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. Only 349 examples would be built, far fewer than the F40 that preceded it.

As the fastest and most exotic offering from Ferrari at the time of its unveiling, it’s no surprise that the 349 F50s went to some of Ferraris very best customers and a fascinating array of individuals when new. However, this example stands apart from the rest.

Weber Management GmbH, run by Wilhelm “Willi” Weber managed several German racing drivers and was very fortunate to discover a young Michael Schumacher racing in Formula Ford. Quickly realizing his talent, Weber took Schumacher under his wing and managed his career all the way to Formula 1 and was undoubtably a major factor in leading Schumacher to become a seven-time World Champion, managing Schumacher’s career through to his final retirement from the sport in 2012.

Confimred to have been owned and supplied to Weber Management, this example would have undoubtedly been on behalf of Michael Schumacher and his collection. And it has been verified that Michael himself used the car.

This is supported by documents on file from both 1999 and 2022 from Weber management, a report from Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, and the car’s service book. Remaining in Germany for two years, in 1999 the car was sold to Japan where it has remained ever since with just two owners. Whilst in Japan, the car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it is still fitted with its original chassis, engine, gearbox, and bodywork.

Earlier this year, the car was shipped from Japan to the DK Engineering here in the U.K., where upon its arrival it was treated to a comprehensive major service in our workshops which has been recently completed. Showing just over 3,750 kms on its odometer today, the car remains in excellent condition throughout. Interestingly, the car’s dashboard is signed by the late Sergio Pininfarina (who passed away in 2012) which would presumably have been for its famous owner and driver.

Most recently the car was displayed with us at the 2022 Masterpiece London Art fair, one of just two cars present at the entire show and both displayed by ourselves. Its presence was immensely well received and the first opportunity for many to be up close with the last manual halo F-car built. In August 2022 the car was flown to the USA for Monterey car week where it now remains with USA taxes paid, and a title in process.

Within Ferrari’s illustrious history, no driver is as revered or as celebrated as Michael Schumacher and to this day, he is considered to be one of the greatest racing drivers to have ever competed. Schumacher would have used and enjoyed this F50 very early on in his time with the Scuderia and it was surely a much loved member of the collection. This represents an unmissable opportunity to acquire a fantastic example of Ferrari’s most celebrated 1990s supercar, owned by their most celebrated driver.