1,000 Ferraris at USA Anniversary

Posted on October 18, 2014.

The story and the pics come from Ferrari Media:

Ferrari celebrated its 60th anniversary in the USA with a lineup of musical performances, a thrilling auction, limited-edition car reveal, and a boisterous spectacle of fireworks behind a scenic Beverly Hills backdrop.

The Beverly Hills City Hall was bathed in rosso Ferrari with the emblem of the Prancing Horse displayed in grandeur on the building’s façade. Mayor Lili Bosse opened the evening with a proclamation declaring the commencement of the festivities for Ferrari’s 60th anniversary in Beverly Hills. The event was presided by John Elkann, Chairman of FCA [Fiat Chrysler Auto], Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FCA and Chairman of Ferrari, Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari, and Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari.

Auctioneer David Gooding brought the guests to their feet as he auctioned the first of 499 examples of the newest 458 Speciale A. The car sold for $900,000 with proceeds benefitting “Daybreak,” the American branch of the Italian charity whose mission for nearly 25 years has been to advance research towards a cure for rare genetic diseases.

The 458 Speciale A wasn’t the only Prancing Horse on display. In honor of the Ferrari’s era in the USA, the limited-edition F60 America was unveiled to private guests of the black-tie event.

The evening commenced with a star-studded lineup of musical performances, including Italian conductor Carlo Ponti Jr. leading the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, renowned violinist Caroline Campbell and Grammy-award winner Mary J. Blige. Notable guests were actress Megan Fox, TV presenter Mario Lopez, polo player Nacho Figueras and wife Delfina Blaquier, entrepreneur Robert Herjavec, director Michael Mann, and racecar drivers Derek [son of Phil] Hill  and Dan Gurney.

A lavish display of fireworks concluded the evening’s celebration.

The festivities continued the next day with an exhibition of 60 of the most iconic Ferraris ever created on the famed Rodeo Drive. “Race Through The Decades: 1954-2014” brought a record-breaking 1,000 Ferraris and proud Ferraristi to the streets of Beverly Hills, making this one of the largest gatherings of Prancing Horses in history.

Highlights of the Ferraris on display included Hollywood icons such as the Ferrari 308 GTS (“Magnum, P.I.”), Testarossa (“Miami Vice”), and Steve McQueen’s Ferrari 275 GTB/4. Surely, Ferrari’s racing heritage could not be missed as an impressive array of Daytona and Le Mans winners showcased the passion behind the Cavallino and rosso corsa. Other notable vehicles represented the full lineup of supercarsincluding LaFerrari, the 375 MM “Best In Show” winner at Pebble Beach, a priceless 250 GTO and the newest edition to the Ferrari fleet, the first 458 Speciale A in the United States, to name a few.

The namesake California lineage, from the 250 GT California to the new California T, graced the palm tree-lined streets in a parade escorting Ferrari Executives including, John Elkann, Chairman of FCA, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FCA and Chairman of Ferrari, Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari, and Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari.

The celebrations also included the first global public unveiling of the limited-edition F60 America paying homage to the long and important relationship Ferrari had, and continues to have with its American clients.

In addition to the collectors and clients who gathered together for this historic occasion, fans young and old came to marvel at their favorite Ferraris under the beautiful blue skies. Many could say they lived their “California Dream”.