[Mike430]

On offer from Mike Sheehan...

We are pleased to offer 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB 3Z Zagato S/n 2491 GT. This unique Zagato-bodied Ferrari has had only three owners from new. It has been with the current owner for thirty years and still has its original 250 GT SWB California Spyder drivetrain and chassis. It is the perfect addition for the collector who wants to restore, to show and to race a unique "one-off" 250 GT SWB "Hot-rod" Zagato spyder at any of the major events. Priced at half the price of other 250 GT SWB California Spyders at $3,495,000.

The 3Z Zagato started life as 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB California Spyder s/n 2491 GT. Originally ordered on July 13th, 1961 as a standard-bodied covered-headlight California Spyder by Sig. Attilio Cupido of Portofino, through Ferrari dealer PARAUTO of Genoa, Italy and delivered as the 17th of 56 "short-wheelbase" California Spyders. Each 250 SWB California Spyder was unique and 2491 GT was completed and delivered with the following features: covered Headlights, Tipo 130 (10mm Camshafts), 9.5:1 compression ratio, 40mm "40 DCL6" carburetors, velocity stacks, ribbed alloy gearbox, 8 x 32 (4.0:1) final drive ratio, Abarth exhaust system, 100-liter fuel tank and Metric gauge faces in black.

In 1969 it was sold by Cupido to Luigi Chinetti and then delivered to Carrozzeria Zagato, Turin, Italy. Chinetti commissioned a new open spyder body for the Turin Motor Show for October of 1970, but delays and revisions meant the car made its debut at the October 1971 Turin Motor Show as the "3Z by Zagato". Luigi Chinetti personally supervised all phases of the design and construction of his Zagato-bodied Ferrari in long meetings with Elio and Gianni Zagato. While with Zagato and during completion, the car was photographed in and around Zagato's workshops as well as in front of several public buildings in Milan, fitted with Zagato test plate "PROVA MI 725".

Designed by Giuseppe Mittino, who was responsible for the designs executed by Carrozzeria Zagato from 1970 on, the 3Z has many unique features that were popular in the 1970s such as the straight body lines and the "eyelid" treatment of the front headlights. The angular geometric lines are unlike any of the special SWB Ferrari coachwork, creating a unique "one-off" Zagato coachworks.

Under this unique and beautiful skin however, 2491 GT is still pure 250 GT SWB California Spyder and is eligible for the Ferrari Classiche "Ferraris of Historical Interest" certification. It has already visited Pebble Beach and raced many times in the Monterey Historic Races. It is eligible for events from the Colorado Grand to the Cavallino Classic and the FCA Nationals.

[Redhead Seeker]

The body looks like a "kit" car, the nicest thing about the Ferrari is the motor.......Mark

[colonel1961]

I received Sheehan's e-mail the other day for this vehicle and was shocked - not as much by the car, but the price. Sure, there's a nice 250 GT SWB under there somewhere, but $3.5M? Wow...

[SWBTom]

It is definitely not for everybody.

Tom

[Andrew]

The design was ahead of its time in many ways. I can understand the price, a 250 California goes for over 1.5

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I can understand the price, a 250 California goes for over 1.5

Correction - price range for a 250 Cali SWB is $4 million and over. There was a no sale at Maranello in May at $5.6 million highest bid.

LWB is $1.5 mil and up.


Onno

[212Export]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Correction - price range for a 250 Cali SWB is $4 million and over. There was a no sale at Maranello in May at $5.6 million highest bid.

LWB is $1.5 mil and up.


Onno

Reminds at those time back in the late '90s and early '00, standing in the Bonhams Gstaad auction rooms wondering how "silly" those potential buyers are...bidding a 250 HT SWB California up to 0.9 Mio. $ ??! Almost a million...for a car ?
Well over the years it proved that the only dumb person in the room was myself.
At that time a 250 GT Spyder LWB traded around 0.5 - 0.7 Mio. ...past times!

[JazzyO]

Always difficult to use hindsight... we'd all be multi-millionaires!

I'm just hoping the trend will continue so that the fact that my cars are worth more than my house is not going to prove my undoing...


Onno

[212Export]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Always difficult to use hindsight... we'd all be multi-millionaires!

I'm just hoping the trend will continue so that the fact that my cars are worth more than my house is not going to prove my undoing...


Onno

That depends on the house.....

[colonel1961]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Always difficult to use hindsight... we'd all be multi-millionaires!

I'm just hoping the trend will continue so that the fact that my cars are worth more than my house is not going to prove my undoing...


Onno

Yeah, but a house is just a house - a Ferrari can take you somewhere (quickly and correctly)!

[Tony K]

Originally Posted by Redhead Seeker

The body looks like a "kit" car, the nicest thing about the Ferrari is the motor.......Mark

Agreed.

I don't care if it's the only one; that thing would best be rebodied . . .

[Granucci]

read yesterday: Zagato passed away, age 88 http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...NEWS/909179995

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by 212Export

That depends on the house.....

No, not really, just as long as the cars keep appreciating there's no issue.


Onno

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Granucci

read yesterday: Zagato passed away, age 88 http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...NEWS/909179995

Very sad to hear that. But he had a nice innings and will leave a fantastic legacy. Can't ask for much more than that, surely.


Onno