By the end of the 1950s, Ferrari had come to understand something fundamental about its American clientele. Ferrari customers – particularly those on the West Coast – were not merely seeking thinly disguised racing machines, but cars that combined competition-bred performance with elegance, usability, and presence. Encouraged by Ferrari’s influential US distributors, Luigi Chinetti and John von Neumann, the factory set out to create an open 250 GT that could be driven daily, raced on the weekend, and admired everywhere in between. The result was the California Spider, one of the most charismatic and iconic models in Ferrari history.

Clothed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the California Spider distilled Ferrari’s sporting pedigree into an open two-seater of exceptional beauty and versatility. Its long bonnet, compact cabin, and purposeful stance gave visual expression to its dynamic abilities, while its lightweight construction and competition-proven chassis ensured that performance remained central to the driving experience. From the outset, the California Spider was a driver’s Ferrari, a true dual-purpose sports car equally adept on road or track.

Early California Spiders were built on Ferrari’s long-wheelbase (LWB) 250 GT chassis, shared with the Tour de France Berlinetta and Series I Cabriolet. True to the model’s original brief, several LWB examples were used in competition, equipped with factory options such as aluminum bodies, high-lift camshafts, and long-range fuel tanks with external fillers. In this form, California Spiders enjoyed remarkable success, capturing a 5th Overall finish at Le Mans, a class victory at Sebring, and numerous wins in SCCA B-Production events.

The model reached its full expression in 1960 with the introduction of the short-wheelbase (SWB) 250 GT platform. The SWB California Spider benefited from a more advanced chassis featuring four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, modern tubular shock absorbers, and the latest outside-plug V-12 engine. Scaglietti reworked the coachwork to suit the updated underpinnings, creating a more athletic and muscular form defined by subtly flared fenders and powerful rear haunches.

While more refined than its predecessor, the SWB California Spider remained a true thoroughbred. Ferrari also elevated the interior, blending luxury with functionality: stitched leather replaced wrinkle-finish paint on the dashboard, wool carpeting supplanted rubber mats, and redesigned seats improved longdistance comfort. The result was a sports car that was capable and elegant, yet still deeply engaging.

Between 1957 and 1963, Ferrari built just 106 California Spiders, of which 56 were SWB variants. Among them, chassis 1963 GT stands as one of the most desirable of all. It is a short-wheelbase California Spider fitted with the coveted covered-headlight treatment – applied by Scaglietti to just 39 examples – and further distinguished by its ultra-rare factory hardtop. These hardtops were not merely interchangeable accessories, but custom-tailored to individual cars, and very few survive today.

According to Ferrari factory records, 1963 GT was delivered new in October 1960 to Auto Becker of Düsseldorf, the official distributor for Germany. The car was originally finished in Argento (Silver) with gray leather upholstery and equipped with features typical of early SWB Californias, including Weber 40 DCL6 carburetors with open velocity stacks, KONI shock absorbers, Borrani RW 3598 wire wheels, an Abarth exhaust system, and an 8x32 rear axle.

While little is known of the car’s earliest history in Germany, its presence in period advertisements provides valuable insight. From January through September 1962, the Ferrari was offered for sale by Auto Becker in Auto Motor und Sport, described as a one-owner car with just 12,900 km. By the end of that year, the Ferrari was exported from Germany and sold to a resident of Lugano, Switzerland.

Ferrari Assistenza Clienti service records indicate that by 1964, 1963 GT had covered 27,290 km and was registered on Ticino-canton Swiss license plates “TI 11078.” Just two months later, the car appeared in the US, advertised by Bob Jeffries of Joplin, Missouri, in Road & Track magazine with an asking price of $10,500.

By 1970, the California Spider had made its way to St. Louis, Missouri, where it was owned by Don Levin before being acquired in 1974 by noted collector and dealer Jim Southard of Classic Car Investments in Smyrna, Georgia. Southard advertised the car in 1976 as being in “beautiful condition,” specifically noting its original hardtop, with a firm asking price of $16,750.

Later that same year, 1963 GT was purchased from Ferrari of Los Gatos, California, by Ronald Van Kregten – a transaction that would mark the beginning of the most significant long-term ownership in the car’s history. Van Kregten, a resident of Scotts Valley, California, was a knowledgeable enthusiast with a lifelong fascination for mechanical objects. His interests spanned automobiles, motorcycles, and aircraft, and he approached collecting with discernment and a strong preference for originality.

