www.QV500.com - Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder Part 2: LWB Competizione
 

LWB California Spyder Competizione 1085 GT		 Chassis 1085 GT, the 15th California Spyder built, was ordered by Luigi Chinetti on behalf of Jon von Neumann who bought it for racing. This, the first California purchased solely for competition use, came suitably modified over more standard examples. To begin, there was a lightweight, all aluminium body fitted with an externally mounted Monza quick fuel filler cap protruding from the rear deck. 1085 GT was also the first California to feature Scaglietti's new open headlight nose profile.
   
During 1959, a number of similarly modified California's were constructed, often with the same competition oriented revisions such as Ferrari's ‘130’ racing camshafts, higher compression ratios, cold air pan carburettor surrounds and velocity stacks on hot Weber 40 DCL 3 carburettors. Maximum power on such specially prepared engines would typically be increased up to around 260bhp and when combined with a substantial reduction in weight, these racers could really fly. Three different types of engine were used for the lightweight Competizione's, the Tipo 128 D, Tipo 128 F and the Tipo 168. Three of the nine received Tipo 128 D motors, two with the Tipo 128 F and four with the Tipo 168 (see accompanying index). Both the Tipo 128 F and 168 were built almost exclusively for competition use with outside plugs and 12-port heads capable of providing 260bhp at 7000rpm - only three street California's ever received 128 F motors. One of the long wheelbase California Competizione's also used a unique Tipo 508 F chassis (all other LWB's using either the Tipo 508 C or 508 D frames). It featured additional bracing and, like the Tipo D from C, some minor suspension mounting differences. To conclude, we provide an index with brief career highlights of the nine alloy-bodied Competizione California built on Ferrari's long wheelbase chassis.

250 GT LWB California Spyder Competizione Chassis Index
 
Chassis No. Frame Engine Additional Features
1085 GT 508 D 128 D Open headlights, external fuel filler, completed December 1958, sold new to Jon von Neumann's Ferrari Representatives of California, Hollywood. 1959 Sebring 12 Hours 9th (1st GT).
1451 GT 508 D 128 F Open headlights, external fuel filler, completed June 1959, built specially for Luigi Chinetti, New York, to run the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours 5th (1st GT). Subsequent racing history under research.
1487 GT 508 D 128 D Covered headlights, completed September 1959, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, possibly to Pedro Rodriguez who raced it in South America between '59 and '60.
1603 GT 508 D 168 Covered headlights, external fuel filler, disc brakes, completed November 1959, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, to Gerorge Reed, 1960 Sebring 12 Hours 5th.
1615 GT 508 D 168 Covered headlights, disc brakes, long-range fuel tanks, completed December 1959, sold new to Edilizia Villa Due Pini, Rome, and subsequently to Scuderia Serenissima, Venice. Raced and destroyed.
1627 GT 508 D 128 D Covered headlights, disc brakes, engine lourves deleted, completed January 1960, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, to Magnusson. Little known.
1639 GT 508 D 168 Covered headlights, disc brakes, completed January 1960, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, and again by RR Motors, Illnois. Believed never to have raced.
1641 GT 508 F 168 Covered headlights, external fuel filler, disc brakes, long-range fuel tanks, completed January 1960, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, to William Helburn, also of New York. Possibly raced in East Coast events.
1699 GT 508 D 128 F Covered headlights, external fuel filler, disc brakes, long-range fuel tanks, completed February 1960, sold new through Luigi Chinetti, New York, to Bob Publicker, Pennsylvania. 1960 Sebring 12 Hours 10th. Possibly subsequently fitted with a Testa Rossa engine.