Ferrari Masterpiece Expected to Fetch Over $20 Million at Pebble Beach Auction

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione Photo copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company, LLC image by Mathieu Heurault

A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione—one of only two alloy-bodied, full-competition examples ever built—is poised to become one of the most valuable cars ever sold at public auction when it crosses the block at Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auctions later this month.

The car, chassis number 2383 GT , carries an estimate “in excess of $20,000,000,” according to a press release issued by Gooding Christie’s on July 21, 2025. It will headline the firm’s two-day auction event set for August 15 and 16 in Monterey, California. The offering marks the first time the vehicle has been available on the public market since the mid-1960s.

“This car offers the full measure of what makes a great 250 Ferrari so coveted – rarity, beauty, provenance, and originality,” said David Brynan, Senior Specialist at Gooding Christie’s. “Without question, 2383 GT stands out as the most significant and compelling example we’ve ever presented.” He added that the car is eligible for top-tier concours and historic racing events, calling it “a truly exciting and unrepeatable opportunity to acquire a Ferrari masterpiece.”

Only 56 examples of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider were ever produced, but just three were constructed with lightweight aluminum coachwork by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. Of those, only two—including 2383 GT—were built to full competition specification, making it exceptionally rare even within an elite class of automobiles.

Photo copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company, LLC image by Mathieu Heurault

The car was originally delivered to German gentleman racer Ernst Lautenschlager, who campaigned it in hill climbs and circuit races across Germany and Austria. According to Gooding Christie’s, Lautenschlager secured victories in the 1961 Preis von Tirol GT race in Innsbruck and two other hill climbs, Schorndorfer and Eberbach. His final competitive outing came in July 1962 at the Solitude circuit, where he placed fourth in class and 11th overall.

Powered by a competition-specification tipo 168 engine with a 9.5:1 compression ratio—the highest recorded for any SWB California Spider—the car produces an estimated 280 horsepower, approximately 40 hp more than the standard model. Features include covered headlamps, a removable aluminum hardtop, and a rare external quick-release fuel filler designed for pit efficiency during races.

After decades in European ownership, the car was brought to the U.S. in 1968 by Lee Wilson, a pioneering Ferrarista from Indiana. It later passed into the collection of Greg Garrison, a famed television producer and Ferrari enthusiast, before being acquired by its current owner in 1999. That owner commissioned a meticulous restoration by Italian master Dino Cognolato and refinished the car in Grigio Fumo (Smoke Gray).

Under current stewardship, 2383 GT has participated in premier historic events including the Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Chantilly Arts & Elégance. Notably, it has never been displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance or Villa d’Este.

“It is a privilege to bring this remarkable offering to auction at Pebble Beach,” said David Gooding, President of Gooding Christie’s. “This sale will be an important, market-defining milestone in the collecting world for years to come.”

The car comes with Ferrari Classiche certification and extensive documentation, reinforcing its authenticity and historical significance.

All lots are now viewable online via Gooding Christie’s newly introduced bespoke digital catalogues at goodingco.com.