At the RM Sotheby’s New York Icons 2017 auction, held on December 6 in Manhattan, an open-headlight 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, chassis no. 1451 GT, was sold for nearly $18 million ($17,990,000), which exceeded its pre-sale estimate $14–$17 million. The vehicle was sold after persistent competition between multiple bidders in the room and on the phones lasting nearly 10 minutes.

The second of just eight California Spiders bodied in aluminum was piloted at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans by owner Bob Grossman, a successful sports car dealer based in New York. The car claimed an impressive 5th overall and 3rd in its class with the help of co-driver Fernand Tavano. After Le Mans, the 1451 GT was shipped to Grossman’s home in New York and participated in several races, including SCCA events at Thompson, Bridgehampton and the Watkins Glen Grand Prix before it was shipped to Nassau for Speed Week. Since its departure from Grossman after the 1960 season, the Ferrari was passed through a handful of American owners before landing with Jon Masterson of California, who commissioned a complete restoration, which earned the car 1st in Class honours at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Another full restoration was completed in 2011 by marque specialists Motion Products Inc., returning the car to its proper Le Mans livery, which earned the vehicle a platinum award at the 2011 Cavallino Classic, and it has been shown at only a handful of events ever since. This California Spider is surely one of the most significant Ferraris in existence.