Over decades, Van Kregten quietly assembled an exceptional collection at his family compound, affectionately known as “La Cuesta Encantada.” The group included a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster, a Shelby 289 Cobra, an Allard J2X, and a Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet. Among these, the SWB California Spider stood apart as the crown jewel and its whereabouts remained a closely guarded secret for decades. Van Kregten valued authenticity above all else and resisted unnecessary restoration, choosing instead to preserve his cars in honest, unrestored condition.

As a result, when Gooding & Company discovered 1963 GT in Van Kregten’s garage following his passing, the Ferrari emerged as a remarkable survivor – untouched for decades, complete, and possessing a clear and compelling provenance. Its presentation at the 2009 Gooding & Company Scottsdale Auctions marked the first public appearance of the car in more than 30 years and represented one of the most exciting Ferrari finds in a generation.

The California Spider was acquired at auction by the present owner, who immediately commissioned Dennison International of Puyallup, Washington, to undertake a restoration to concours standards. Universally respected for their high-level race preparation and award-winning restorations – including Best of Show honors at Pebble Beach – Dennison International approached the project with a level of care and scholarship commensurate with the car’s stature.

Before restoration commenced, extensive research was undertaken to ensure accuracy in every detail. Other SWB California Spiders were studied, finishes were carefully researched, and period references consulted. The restoration itself was a comprehensive, nut-and-bolt effort. Mechanical systems were restored to exacting specifications, including the matching-numbers engine, which was rebuilt and dyno-tested before installation.

Simultaneously, the Scaglietti coachwork was meticulously restored and refinished in an elegant, period-correct, non-metallic dark blue selected from original Scaglietti color swatches for its understated sophistication. The interior was retrimmed in rich tan leather, complemented by restored Veglia instrumentation, correct materials, and precise detailing throughout.

From the finely detailed undercarriage to the immaculate engine bay, the quality of the restoration is evident in every aspect. An extensive file of invoices and photographs documents the work in full, leaving no question as to the depth or caliber of the restoration.

In August 2010, chassis 1963 GT made its post-restoration debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, completing the Tour d’Elegance and appearing in Class M-1 for Ferrari Grand Touring cars. Notably, the car has not been exhibited publicly since, remaining carefully maintained in concours-ready condition within one of North America’s most significant private collections.

During the restoration process, 1963 GT was inspected by Ferrari Classiche and awarded Red Book certification in June 2011. The accompanying documentation confirms that the car retains its original chassis, body, engine (internal no. 548 F), gearbox (internal no. 50), and rear axle (internal no. 275), along with other ancillary components.

For enhanced drivability, a 330 GT five-speed gearbox has since been installed without compromising the car’s originality, while the factory-supplied gearbox accompanies the car and may be refitted at the discretion of the next owner. The consignor reports that this Ferrari drives particularly well, with more power and a more aggressive sound than a standard California Spider.

For the past 17 years, this exceptional California Spider has been the centerpiece of a carefully curated private collection, maintained by in-house specialists in a no-expense-spared manner. Consistent with the standard of its presentation, it is offered today complete with its Ferrari Classiche Red Book, a correct tool roll, owner’s manual, spare parts catalog, original sales brochure, extensive documentation file, and a report by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini.

What distinguishes 1963 GT is not simply its rarity or specification, but its inherent quality, exceptional provenance, and fitness for purpose. The discovery has been made. The research has been done. The restoration has been executed to the highest possible standard. It is a Ferrari that can be confidently driven, shown, and enjoyed immediately – without the time, uncertainty, or expense of undertaking such a restoration oneself.

Few automobiles better capture the essence of Ferrari at the height of its powers than the 250 GT SWB California Spider. Beautiful yet purposeful, refined yet thrilling, it remains one of the most coveted sports cars of all time. A Ferrari Classiche-certified, covered-headlight example with a factory hardtop sits at the top of this hierarchy, and 1963 GT is widely regarded among the best of them.

Having been intimately involved with this car since its discovery in Ron Van Kregten’s garage and its sale to the present owner in 2009, we are honored to present 1963 GT once again. Gooding Christie’s is proud to have been entrusted in making the connection to its next thoughtful caretaker – one who will appreciate not only what this remarkable Ferrari is, but how rarely an opportunity such as this presents itself.