Michael Ballack’s Ferrari: Rarity valued at up to 16.5 million

It is the highlight of the “Monterey 2024” auction planned for mid-August: Michael Ballack’s Ferrari 250 GT California Spider SWB. RM Sotheby’s expects the extremely rare car to fetch between 14.5 and 16.5 million euros. According to the sellers, the car with the “German vehicle registration document” is the first of 56 models of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California that were built during the short production phase. It was also this car with which Ferrari presented the model at the Geneva Motor Show in 1960.

The history, if it is accurate, is complete: On February 8, 1960, the frame was sent to Scaglietti. The engine was built in March, and the gearbox was built a little later. A few days later, the car was at the aforementioned trade fair.

In April 1960, the then red interior was exchanged for a black version before the car was sold in Lausanne to a man named John G. Bennett. The American brought the vehicle to the States in 1963, where it was later driven by Philip Morris board member Charles Kibbee (the man’s real name was Chandler) and Mike Alessandro, among others.

The Ferrari came to Michael Ballack from the USA

Alessandro clearly enjoyed his Ferrari. After he bought it in 1978, he often took it to racing events and exhibitions. It was not until 2008 that he sold the car and gave it to the dealer Helmut Eberlein from Kassel. According to the documentation, Eberlein bought it on behalf of Michael Ballack.

After 16 years in which Michael Ballack has obviously taken good care of his treasure, the car is now being put up for sale again for the first time. For RM Sotheby’s it is “one of the most important and most beautifully preserved 250 GT SWB California Spiders”. For Ballack, it could be an extremely good deal.