solid performer though not as razor sharp and track focused as say, the F430. It will appeal to the wives of the petrol heads, but as Ferrari boss, Luca di Montezemolo pointed out, they will have to be careful while driving it. Luca also stressed on the fact that there was no chance that the California will dilute Ferrari’s brand values. No more than 2800 of these 460bhp, V8 front engined cars will be produced for 2009 and they will be spread across the world to maintain the exclusivity of the brand and prevent it from becoming ubiquitous. Ferrari, Fiat or Ford , they are all after money, and while the hardcore Ferrari fans may not be too pleased with the California, it makes business sense.