One to Buy: ex-Enzo Tacchini 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series 1
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Among the many great open-bodied Ferrari road cars of the 1950s and 60s, for sheer beauty few can rival the spectacular Series 1 250 GT Cabriolet.
Just 40 of these cars were built between 1957 and 1959, all of which received bodies by Pinin Farina who had become Ferrari’s coachbuilder of choice in 1952. They were based upon a traditional tubular steel chassis with independent front suspension and a live axle at the rear. In the engine bay was the latest three-litre iteration of Gioacchino Colombo’s fabled short-block V12.
Compared to the pared down 250 GT Spyder California, the delicately detailed Series 1 Cabriolet was a more refined proposition. Each car differed from one to the next and it was not until the Series 2 Cabriolet appeared at the Paris Motor Show in late 1959 that the specification became truly productionised.
Chassis 0849 GT, set t go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction over the weekend of May 10th / 11th, was manufactured mid-way through the Series 1 Cabriolet production run in 1958. It was equipped with arguably the most desirable cosmetic features that adorned the Series 1 Cabriolet to include covered headlights with chrome bezels, minimalist front bumperettes, discrete 13-louvre engine cooling vents located on each front fender and exposed Marchal fog lights.
The first owner was Enzo Tacchini of Milan who we believe subsequently went on to own the unique Bertone-bodied 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, chassis 1739 GT.
0849 GT was dispatched from the factory on May 9th 1958 wearing the handsome and unique colour scheme of Avorio with a Turchese interior (ivory over turquoise). The matching number car has a known history from new and is today presented with Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification.
