Gooding announced a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (Estimate: $18,000,000 – $20,000,000) as the lead car for the Amelia Island 2023 classic car auction.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (Estimate: $18,000,000 – $20,000,000) is the most expensive car announced for the Gooding Amelia Island 2023 classic car auction and is likely to set a new auction week record. This California Spider is one of only 37 examples with covered headlights. It was finished in the one-off color scheme of an aquamarine-hued Azzurro Metallizzato exterior with Naturale Connolly Vaumol leather upholstery.
Gooding Amelia Island 2023 Auction
Gooding & Company: Amelia Island Auction on March 3, 2023, at the Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Resort, Florida, USA. Gooding is skipping Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2023 but traditionally performed strongly at Amelia Island.
In 2023, Gooding achieved a record $72,676,1888 by selling 148 of 155 lots for a 95% sell-through rate. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for $18,045,000 to set a new Amelia Island classic car auction record.
Gooding Amelia Island Classic Car Auction Results 2016 – 2024:
| Year | Earnings — % Sell-Through — Car Lots Sold |
| 2024 | $67,342,270 — 87% — 111 of 127 lots |
| 2023 | Record $72,676,1888 — 95% — 148 of 155 lots |
| 2022 | $69,209,480 — 94% — 93 of 99 lots |
| 2021 | 2021, Gooding held an online auction in place of the regular Amelia Island sale. |
| 2020 | $20,785,080 — 93% — 83 of 89 lots |
| 2019 | $22 million — 88% — 78 of 89 lots |
| 2018 | $35.5 million — 94% — 81 of 86 lots |
| 2017 | $30.5 million — 78% — 69 of 88 lots |
| 2016 | $60 million — 87% |
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
The Amelia Island auction record is $17,160,00 paid for a red 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold by Gooding in 2016. Gooding is aiming to do even better at Amelia Island 2023 by offering an aquamarine-hued 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider with an estimate of $18,000,000 – $20,000,000.
In the late 1950s, Ferrari introduced the California Spider, a high-performance 250 GT featuring striking coachwork by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, aimed at young, well-heeled enthusiasts who wanted a stylish yet highly capable sports car equally at home on the road or on the track. Built specifically for the American market, the California Spider featured a swept-back windscreen, minimal interior appointments, lightweight folding top, and competition-inspired bucket seats.
Following earlier examples built on the long-wheelbase (LWB) chassis, Ferrari introduced its short-wheelbase (SWB) iteration in 1960 to complement the launch of the similarly short-wheelbase Berlinetta. The resulting chassis was more sophisticated, with standard four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, a more refined suspension, and new outside-plug tipo 168 engines. The Scaglietti body of the short-wheelbase was accommodated to incorporate a more aggressive and sporty appearance, with curvaceous front fenders, muscular rear haunches, and a more luxurious interior. Between 1957 and 1963, Ferrari built just 106 examples of the 250 GT California Spiders: 50 of the early LWB version, and 56 of the final SWB variant.
1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider at Gooding Amelia Island 2023
The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, chassis no. 3099 GT, on sale at Gooding Amelia Island 2023 is among the most desirable SWB variants produced, boasting the preferred covered headlight treatment applied to just 37 examples. Completed in February 1962, 3099 GT was finished in the one-off color scheme of an aquamarine-hued Azzurro Metallizzato (MM 16240) exterior with Naturale Connolly Vaumol leather upholstery.
Initially displayed as one of several new models on Luigi Chinetti’s stand at the New York International Auto Show in 1962, this example was then shipped to California, where it was used as a daily driver before eventually being acquired circa 1970 by enigmatic car collector Rudi Klein. In 1972, the California Spider was discovered and purchased by Charles Betz and Fred Peters, two pioneering Ferrari collectors based in Southern California. In the early 2000s, Betz and Peters restored 3099 GT to exacting concours standards, employing legendary hot rod painter Stan Betz to carefully color-match the exterior to its original splendor.
The restoration was completed in 2004, and 3099 GT subsequently made its debut at the 40th Annual Ferrari Club of America National Concours at the Quail Lodge in Carmel. Just two years later, in 2006, it was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, where it won a Platinum Award and the prestigious Judges Cup. In 2008, this California Spider was granted Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification confirming that it still retains its original chassis, coachwork, engine, gearbox, rear axle, and ancillary components.
Since then, 3099 GT has taken center stage in one of the most important Ferrari collections in North America, rarely displayed publicly and only to the greatest acclaim. In 2010, it received a First in Class award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and in 2020, it received the 250 GT SWB California Spider Cup at the Cavallino Classic.
Ferrari 250 GT California Spider Auction Prices
Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spiders are amongst the most expensive road-going cars in the world. While long-wheelbase versions without racing history usually sell for under $10 million, short-wheelbase spiders rarely trade for less than $15 million.
The four SWB California Spiders sold at auction were:
| Year | Model | Price ($) | Auctioneer | Auction | Auction Year |
| 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 15,180,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2014 |
| 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 16,830,000 | Gooding | Pebble Beach | 2015 |
| 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 17,160,000 | Gooding | Amelia Island | 2016 |
| 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider | 18,649,760 | Artcurial | Paris | 2015 |
Three of the last four last four SWB California Spiders sold at auction were bought in a Gooding sale. The model record is $18,649,760 paid at the Artcurial 2015 Paris sale for a highly original, unrestored California Spider that was one of 59 barn-find cars from the Baillon Collection.
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctions 2023
Top Amelia Island 2023 Auctions
The top auctions at Amelia Island are by:
- Bonhams at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on 2 March 2023
- Broad Arrow at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island on 3-4 March 2023
- Gooding & Co at the Omni Amelia Island Resort on 3 March 2023
- RM Auctions at Fernandina Beach on 2 March 2023.
Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
- Amelia Island 2023 Million-Dollar Results Overview
- Gooding Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
Amelia Island 2023 Pre-Sale Announcements
- Gooding: Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
- Gooding: More Top Ferraris
- Gooding: 1950s German Sportscars
- Gooding: Four RUF Cars
Previous Amelia Island Auction Results
- 2022: Overview, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s
- 2021: Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s