Tag Archives: Ferrari

Rare 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider for sale

At the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari revealed a new car based on the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. It is an extremely rare car which makes it a highly desirable collector’s car. One example, actually the first ever produced and one of four in the world, is owned by former German football player Michael Ballack. Now this car will be auctioned in August, and the estimated value is $16,000,000 – $18,000,000 USD.

“It is extremely difficult to come across a car as interesting to collectors as this California Spider. An icon among icons that has a unique place in Ferrari history, as it is the first 250 GT SWB California Spider ever built. It was even in the Ferrari window at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show,” said an RM Sotheby’s spokesperson.

This 250 GT SWB California Spider is powered by a competition-spec Tipo 168 engine that enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds with a top speed of 233 km/h (145 mph).

The car is in excellent condition and is equipped with covered headlights and factory removable hardtop, and comes with Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified with original ‘numbers matching’ engine, gearbox, rear axle and bodywork.

Ballack was close friend with Michael Schumacher, which had an impact on the growth of his passion for motorsport and the Ferrari brand.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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Ferrari 488 Pista in the river

At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show Ferrari introduced a car that was influenced by the 488 GTE and 488 Challenge race variants, the Ferrari 488 Pista. It is an expensive car, and one recently, in the Swiss region of Garstattlast, ended up in a river after an accident.

Photos taken at the scene of the accident show that almost the entire car was under water except for the front part. The accident occurred when the driver of the Ferrari 488 Pista lost control of the vehicle and hit a car traveling in the same direction from Zweisimmen to Boltigen. Fortunately, the driver was able to get out of the car unharmed and wait for the police and firefighters to arrive. Pulling the car out was made difficult by the strong river current, but they still managed to pull the car out of the river and onto the shore using a long ladder and a crane.

According to local media, this section of the road is quite dangerous and accidents are frequent. Apparently, drivers do not consider that when the water evaporates from the river, a layer of moisture is created on the road, so the road becomes slippery and often, due to carelessness, drivers lose control of the vehicle.

The Ferrari 488 Pista is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine with 710 hp (530 kW) and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch automatic transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. It reaches 62 mph in 2.85 seconds, 124 mph (200 km/h) in 7.6 seconds with a top speed of 211 mph (340 km/h).

Source: Berner Zeitung via X

1990 Ferrari F40 destroyed in a car accident

The icon of the Maranello-based company, the Ferrari F40, is considered one of the most important Ferrari cars. It was produced between 1987 and 1992, and 1,311 cars left the factory. Each copy of this model is considered collectable, and it should be noted that this is the last model approved by the legendary Enzo Ferrari. One example, a 1990 Ferrari F40, was recently destroyed in a car accident.

According to Bild, the Mechatronik employee was supposed to deliver a Ferrari F40 to a car show 18 km away. However, while driving, he lost control of the vehicle and hit a wall in the tunnel, destroying the front of the car. The accident happened in the Engelberg tunnel near Stuttgart, and the car was supposed to be sold for €2,995,000.

This F40 was finished in Rosso Corsa and was in excellent condition with only 21,100 km on the odometer. It was powered by a longitudinally-mounted 90-degree 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 478 hp (356 kW) and 426 lb-ft (578 Nm) of torque. That’s enough power to push the car up to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 201 mph (323 km/h). Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.

Police are still investigating how the crash happened, and reports of the driver’s condition are conflicting.

Source: Bild

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