1958 Ferrari 250 LWB California #1057 No reserve Swedish registration Chassis no. 1057 GT - Certified by Ferrari Classiche - Top-level restoration by the finest Italian craftsmen - Twelfth model produced, known history - One of the most beautiful convertibles in automotive history - Without reserve In December 1958, the Ferrari importer in the United States, Luigi Chinetti, received this splendid Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California in his New York store. A real novelty, since production had only begun a few months earlier, and for Chinetti a source of satisfaction, since it was a model that he and John von Neumann (a Californian Ferrari driver) had requested from the Maranello manufacturer. And it was he who came up with the name "California". In fact, the car arriving at his home is the twelfth to be produced, including the prototype. It was soon sold to its first New York buyer, Robert Gumper, who kept it for a decade before crossing the country in 1970 to join its second owner, Robert Ramlose, in California. From 1974, the car was stored before being bought by an Australian enthusiast, who kept it until 1988. It was then exported to Germany, where it had four successive owners, and in 2003 was sold to a French collector who registered it in England. The current owner acquired it in 2011, through Lukas Hüni. It is estimated that this 250 GT Spyder, which comes in red with a black interior, has been restored at least twice in the past. As its condition was not without its faults, its new owner decided to carry out a complete overhaul, including stripping down the bodywork. He entrusted responsibility for the project to the finest Italian craftsmen in the Modena area: Toni Auto, a workshop located just opposite the former Ferrari entrance (via Abertone Inferiore in Maranello) and founded in 1975 by the late Franco Toni, a former mechanic in Ferrari's racing department. His son took over, and today the family puts its experience at the service of the world's greatest Ferrari collectors. The chassis and body are sent to the Brandoli workshop, a family business opened in 1980 by Egidio Brandoli, former head of the Scaglietti restoration department. The body is carefully stripped of its paint, leaving a very well-preserved unit for a car over 50 years old. The rare flaws found at the rear are rectified in accordance with the rules of the art, and the panels are adjusted to present a perfect alignment, as befits a car of this level. It is then sent to Carrozzeria Cremonini, in Lesignana on the outskirts of Modena, to receive its paintwork in several stages, culminating in a hand-finish. As the original color was not known, the owner chose "Canna di Fucile", code 106-E-8, which proved an excellent choice for emphasizing the car's elegant lines. The interior was refurbished by Luppi Tappezzeria in Modena; the incorrect bucket seats were replaced by seats of the correct specification with reclining backrests, and the upholstery was completely redone in beige Connolly leather, code VM3218, with matching carpet. The Nardi steering wheel is rebuilt at the manufacturer's, a new soft top is fitted, and all instruments, accessories and electrical equipment are checked and overhauled where necessary. On the engine side, it transpires that the original number has been erased, necessitating a replacement. A new block was therefore cast by Ferrari Classiche and stamped with the car's chassis number by the factory, before being reassembled with as many of the original parts as possible checked and rebuilt, with the exception of the liners and pistons, which were replaced by new ones. The final phase of the restoration is carried out at Toni Auto where, after installation of the wiring harness and final checks, the fluids are poured into the mechanics and the engine is started up, coming to life in the emotion of those who restored it. This car has been certified Ferrari Classiche and, in addition to various historical documents, is accompanied by a photo book detailing its history and restoration. The impeccable condition of the car meets the requirements of Staffan Wittmark, who is particularly sensitive to design and has a keen aesthetic eye thanks to his professional activities. In its elegant gunmetal-gray hue, this example is a magnificent tribute to one of the most legendary models in the world.