Classic Ferrari with celebrity ownership headlines February sale

Film director Roger Vadim, is perhaps as famous for his romances and marriages to the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve and Jane Fonda, as he is for his films that include And God Created Woman.  His taste in cars was equally as exotic as his taste in women, and  that included owning two examples of one of the the most glamourous Ferraris of all, the 250 California. The first of these an early long wheelbase example, is being offered at Artcurial at their auction during the Retromobile show in Paris on the third of February.

Vadim acquired the car (via an intermediary in Italy) in April 1959 and kept the car for some six years. Later in 59 the car was upgraded with disc brakes by the factory.  A second short wheelbase California joined this car in his Garage in 1961. If may also appeal to some potential buyers that Vadim was married to Annette Stoyberg for the first two years that he owned this California and was in a relationship with Catherine Deneuve in the latter part of his ownership of this car, and they would almost certainly have ridden in the car on many occasions (pictures of Stoyberg with the car are shown in the catalogue).

After Vadim sold the car it passed through several owners before being acquired by Ferrari collector Jean-Claude Bajol in 1997.  Bajol had a thorough nut and bolt restoration even down to having the correct original leather type fitted. Bajol passed away in 2011 which is why the car is being offered by Artcurial.

In order to promote the car Artcurial have made this rather cool video of the car on the streets of Paris at night.  I would assume that this was shot in the middle of the night as the traffic seems remarkably light for the French Capital. For a video designed to advertise a car at auction it is remarkably well produces and goes a long way to remind prospective buyers what this car does best - looking cool.

In truth any 250 California needs very little selling as ever since the ex James Coburn SWB California  was sold to Chris Evans for £5.6 million at RM' s 2008 Auction in Maranello, they have been ultra hot property in the classic car market.

Artcurial have not released an estimate, but with Gooding selling a similar long wheel base car (which lacked the Vadim car's desirable cowled headlamps) for $3.55 million at their auction in Arizona only a week ago this beautiful California with the bonus of celebrity ownership is unlikely to sell for any less.

The California headlines the sale which includes a number of Bajol's other Ferraris the catalogue can be found here.

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