This splendid 2009 California is at our Oxfordshire HQ courtesy of a trade specialist who has now entrusted us with a number of the fine vehicles that have come his way.

As part of the gentle recommissioning required to get the car optimised for its return to the road, in April 2026 the vendor commissioned marque specialists Emblem Sportscars of Poole to carry out a full service and address all and any issues that needed attention..

But please note that we refer to a recent gearbox issue later in this text.

This is definitely one of the more aesthetically successful of Ferrari’s more recent front-engined offerings, and we think it looks great from every angle, with the roof up or down.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even, and the car’s squat, curvaceous, purposeful stance leaves observers in no doubt that this is a car with some serious grunt under the bonnet.

The folding metal roof goes up and down in a mesmerizingly balletic display of choreographed engineering...