Were just over two weeks away from RM Auctions Scottsdale sale and, while we might not be able to afford many of the cars on offer, we love reading about them. This 1962 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet is particularly eye-catching – we could certainly see ourselves cruising to the south of France for the summer months. Heres what RM say about the car: The Ferrari offered here is the 186th of 200 Cabriolet Series IIs produced, and it is noteworthy as the only example originally finished in Rosso Cina (Chinese Red). This Cabriolet was equipped with a Nero Connolly leather and vinyl interior when it was delivered in late July 1962 to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York. It was sold in August to its original owner, Frank O’Brien Jr., who was the second-generation leader of Philadelphia’s O’Brien Machinery Company, suppliers of power-generating equipment, and a prominent local socialite with a 70-acre horse farm in Chester County. Its entire ownership history since has been traced, with its early life spent in Pennsylvania. After three owners, the Ferrari moved to Illinois in the fall of 1975. In 1980, it was sold by Joe Marchetti’s International Autos Ltd. to its current owner, a long-time Ferrari enthusiast and connoisseur of the marque, who recalls the trip home as such: We picked up the car at about noon on November 1, 1980, in Chicago. At the time, we lived in Monmouth, Illinois, 215 miles away. We left Chicago in early afternoon, stopping on the way at an airport to watch skydivers. Outside the Quad Cities, it began snowing. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for dinner, sitting by a window so we could keep an eye on the car; it was the only one in the parking lot. Then, we brushed the snow off and drove the last 40 miles to home, getting in around 8:30 p.m. It was a really great day. This Cabriolet has been well-maintained over the years, showing no mistreatment or evidence of accident damage. It has received a thorough mechanical service and inspection within the last 1,000 miles, as well as a recent clutch replacement. Cosmetically, the upholstery was renewed in 1979 in tan leather, which now reflects light use and patina. The Ferrari has received two repaints, with the most recent being in elegant Nero in 2007. However, it has not been restored and has never required major disassembly or work. It still retains all of its original components, down to the smallest hardware bits, with no known modifications or missing parts. Most importantly, it is still equipped with its original, extremely rare factory removable hardtop, which is a seldom-seen option that enables the true enthusiast to enjoy this Ferrari on road trips and tours in all weather conditions. In addition to the hardtop, the car is offered with the original tool kit and the original leather folder for manuals, which is actually rarer than the manuals themselves. An extensive binder of documentation (with interview notes) records the car’s history, as researched by noted Ferrari historian Dyke Ridgley. The binder documents the mileage and all services back to the 1970s and includes copies of factory build sheets (including extremely rare dynamometer test records), Pininfarina factory records sheet, receipts, and purchase information. During its lifetime, the car has been driven 41,000 actual, documented miles, but as a proud “driver,” it has never been shown at a major concours event. Most importantly, the owner reports it to run and drive well, something in which he takes considerable pride. For 35 years, the owner of this wonderful Cabriolet has enjoyed the Ferrari hobby alongside many of today’s best-known experts. He is proud to offer the car here to a new home and with the hope that it will be enjoyed with the same passion for decades to come. Photo Credit: Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0000
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