Ferrari F50 (1997)

Following in the footsteps of the fabled F40, Ferrari’s F50 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995. Hugely influenced by Formula 1 design and technology at the time, at the F50 heart was a naturally aspirated V-12 engine derived from Ferrari’s 642 F1 car, campaigned during the 1991 Formula 1 World Championship. With 512 bhp on tap, its Formula 1 origins and 8,000 rpm redline made the engine truly sonorous when driven as its manufacturers intended. Top speed was claimed as being 202 mph and from a standstill the F50 would sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds.

As if its performance wasn’t enough, what truly set the F50 apart from its competitors at the time was its open-top body style, allowing buyers to choose from the closed comfort of a Berlinetta or the thrill of an open-top sports car, and no open-top sports car on sale at the time could match the sheer performance of the F50. Top down, the driving experience that the F50 provided its lucky driver and passenger was a close as one could get to driving a road-legal Formula 1 car.

Just five colours were made available for the F50 by the factory: Rosso Corsa, Rosso Barchetta, Giallo Modena, Nero and Argento Nürburgring. Of the 349 F50s built, just thirty-one were finished in Giallo Modena, less than 9% of total production.

Completed by the factory on May 25, 1997, this Giallo Modena F50 was earmarked for Swiss delivery and was purchased by its first private owner, Johann Steiger, on July 23, 1997. During the first year of its life, the car was driven roughly 5,000 km and received its first service at 4,700 km in 1998.

The F50 was purchased by the current owner in 2007. The following year, after being serviced by Gammuto Auto Sport in Switzerland, it was imported to the U.K. where it has remained in storage ever since.

Emerging from storage only earlier this year, it has been driven roughly 12,500 kms from new. Recently delivered to DK Engineering, this example has just received a major service including new fuel tanks, as well as a full detail.

Inventory Summary: Original Service Book, Owner’s manual, Spare Key, U.K. V5, Complete Tool Kit, Wheel Socket, Flight Case, Roll Hoops and rear panel, Full Luggage Kit, Soft top & Passenger compartment torch (on order).