This Ferrari 250 GT with chassis #2491/GT started life as a Grigio Argento (Gray Silver) 250 GT SWB California Spyder in 1961 as the 17th of 56 'short-wheelbase' California Spyders built by Scaglietti. In 1969 the Scaglietti California Spyder was sold to race car driver Luigi Chinetti and then delivered to Carrozzeria Zagato. Chinetti commissioned a new open Spyder body for the car in time for the Turin Motor Show for October of 1970. Luigi Chinetti personally supervised all the phases in the design and construction of his Ferrari. From time to time he went to Zagato and had long meetings with Elio and Gianni Zagato where even the smallest details of his Spyder were discussed. Delays and revisions to the car's appearance forced the car to instead make its new debut in the October 1971 Turin Motor Show. The car was given the name 3Z by Zagato. It was finished in metallic blue with Borrani wire wheels, but later it had Campagnolo 10-slot alloy wheels fitted. In February 1972, #2491 was collected from Carrozzeria Zagato and shipped to Luigi Chinetti Motors Inc. The car was sold by Chinetti upon arrival to a local Doctor from Long Island, New York. Finally, Oklahoma auto enthusiast and Ferrari dealer Anatoly Arutunoff purchused the car from Concours International Motors in 1979. After 30 years, September 2009, the 3Z Spyder became for sale. Asking price was reportedly $3.5M.
Designed by Giuseppe Mittino, who from 1970 on was responsible for the designs executed by Carrozzeria Zagato, the 3Z with it's very powerful and aggressive 12 cylinder engine was itself powerful and bold. The car had clean, unmarked geometric lines unlike any of the special SWB coachwork. It was current when completed with the philosophy of Zagato at the time. The 3Z had many original new features such as the "eyelid" treatment of the front that hid the lights partially from view. (finecars.cc & ferrarichat.com)
(Photos from ferrarilife.com & finecars.cc)
