While its nameplate evokes the spirit of Ferrari’s legendary 250 GT California Spider, the modern-day take on the moniker brings with it a Prancing Horse like no other. Revealed as the first-ever Ferrari to feature a front-mounted V-8 engine, the California’s crowning jewel was its retractable hard-top convertible roof that—when lowered—affords the car a status and suitability that would be more than adequate for the finest beach boulevards of the United States’ West Coast (indeed, the California’s successor, the Portofino, finds itself just as at home in the locale for which it is named).

The placement of the V-8 in the California’s nose differentiates the model from its mid-engined, 2000s-era Ferrari contemporaries, such as the 430 Scuderia and 458 Italia, while its plush interior and surprisingly generous rear boot space underline its credentials as a sumptuous grand tourer. The California was no doubt designed with comfort in mind, but Ferrari made sure it was no slouch—its 4.3-litre engine could accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 196 mph. Further to its engine configuration, the retractable hard-top was another Ferrari first, as was the California’s multi-link rear suspension, direct injection system, and option of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of a six-speed manual ‘box—the example offered here is equipped with the former.

Specified in right-hand drive, the Ferrari has lived a sheltered life since its construction in 2010 and subsequent acquisition by The Factory Fresh Collection, with its odometer reading a remarkably low 79 kilometres at the time of cataloguing. The car was first registered in UK. Its bright yellow paintwork would help the car stand out in any Ferrari driving tour or lawn meet, and its exterior hue complements the yellow stitching found around the interior leather and trim. The California is accompanied by a leather Ferrari wallet containing books and manuals, while the car retains its matching-numbers engine.

During its time in the collection, the California has been kept in storage with minimal use on the road. With such low mileage from new, this Ferrari is simply crying out to be driven and its next owner could accompany the car on the first of many epic cross-continental journeys that its manufacturer intended.