Cavallino Classic 2025

Jim Weed

Volume 50 Issue 03

Feb 10, 2025

Palm Beach Florida and the Cavallino Classic. Winners and losers. Winners: the cars, the people and the ambiance. Losers: the F80. You decide

Once again, one of the best Ferrari events kicks off in Florida as the 34th edition of the Cavallino Classic was held on Saturday, January 25th.

Founder of the Classic, John Barnes, carefully curated and guided the event from the first one in 1992 where Ferrari owners were invited to bring their cars to be displayed on the lawn in front of The Breakers, a luxury resort hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida.

This event was a way to escape winter’s cold for a lovely weekend in south Florida. It brought many rare and exciting Ferraris and owners together for high quality judging.

Bringing a 95-point car one could win a coveted Cavallino Classic Platino. Over the years the quality of restorations improved to the point that to now win a Platino requires 97 points.

Two points? Yes, two points make a difference. Today, the Ferraris presented are even more original than ever before. The research and quality are outstanding.

Mr. Barnes passed the torch of this event to Canossa Events in 2021 and over the last several years Canossa has continued to improve and expand the event.

Change is difficult and many I have talked to over the years expressed concerns over the quality and number of classic Ferraris. The cost of the event was also a large concern.

Yes, we are talking about Ferrari owners, but the cost must still be justified. This year was the best one yet under the Canossa banner.

While walking around, the quote “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded”, seemed to sum up the event. Owners brought exceptional cars, the gawking public ponied up the stiff ticket prices, including Linda and I, as press passes did not seem to be a high priority for Canossa, and all seemed to enjoy the weather and camaraderie.

Ferraris on the croquet lawn ran from a 1949 166 Inter, S/N 017 S, up to a 2014 Ferrari Sergio, S/N 205936, with many more unique cars in between.

There were three 212s, an Export Cabriolet, S/N 0106E by Vignale, and S/N 0235 EU by Pinin Farina. A Vignale Coupe S/N 0135 E, in two-tone red with black upper surfaces rounded out the group.

When it comes to uniqueness, there were two standouts represented. One was a 342 America. Of the six 342s made, only one was clothed by Vignale, S/N 0232 AL. This cabriolet was gorgeous in metallic blue with cream interior. As Vignale designs can often be ornate, this one has pleasing lines without having too many chrome accents.

The other exciting car was a 375 MM, S/N 0476 AM, bodied by Ghia for the Torino Auto Show. Painted in two-tone orange with grey lower sections, this even-numbered racing chassis carries one of the most potent engines Ferrari could make in 1954.

Since we are talking engines, one of the most technologically advanced engines Ferrari made was the 4-liter, four-cam motor installed in the 335 S, S/N 0674. This car came in second place in the 1957 Mille Miglia. Today, it again, wore the famous number 532 proudly on its body.

Another red racing car on display was a 206 SP, S/N 026, with a big 34 on its roundels. This Dino raced at Sebring and Nürburgring.

Not all race cars are red as nearby a silver 250 GT LWB California Spyder, S/N 1451 GT, graced the lawn wearing number 16, the same as when it came in ninth overall and third in class in the 1959 Le Mans race.

High speed touring cars were well represented with three of Ferrari’s bespoke offerings. A 500 Superfast, S/N 7817, in silver with red interior would have been just the ticket to travel between destinations in high luxury, and high speed.

The other two were 400 Superamerica. One was another in silver, S/N 4251 SA, a Pininfarina Aerodinamica Coupe. The long nose with covered headlights along with a purposeful hood bulge barely contains the power within. The luxurious interior in green leather with matching suitcases are set for a quick run to the coast.

If open air is more your style, S/N 1945 SA, a Pininfarina Cabriolet in green with red leather interior, would surely turn heads while cruising any beach town on the continent.

The beauty of Cavallino is the chance meeting of something unusual. When is a Daytona Spyder not a spyder? When you first look at S/N 12925, you see a spyder profile that looks like it is wearing a hardtop until you realize it does not remove. The brushed stainless targa bar disguises the zip-out rear window. It was fun to see this one-off Daytona.

A nice display of 250 GT models completed the classic Ferrari display on the upper lawn. A PF Cabriolet and SWB Spyder California sat next to a LWB Berlinetta and a SWB Berlinetta. It is always fantastic to see the variety of models from the same family.

There were also a couple of future classics displayed. The Sergio previously mentioned and a 288 GTO. As much as I love a GTO the two modern cars seemed very out of place among the more historic Ferraris. Will this be the future of Cavallino? I hope not, but the GTO is now forty years old the Sergio only ten. Too soon? I guess we will see.

On the lower lawn was a nice Supercar display with another GTO and F40 and… up to the latest F80.

The F80 was interesting to see in person. It may be Ferrari’s latest in Supercars but it is not what I would consider pretty or beautiful. It was a mashup of convoluted shapes and styles with fins and strakes, openings and vents all applied in the most haphazard manner all over the body.

I’m not sure what it was trying to tell me other than it felt like the Prancing Horse designed by a committee that turned out to look like a camel. Functional, I’m sure; busy, yes, it was that; beautiful, not a chance.

The rest of the current Ferrari lineup was next with all the models present to look at and touch. At least these Ferraris had curves and style even if they also had a little too much wiz-bang openings and wings.

So, what was the rest of the field like? Ferrari nirvana in a nutshell. Nearly every other model was well represented. Several of each model graced the fairway. Lusso, 275, 330, Daytona, F40, Testarossa, 348, 355, F430, 458, 550 Maranello, etc., were in large supply.

It was here among the massive display you could find something unusual. A 288 GTO in green was one surprising find. No it was not in the original color, but oh, it was so pretty.

Love a pontoon fender Testa Rossa? A company had several on display. Of course, they were only 75% of the real size and electrically powered, but they were cute. There is no better way to introduce the young to Ferrari than with this sophisticated toy.

The 308/328 cars had their own display near the vendor area. Nearly every version was represented in a variety of colors. Rarely would you be able to inspect each version and notate the differences as the model progressed through the years.

MAJOR AWARDS

The Overall Outstanding Gran Turismo Ferrari was the 375 MM, S/N 0476 AM, presented by Tom Peck who also was wearing a matching sport jacket with a silhouette of his car in the liner.

The Overall Outstanding Competition Ferrari was the 335 S, S/N 0674, presented by Brian Ross.

The Overall Outstanding Classiche Certified Ferrari was Dino 206 S, S/N 026, presented by Hassan Moghadam.