250 GT California Spider Short Wheelbase - Set to Sell: Millions Expected for Ferrari Rarity Owned by Former Footballer Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack's extraordinary Ferrari 250 GT California Spider SWB is the star of the August-planned auction "Monterey 2024." Experts predict that this incredibly rare car could fetch between 14.5 and 16.5 million euros. It's believed to be the very first of just 56 models of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California produced during this brief manufacturing period. In fact, it was the car Ferrari displayed at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show.
The detailed history is nearly flawless. On February 8, 1960, the chassis arrived at Scaglietti. By March, the engine was constructed, followed shortly by the transmission being built. The car was presented at the aforementioned fair just a few days later.
In April 1960, the vehicle's interior, originally red, was changed to black. It was then sold in Lausanne to an individual named John G. Bennett. In 1963, Bennett took the car to the United States. Later, it was driven by Charles Kibbee, a Philip Morris Board member, and Mike Alessandro.
Alessandro seemed to relish his Ferrari. After purchasing it in 1978, he entered it in various racing events and exhibits. It wasn't until 2008 that Alessandro let go of the car, selling it to Helmut Eberlein, a dealer from Kassel. The records indicate that Eberlein bought the vehicle on behalf of Michael Ballack.
After 16 years of careful preservation by Ballack, the car is ready to hit the auction block for the first time. For RM Sotheby's, it represents "one of the most significant and stunning surviving 250 GT SWB California Spiders." For Ballack, it could represent a lucrative investment opportunity.
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- The upcoming "Monterey 2024" auction will feature Michael Ballack's rare Ferrari 250 GT California Spider SWB, a vehicle that is expected to sell for millions, given its status as a Vendor's prized possession.
- The rarity of the 250 GT SWB California is underscored by its limited production during the brief manufacturing period, with only 56 models produced, making it a GT among vehicles.
- Michael Ballack's Ferrari, a star at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show, has a rich and well-documented history, with its engine and transmission being constructed in March 1960 and its interior being changed from red to black in April of the same year.
- The car, which was once driven by Philip Morris Board member Charles Kibbee and racer Mike Alessandro, has a significant history in the world of motorsports and exhibits, making it a coveted item at the upcoming Ferrari Rarity auction in California.
- The Monterey 2024 auction, featuring high-end vehicles like Michael Ballack's Ferrari 250 GT SWB California, attracts collectors and enthusiasts from around the world, making it one of the most highly anticipated events in the automotive world.
