When Ferrari’s Fortieth-anniversary supercar, the F40, grew to become an infinite, acclaimed success, the corporate’s engineers acknowledged that the upcoming fiftieth anniversary would require one thing much more superlative. 4 years of improvement have been invested right into a devoted highway automobile that might have characteristically robust ties to Ferrari’s then-current racing know-how, together with the chassis design, based on a light-weight carbon fiber tub. Pininfarina’s designers outdid themselves with curvaceous coachwork, molded from carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Nomex, that evoked Maranello’s most legendary sports-racers of the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties, whereas additionally bearing an in depth resemblance to their System 1 entrants of the trendy period.
The latter was no coincidence, because the engine carried on this spectacular creation was the sort F130B V-12 that had begun life in Ferrari’s 1992 System 1 automobile, and underwent additional improvement within the 4-liter 333 SP sports activities automobile, which gained quite a few drivers’ and constructors’ championships in IMSA GT and FIA sports activities automobile racing between 1995 and 2001. With an enlarged 4.7-liter displacement, but detuned for extra cheap revving and tractable highway manners, the high-compression V-12 within the F50 developed 513 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. The outcome was otherworldly efficiency, as confirmed by Highway & Monitor journal, whose editors discovered the automobile might speed up from 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds and obtain a high velocity of 202 mph. The return to earthbound speeds was supplied by monstrous Brembo brakes with enormous rotors, anchored by aluminum pistons. Further competition-derived particulars included a racing-style gasoline bladder and LCD devices, in a dashboard that might not have regarded misplaced on the Mulsanne Straight.
Not only a mere “supercar,” a time period that even within the mid-Nineties was starting to undergo from overuse, it was as close to as one might come to a contemporary F1 automobile for the road—however with leather-trimmed seats, air-con, and adjustable trip peak.
Ferrari ensured the mannequin’s rarity and desirability by producing simply 349 numbered examples—so it’s mentioned, one fewer than they thought they may promote—by way of 1998. It grew to become a favourite of marque-focused collectors and is now thought-about one of many essential elements of the illustrious “Massive 5” hypercar portfolio that essentially the most devoted tifosi construct for his or her stables.
CHASSIS NUMBER 103921
The F50 supplied right here was the forty seventh numbered F50 constructed, and, considerably, one among simply 55 US-delivery examples. Accomplished on 21 December 1995, it was offered by way of Ferrari of Houston to Dahr Jamail of Houston, Texas, who instantly had it refinished from the unique Rosso Corsa to his most popular Azzurro California.
By 1998 the automobile had been acquired by Mark Rand, who that 12 months introduced it to the Texas Motor Speedway through the F355 Problem races. It was returned to the unique and proper Rosso Corsa—by Ferrari of Houston, the identical store that had first refinished it—and offered in 2004 to actor and outstanding fanatic, Nicolas Cage, however the next 12 months transacted once more to Alex Papas of Arizona. Papas exhibited the automobile on the Ferrari Membership of America (FCA) Arizona Area Concours d’Class in Phoenix in 2007, successful a Platinum award, then the next 12 months introduced it to Bahrain for exhibition together with 19 different special-invitation Ferraris on the Bahrain Ferrari Classics on the Sahkir Tower-Bahrain Worldwide Circuit.
It was subsequently marketed in 2008 and 2009 by Mike Haber of Pennsylvania, and offered at the moment to Lewis N. Brown, additionally of Pennsylvania. Brown displayed the automobile on the Cavallino Traditional in 2010, receiving one other Platinum award, then on the Panamerican Concours in Coral Gables, Florida, by which era it was memorably registered in Florida as “F50 F1.” The automobile was offered in 2014 to Dr. Daxes M. Banit of Warner Robins, Georgia, then in 2021 to the present proprietor, a widely known Southern fanatic and sports activities automobile connoisseur, in addition to a religious F50 proprietor. Most not too long ago the automobile was displayed but once more on the Cavallino Traditional in Palm Seaside in 2023, the place it acquired its third Platinum award.
Accompanying the automobile are its unique books and guarantee doc, the entire unique instrument and bulb/belt/fuse kits of their black leather-based circumstances, the unique inflator package and wheel-nut socket with circumstances, six units of keys, and the all-important Purple E-book, testifying to its Ferrari Classiche Certification and confirming the presence of its unique elements, together with its unique US-specification exhaust, issued in 2023.
Additionally included are the unique F50 dedication guide in its corduroy sleeve, an unique factory-produced picture album in its case, an unique three-piece baggage set with yellow Ferrari mud covers, crimson Ferrari seat and steering wheel covers with bag, the Barchetta high and roll bars, and the unique “flight field” with the hardtop and leather-based {hardware} pouch inside—primarily all that one would want to discover with a terrific F50. The automobile can be accompanied by periodic, common upkeep data from its prior and present homeowners, together with for upkeep constantly carried out between 1996 and 2004 at Ferrari of Houston, and for a 2009 main engine-out service at Algar Ferrari.
An impressive instance of its kind, with 8,556 miles on the time of cataloging and full with unique equipment, this well-known, thrice-Platinum-awarded F50 is deserving of the best assortment.
This automobile might be supplied at RM Sotheby’s 27th annual Monterey sale, happening 15-17 August throughout Monterey Automobile Week. Be taught extra, view all heaps on provide, and register to bid on-line at RMSothebys.com.
