Photo: Ferrari
Back in the day, people like Porfirio Rubirosa would make for international playboys. The Dominican diplomat, racing car driver, and polo player was also rumored to be a political assassin under Rafael Trujillo’s regime. A player you’d call today a womanizer, he made his mark for his jet-setting lifestyle and his legendary sexual prowess with women. He also appears to have had great taste in cars.
If you thought Dan Bilzerian has a life worth craving for, it means you haven’t heard of this Dominican hustler. Sure, we’re not here to tell you that that tale. However, up to some level the way Rubirosa lived his life after reflects in this beautiful classic Ferrari. Why are we talking about a guy that we never heard of before? Because cars.
Ferrari Classic Department has just announced they finished the restoration of a 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spyder formerly owned by the Dominican driver. Here’s how the Italian carmaker describes 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.”
Apparently, Rubirosa drove the car in just a single international race at Santa Barbara in September 1954. It only 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. From this point, several other owners had the pleasure to drive it on track. Naturally, after its retirement, the classic Prancing Horse became a collector’s item and changed hands several times.
The current owner sent it for full restoration to the auto shop that knows best how to revive a vintage Ferrari racer to its former glory. The pictures are more than enough to prove they did a good job. However, the vehicle’s owner wants to show this is not just a collectible, considering he’ll compete with it in the Concours D’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California, in August.
Will he win it?
Ferrari Classic Department has just announced they finished the restoration of a 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spyder formerly owned by the Dominican driver. Here’s how the Italian carmaker describes 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.”
Apparently, Rubirosa drove the car in just a single international race at Santa Barbara in September 1954. It only 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. From this point, several other owners had the pleasure to drive it on track. Naturally, after its retirement, the classic Prancing Horse became a collector’s item and changed hands several times.
The current owner sent it for full restoration to the auto shop that knows best how to revive a vintage Ferrari racer to its former glory. The pictures are more than enough to prove they did a good job. However, the vehicle’s owner wants to show this is not just a collectible, considering he’ll compete with it in the Concours D’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California, in August.
Will he win it?
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