STORY OF THE DAY: A California Spider Endures Sebring

On 26 March 1960, Carlo Abate, Giorgio Scarlatti and Fabrizio Serena di Lapiagio finished tenth at Sebring in the number 16 Ferrari 250 California. The result brought a road-derived open Ferrari through twelve hours on one of endurance racing’s most destructive circuits.

Sebring’s broken airfield concrete imposed continuous vibration, hard braking and heavy loads on the car. The three drivers divided the distance carefully, avoiding the failures that claimed faster machinery. Completing the event was particularly notable for a California conceived as a dual-purpose grand tourer rather than a specialized sports prototype.

The 250 GT California shared the tubular chassis and front-mounted three-litre Colombo V12 of Ferrari’s broader 250 GT family. Scaglietti built its open two-seat body to a Pinin Farina design. Flexible power and established GT running gear gave it the durability needed for the severe Florida surface.

Abate and Scarlatti were experienced Italian competitors in sports cars and single-seaters, with Scarlatti also appearing in World Championship Grands Prix. Serena di Lapiagio was an Italian nobleman associated with Scuderia Serenissima. Their combined judgment enabled a private team to secure a respectable international endurance finish with an elegant open Ferrari.