PROVENANCE
Alejo Peralta, Mexico City, Mexico (acquired new in 1960)
Nasar Mabarak, Guadalajara, Mexico (acquired by 2000)
Jaime Muldoon, Guadalajara, Mexico (acquired circa 2000)
Current Owner (acquired from the above in 2010)

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
Concorso Italiano, Monterey, 2003 (Silver Award)
Cavallino Classic, Palm Beach, Florida, 2010

FEATURED MEDIA
Ferrari Serial Numbers, Part I, Hilary A. Raab Jr.

Introduced in October 1959 as the successor to Pinin Farina’s exclusive and glamorous Series I Cabriolet, the updated Series II version remained the most refined model in Ferrari’s celebrated 250 GT range. With an original price of 5,800,000 lire, it was also the most expensive.

Based on the latest Tipo 508F chassis, the Series II Cabriolet benefited from newly introduced four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, Ferrari’s robust three-liter, outside-plug V-12, and a four-speed gearbox with electric overdrive. Its tasteful, understated styling was virtually identical to the contemporary Pinin Farina-bodied 250 GT coupe and, with luxurious interior appointments as well as an optional fitted hardtop, it was ideally suited for comfortable long-distance touring. As noted by Ferrari historian Antoine Prunet, “In its conception, design and finishing, the new cabriolet did not lack for elegance.”

In total, Pinin Farina built just 200 Series II Cabriolets through 1962. They attracted an elite clientele that included some of Ferrari’s most important customers including Porfirio Rubirosa, Umberto Agnelli, and Prince Moulay Abdallah of Morocco.

The Series II Cabriolet presented here, chassis 2075 GT, is a superb example of this desirable series of Pinin Farina-bodied 250 GTs.

Completed at the Ferrari factory in September 1960 and fitted with Pinin Farina body no. 29768, chassis 2075 GT was originally finished in the attractive color combination of Rosso Rubino (Ruby Red) with upholstery trimmed in natural-colored Connolly hides. The following month, the new Ferrari was delivered to Ferrari Representatives of California, the factory’s Hollywood-based West Coast distributor run by John and Eleanor von Neumann.

According to the research of Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the 250 GT Cabriolet was sold new to Alejo Peralta Diaz of Mexico City, via a Mr. Celis. Described by The New York Times as “a pioneering figure in Mexico’s industrial development who became a confidant of presidents and one of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs,” Mr. Peralta was the founder and president of Industrias Unidas Sociedad Anonima (IUSA), a vast conglomerate that originally specialized in electrical supplies.

Evidently, 2075 GT spent the majority of its existence in Mexico and was later owned by Nasar Mabarak, a resident of Guadalajara. Around 2000, the Series II Cabriolet was sold to the well-known and respected Ferrari collector Jaime Muldoon, who commissioned a complete restoration to show standards. During this process, Alberto Amezcua addressed the bodywork and paint, while Ferrari of Houston was tasked with rebuilding the car’s V-12 engine. Once this work was completed, 2075 GT was sent to Ferrari specialist Bob Smith Coachworks of Gainesville, Texas, to be detailed and prepared in anticipation of judged competition.

In August 2003, the freshly restored Cabriolet was displayed at the Cavallino Classic Concours held in conjunction with Concorso Italiano, where it received a Silver Award in Class 1. The only other known show outing for 2075 GT took place in January 2010, at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Series II Cabriolet remained in Mr. Muldoon’s collection until 2010, when it was sold to the current owner. Ever since, it has resided in a climate-controlled facility and been displayed alongside other important classic and contemporary Ferraris. Handsomely finished in dark red paint with tan leather upholstery, the Pinin Farina Cabriolet presents well in all respects and benefits from a recent detailing and tune-up. Most importantly, the Ferrari retains its matching-numbers engine (internal no. 498 F), as confirmed by the copies of the factory build sheet in the car’s file, and the Pinin Farina body number is stamped on several locations, including the hood and inner fender panels. The sale of 2075 GT includes a tool roll, an unrestored factory hardtop, and a history report prepared by Ferrari expert Marcel Massini.

Never before offered for public sale, this Series II Pinin Farina Cabriolet presents an exciting opportunity for discerning collectors given its high-quality restoration and distinguished Mexican provenance, which counts noted businessman Alejo Peralta and Ferrari aficionado Jaime Muldoon among its roster of former owners. Particularly well suited for touring events, like the Colorado Grand and Ferrari Cavalcade, 2075 GT would also make a fantastic candidate for exhibition at FCA events and other leading concours d’elegance.

For the collector in search of a versatile open-bodied 12-cylinder Ferrari built during the marque’s golden age, there is no need to look any further than this outstanding 250 GT Series II Cabriolet.