The 250 series was Ferrari’s crowning achievement of the 1950s and early 1960s. The high watermarks of this series have defined the Prancing Horse in the decades since. In many ways, the 250 set the stylistic and cultural tone for Ferrari, which has grown exponentially model after model. From the lovely Lusso and the sporty California Spider to the Tour de France and, of course, the Series II Cabriolet, the basic construction formula was nothing short of perfect and included a high-revving, powerful V-12 engine, a shiver-inducing exhaust note, and an almost unbelievably sexy design by the best Italian coachbuilders that would clothe a chassis in two-door form.

From the outset, personalization and the owner’s wishes were paramount at Ferrari, as they influenced everything from the color and leather choice to the mechanical specification. As the years progressed, those bespoke touches have served to distinguish one example from another, and they have catapulted certain models into particularly rarified air.

The stunning 250 GT Cabriolet Series II is no exception. It debuted in 1959 with a Pinin Farina design that was crafted completely by hand, and it was executed entirely at the discretion of the designer’s senses of touch and sight. The lines, smooth and flowing from front to rear, exhibited an air of sophistication, which was complemented by four exhausts at the rear, a hood scoop, sporting wire wheels, and all the trappings that defined the finest Ferrari “grand touring” cars.

The Ferrari offered here is the 186th of 200 Cabriolet Series IIs produced, and it is noteworthy as the only example originally finished in Rosso Cina (Chinese Red). This Cabriolet was equipped with a Nero Connolly leather and vinyl interior when it was delivered in late July 1962 to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York. It was sold in August to its original owner, Frank O’Brien Jr., who was the second-generation leader of Philadelphia’s O’Brien Machinery Company, suppliers of power-generating equipment, and a prominent local socialite with a 70-acre horse farm in Chester County. Its entire ownership history since has been traced, with its early life spent in Pennsylvania. After three owners, the Ferrari moved to Illinois in the fall of 1975. In 1980, it was sold by Joe Marchetti’s International Autos Ltd. to its current owner, a long-time Ferrari enthusiast and connoisseur of the marque, who recalls the trip home as such:

We picked up the car at about noon on November 1, 1980, in Chicago. At the time, we lived in Monmouth, Illinois, 215 miles away. We left Chicago in early afternoon, stopping on the way at an airport to watch skydivers. Outside the Quad Cities, it began snowing. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for dinner, sitting by a window so we could keep an eye on the car; it was the only one in the parking lot. Then, we brushed the snow off and drove the last 40 miles to home, getting in around 8:30 p.m. It was a really great day.

This Cabriolet has been well-maintained over the years, showing no mistreatment or evidence of accident damage. It has received a thorough mechanical service and inspection within the last 1,000 miles, as well as a recent clutch replacement. Cosmetically, the upholstery was renewed in 1979 in tan leather, which now reflects light use and patina. The Ferrari has received two repaints, with the most recent being in elegant Nero in 2007. However, it has not been restored and has never required major disassembly or work. It still retains all of its original components, down to the smallest hardware bits, with no known modifications or missing parts. Most importantly, it is still equipped with its original, extremely rare factory removable hardtop, which is a seldom-seen option that enables the true enthusiast to enjoy this Ferrari on road trips and tours in all weather conditions.

In addition to the hardtop, the car is offered with the original tool kit and the original leather folder for manuals, which is actually rarer than the manuals themselves. An extensive binder of documentation (with interview notes) records the car’s history, as researched by noted Ferrari historian Dyke Ridgley. The binder documents the mileage and all services back to the 1970s and includes copies of factory build sheets (including extremely rare dynamometer test records), Pininfarina factory record sheets, receipts, and purchase information. During its lifetime, the car has been driven 41,000 actual, documented miles, but as a proud “driver,” it has never been shown at a major concours event. Most importantly, the owner reports it to run and drive well, something in which he takes considerable pride.

For 35 years, the owner of this wonderful Cabriolet has enjoyed the Ferrari hobby alongside many of today’s best-known experts. He is proud to offer the car here to a new home and with the hope that it will be enjoyed with the same passion for decades to come.