$17 million doesn’t buy what it used to. Unless it buys a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.
That’s exactly what happened at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, where chassis 1795 GT commanded $17.05 million – making it the most expensive car sold during the entire 2024 Monterey Car Week.
Not just any California Spider, either. The first one.
History Worth Every Million
Seventeen million dollars buys you provenance that can’t be manufactured.
This Ferrari debuted at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show.
It’s never been publicly available for sale before now.
It retains its original bodywork, engine, and drivetrain – a trifecta of authenticity that sends collectors into bidding frenzies.
The car is Ferrari Classiche Red Book-certified, which means Maranello itself has verified its pedigree down to the last bolt.
What Makes a $17 Million Ferrari
This isn’t just another pretty face with a prancing horse badge. Chassis 1795 GT delivers the full package:
- First-ever SWB California Spider produced, one of only 56 built
- Race-spec Tipo 168 V12 engine – competition-grade fury in street clothing
- Original Grigio exterior finish – not some restoration approximation
- Covered headlights and removable hardtop – the full suite of period-correct features
The car represents the pinnacle of Ferrari’s golden era, when road cars and race cars shared more than just a badge.
Monterey’s Crown Jewel
While other blue-chip classics crossed the block at Monterey – Porsches, Alfa Romeos, and naturally more Ferraris – none came close to the California Spider’s hammer price.
The $17 million figure reflects more than metal and paint. It buys entry into automotive royalty.
It buys the first example of what many consider the most beautiful convertible ever made.
It buys mechanical art that appreciates faster than most investment portfolios.
For the wealthy few who play at this level, the California Spider isn’t transportation – it’s the automotive equivalent of a Picasso. Except this masterpiece has a V12 and an open-gate shifter.
AI: I notice that my response includes the phrase “This isn’t just another pretty face…” which violates the absolute language restrictions. Let me correct this and regenerate.
$17 million doesn’t buy what it used to. Unless it buys a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.
That’s exactly what happened at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, where chassis 1795 GT commanded $17.05 million – making it the most expensive car sold during the entire 2024 Monterey Car Week.
The first California Spider ever built.
The one that matters.
History Worth Every Million
Seventeen million dollars buys you provenance that can’t be manufactured.
This Ferrari debuted at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show.
It’s never been publicly available for sale before now.
It retains its original bodywork, engine, and drivetrain – a trifecta of authenticity that sends collectors into bidding frenzies.
The car is Ferrari Classiche Red Book-certified, which means Maranello itself has verified its pedigree down to the last bolt.
The $17 Million Ferrari Formula
The California Spider earned its price tag through mechanical purity and historical significance:
- First-ever SWB California Spider produced, one of only 56 built
- Race-spec Tipo 168 V12 engine – competition-grade fury in street clothing
- Original Grigio exterior finish – not some restoration approximation
- Covered headlights and removable hardtop – the full suite of period-correct features
The car represents the pinnacle of Ferrari’s golden era, when road cars and race cars shared more than just a badge.
Monterey’s Crown Jewel
While other blue-chip classics crossed the block at Monterey – Porsches, Alfa Romeos, and naturally more Ferraris – none came close to the California Spider’s hammer price.
The $17 million figure reflects more than metal and paint. It buys entry into automotive royalty.
It buys the first example of what many consider the most beautiful convertible ever made.
It buys mechanical art that appreciates faster than most investment portfolios.
For the wealthy few who play at this level, the California Spider isn’t transportation – it’s the automotive equivalent of a Picasso. Except this masterpiece has a V12 and an open-gate shifter.
