Description
The Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet by Pininfarina was Ferrari’s definitive luxury open-top touring car of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Designed as a more refined and comfortable alternative to the sportier California Spyder, the Cabriolet was built with a focus on elegance, craftsmanship, and usability, making it ideal for well-heeled clients seeking top-down motoring without compromising on comfort or Ferrari pedigree.
The car was offered in two primary series: Series I and Series II. The Series I debuted in 1957 and was produced in very limited numbers—fewer than 40 examples. These early cars were hand-built with extensive variations between each, making them highly individualized. They featured a long hood, flowing lines, and restrained chrome accents, with design cues that bridged the gap between the earlier bespoke 250 GTs and the more standardized models that would follow.
Under the hood, the 250 GT Cabriolet was powered by Ferrari’s familiar 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine, producing approximately 240 horsepower. This engine was smooth, high-revving, and dependable, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. While not as aggressively tuned as its competition-oriented siblings, the car still delivered excellent performance for a road-going convertible, with top speeds exceeding 200 km/h.
In 1959, the Series II version was introduced and became the more widely produced model, with around 200 examples built by 1962. The Series II adopted the updated 250 GT chassis with a 2600 mm wheelbase, and featured more consistent styling and production techniques. Design changes included a more upright front grille, slightly revised headlights, and cleaner, more modern lines that signaled Ferrari’s shift into the 1960s.
Pininfarina’s design for the Series II was elegant and understated, with a sense of proportion and visual balance that has aged gracefully. The soft top was manually operated and folded neatly behind the rear seats. With the roof down, the car revealed a beautifully tailored interior featuring full leather upholstery, polished metal trim, and comprehensive instrumentation. Amenities such as wind-up windows, optional radios, and higher levels of sound insulation made it one of the most civilized Ferraris of its time.
Despite being more of a road car than a racer, the 250 GT Cabriolet retained the mechanical excellence expected from Ferrari. The combination of a robust V12, well-tuned suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes (on later models) made it a confident and capable long-distance tourer.
Today, the Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Pininfarina is prized for its elegance, rarity, and usability. While it may not share the raw sporting image of the California Spyder or 250 GT SWB, it offers a more relaxed and luxurious experience, perfectly in tune with the needs of its original clientele. As a result, it remains one of the most collectible and admired open-top Ferraris from the marque’s golden era.