Porfirio Rubirosa's 500
Mondial revealed by ferrari :Maranello, 9 June – The Ferrari Classiche Department has
just completed the restoration of the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spyder PF
originally owned by Dominican gentleman driver Porfirio Rubirosa. A great
ladies’ man, the latter also dallied with some of the world’s most beautiful
women, not least Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Kim
Novak, Eva Peron and Zsa Zsa Gabor who posed with him in the car. Rubirosa
drove the car in just a single international race at Santa Barbara in September
1954. Sporting the number 235, the 500 Mondial finished eighth overall and
second in its category but, by the end of the year, had been sold to American
John Von Neumann from Hollywood. One of the car’s fans was none other than
James Dean who stopped to admire it before a race and wanted to get behind its
wheel.
Second career.
After its retirement, the car became a collector’s item and changed hands several times. Its present owner, California Tom Peck, sent it to the Ferrari Classiche Department for a full restoration that included the installation of a new version of its original engine to ensure it complied with its construction specifications and could thus be issued with a Certificate of Authenticity. His ultimate goal, however, is ambitious: to compete in the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California, in August. That prestige event was won in 2014 by the Ferrari 375 MM CoupĂ© once owned by film director Roberto Rossellini.
After its retirement, the car became a collector’s item and changed hands several times. Its present owner, California Tom Peck, sent it to the Ferrari Classiche Department for a full restoration that included the installation of a new version of its original engine to ensure it complied with its construction specifications and could thus be issued with a Certificate of Authenticity. His ultimate goal, however, is ambitious: to compete in the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California, in August. That prestige event was won in 2014 by the Ferrari 375 MM CoupĂ© once owned by film director Roberto Rossellini.
HISTORY