[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rare-lwb-250-gt-california-spider-auctioned-month\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rare-lwb-250-gt-california-spider-auctioned-month\/","headline":"Rare LWB 250 GT California Spider Auctioned This Month","name":"Rare LWB 250 GT California Spider Auctioned This Month","description":"It\u2019s probably the time of year when everyone starts to dream of summer; the seasonal decorations are down and the slight change in light shows us that spring is just round the corner. And what better way of celebrating summer than a January auction for one of the summer\u2019s most iconic soft tops \u2013 the 250 GT California Spider, one of the most beautiful cars from Ferrari\u2019s past? The car in question has been under one ownership since 1969 when […]","datePublished":"2015-01-09","dateModified":"2015-01-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/california-jack-castor-250-gt-ferrari.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/california-jack-castor-250-gt-ferrari.jpg","height":400,"width":400},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rare-lwb-250-gt-california-spider-auctioned-month\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":394,"keywords":["250 GT California Spider","auction","beetle","california jack","collector","ferrari","Gooding & Company","Jack Castor","Scottsdale","volkswagen"],"articleBody":"It\u2019s probably the time of year when everyone starts to dream of summer; the seasonal decorations are down and the slight change in light shows us that spring is just round the corner. And what better way of celebrating summer than a January auction for one of the summer\u2019s most iconic soft tops \u2013 the 250 GT California Spider, one of the most beautiful cars from Ferrari\u2019s past?The car in question has been under one ownership since 1969 when a certain Jack Castor, a renowned car collector, fell in love with what was Ferrari\u2019s most successful model at the time; the 250 GT Spider.‘California Jack’ lived in Marin County, California, since made famous by Marin Mountain Bikes and containing the ideal scenic routes for such a soft-top sports car. The story goes that Jack sold his beloved Volkswagen Beetle to help fund the not insignificant cost for 1969 of $3,700 to enable the 1959 GT California Spider to be sitting on his driveway via the Port of Genoa.The car has apparently only had just over 5-6000 miles added to the clock since that special day, thanks to Jack deciding to only get behind the wheel around twice a month and never going any distance further than 200 miles.Sadly, Jack died in November 2014 and now his beloved car is hopefully destined to go to another enthusiast where it will be equally treasured and well looked after. The romance of this back-story, the known history and the human nature behind it has got auctioneers estimating the sale price from anything between $8m and a staggering $10m when it finally goes to auction.The estimate might even be considered conservative; in 2007 one sold for $4.9m and in 2014 another long wheelbase Spider sold for $8.8m while a 250 GTO (of which only 39 were made) sold for an amazing 23 million pounds in the same year.This particular 250 GT has a 4-speed manual gearbox and produces around 220bhp from a 3-litre V12 (of course) engine.So if you have some spending money left over after Christmas and the frenzy of Black Friday, and would like be the proud owner of one of these rare models, then you need to know that Gooding & Company is holding the auction at Scottsdale in Phoenix, Arizona between 16th and 17th January this year. Good luck if you bid!Images: autos.yahoo.com, cavallomag.com"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Rare LWB 250 GT California Spider Auctioned This Month","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/rare-lwb-250-gt-california-spider-auctioned-month\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]