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| Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina 1960 |
When the Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet was introduced in 1959, it fit into the Ferrari model range as an elegant and subtle cabriolet for the motorist who was looking for a refined top-down driving experience rather than the fastest possible lap times. It was designed by Pinin Farina, and its lines were instantly classic, sophisticated, and stylish, tantalising onlookers with a hint at the performance of the wonderful Colombo V-12 that was hiding under the bonnet.
For the sophisticate looking to travel in style, there was no better car to have. With a decent amount of space in the boot, the Series II Cabriolet could easily hold a couple’s luggage for a weekend, and it was also practical enough to be used on a daily basis, if its owner so desired. This was a car that offered its well-heeled owners equal parts luxury, style, and performance—a true gentleman’s Ferrari.
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| Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina 1960 |
This Ferrari, chassis number 2125 GT, was built by the factory in October 1960 and originally finished in Blu Sera (16439 MM) over a Nero vinyl and leather interior (VM 8500). It was sold new to French billionaire Pierre Schlumberger, of Schlumberger Limited, one of the world’s largest oil-field-services companies. For such a high-society individual, there was perhaps no better motor car to own.
After purchasing the Ferrari, Schlumberger married Maria da Conceição Schroder Diniz, who also went by the name São. Together, they were known for their incredibly extravagant lifestyle amongst high society in both North America and Europe. They were also known for their collection of fine art, which included a variety of works, ranging from impressionists such as Monet and Degas to contemporary artists Andy Warhol, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko. São even commissioned Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol to paint portraits of her.
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| Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina 1960 |
Obviously the couple considered their Series II Cabriolet to be a functional and reliable work of automotive art, as it often accompanied them on their travels around the world.
Shortly after getting married, the Schlumbergers moved to Houston, Texas, where Schlumberger Limited was based, and their Ferrari Cabriolet travelled there with them. When Pierre was ousted as President and CEO in 1965, they moved to New York and took the car with them once more. Following another move back to Paris, the Schlumbergers purchased a lavish 100-acre estate called Quinta do Vinagre, near Estoril in São’s native Portugal. The estate was used for extravagant parties, including the La Dolce Vita ball in 1968, which hosted 1,500 guests, including Audrey Hepburn and Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. Chassis number 2125 GT would continue to call Quinta do Vinagre its home, and it was registered there on Portuguese license plates DC-57-07.
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| Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina 1960 |
It is not clear how long this 250 GT Cabriolet stayed in Schlumberger’s ownership, but the car did remain in Portugal after his passing in 1985, through to the turn of the 21st century, and it remained registered on the same license plates. By 2002, it had gained a tan interior, yet it still retained its correct blue paintwork. By this time, it was owned by Carlos Monjardino, a successful Portuguese entrepreneur and politician.
The car left Carlos Monjardino’s ownership in 2008 and was sold to a new owner in France, where it resides to this day. The car, still finished in blue over beige leather upholstery, is highly mechanically original, and it retains many of its original components, including the engine, gearbox, and axle. It has clearly never been taken apart for a full restoration and has been maintained as needed throughout its life. Following nearly €45,000 of mechanical work, which included new brakes and shock absorbers, it is reported that the car remains in excellent mechanical condition, and it continues to drive as one would expect.
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| Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pinin Farina 1960 |
It is easy to see why a couple such as Pierre and São Schlumberger owned and enjoyed their Series II Cabriolet for so long. As it travelled with them from Europe to the United States and back again, the car’s style and sense of fashion remained timeless, just like that of its owners. Following their ownership, the car has been lovingly preserved and maintained, and it remains in remarkable condition.
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