In 1962, the Sebring 2+2 coupé was introduced, sharing a similar chassis with the Vignale-bodied 3500 GT spyder but featuring a shorter wheelbase. It was named as a tribute to the Bolognese manufacturer’s triumph at the American 12 Hours endurance race in 1957. The Sebring boasted several standard features such as a five-speed gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes, and fuel injection. Optional upgrades included automatic transmission, air conditioning, and a limited-slip differential.
The performance of the Sebring garnered praise from Autocar magazine, which described it as follows: “With a top speed of 220km/h, the ability to accelerate from 0 to 160km/h in just 23.8 seconds, and the capability to reach 200km/h in fourth gear out of its five, the Sebring speaks for itself.” What makes these numbers even more remarkable is that the Sebring wasn’t a lightweight, stripped-down sports car, but rather a luxurious, comfortable, and well-equipped Grande Routière.
In 1965, the Sebring Series II was introduced, featuring a 3.7-liter engine producing 245bhp. Towards the end of Sebring production in 1969, some cars were equipped with 4.0-liter engines. In total, 591 Sebrings were manufactured, including both 3.7-liter and 4.0-liter versions. Among them, 348 were 1st Series cars, similar to the one you see here.
Source: Bonhams
