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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

1963 Ferrari 250 GT L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti 0

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2021

1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti To B...

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Introduced at the 1962 Paris Salon, Ferrari’s 250 GT/L was undoubtedly one of the most attractive grand touring cars ever built. Intended as a replacement for the 250 GT coupe, the “L” stood for “Lusso” and featured an all-new interior arrangement highlighted by a revised dash panel and leather upholstery throughout the cabin. Built to cross continents in unrivaled style while cossetting a driver, passenger, and plenty of luggage, it looked simply stunning whilst sitting still and just as beautiful at high speed. Mechanically, Ferrari’s Tipo 168 U engine was the ultimate development of the short-block Colombo 3.0-litre V-12, featuring outside-plug ignition and single-cylinder porting that had proven so successful in the 250 Testa Rossa and California Spider. Further improvements were made to the chassis including four-wheel disc brakes, coil-over shock absorbers at all four corners of the suspension, and a rear Watts linkage that had been perfected on the 250 GTO. Whilst the bodywork itself was designed by Pininfarina, the construction of it was carried out by Scaglietti and it is truly amongst the pair’s very best work. Boasting Ferrari’s now-typical egg-crate grille, its delicately curved fenders gave way to a bright, airy cabin and flowed into a fastback Kamm tail. Originally owned by jet-set luminaries and celebrities, such as Steve McQueen, the Lusso was built in a modest quantity of just 350 examples over roughly two years of production. The GT/L has since evolved into one of Maranello’s most collectable production models, essentially the final and most developed evolution of the revered 250 GT lineage. Completed by the factory on 9 March 1963, chassis number 4563 is the 65th Lusso to be constructed. Finished in Grigio Argento over Nero Franzi (NR 1), it was destined to remain in its native Italy and was sold new through the official dealer Garage Fontanella & Co. in Turin. Its first owner was Vittorio d’Agostino, also of Turin, and he registered the car as TO 555797 on 31 July 1963. It is clear that Mr. D’Agostino very much enjoyed his new Lusso, as the car was serviced at the factory in October of that year, having been driven some 11,421 kilometers by 28 October. At some point later, chassis number 4563 was exported to France and registered there as 3 HJ 95. According to the noted Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the car was sold by a Parisian dealer to Maurice Sauzay in 1970. Mr. Sauzay lived in Lyon and at the time of his purchase, and the car had been driven roughly 30,000 kilometers. In 1977, Sauzay sold the Lusso to Jean Richard of Curgies, France, who subsequently placed the car into storage for the following fourteen years. In October of 1991, chassis number 4563 was sold to Roger Vermon who set about restoring the car, refinishing it red with a black interior. The car remained in France until December 2006 when it was sold to Jean-Pierre Clément of La Ferrière, Switzerland. In 2009, the Lusso was acquired by the Ferrari collector Jean Pierre Slavic and has remained with him ever since. That same year, the car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification, which states that the car retains its original engine, gearbox, and differential. Shortly following Mr. Slavic’s purchase, the car was fully restored to its original colour scheme by a team of marque specialists in Italy including Bacchelli & Villa and Autofficina Bonini from 2009-2011. Following the completion of the restoration, it participated in the 2011 Italia Classic and was driven from Maranello to Venice and back. Four years later, the car participated in the Spirit of Yves Classic Run from Monaco to Terre Blanche. Today, its odometer shows just over 3,500 kilometers, illustrating the distance which has been driven since its complete restoration. It has been exceptionally well kept with the consignor alongside several other Ferraris of the same era. In addition to its Classiche certification binder, the car is accompanied by a tool kit and owner’s manual. As the final iteration of the vaunted 250-series of Ferraris, the Lusso has always been considered as one of the most desirable road-going Ferraris of its era. With a classically beautiful silhouette, a Lusso is an eminently usable automobile, a fantastic choice for long distance touring, as this example has so proven. Boasting Classiche certification and a restoration by well-regarded marque specialists in Italy, chassis number 4563 would be an excellent addition to any collection. This vehicle will be offered in RM Sotheby’s new Milan Sale, taking place 15 June at Palazzo Serbelloni in Italy. The sale will be livestreamed and remote bidding options are available. View Online Listing

By Edward Jones – May 29, 2021

CCP Spring Classic Auction: Rare Gated 6-Speed 2006 Ferra...

Presented by Collector Car Productions - Designed by Pininfarina, the F430 was produced from 2004 to 2009 and is powered by a 4.3-liter eight-cylinder engine producing 490 horsepower. Built on an Alcoa aluminum chassis, performance is impressive with acceleration from O to 60 in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph. This particular example, prior to arriving in Canada, resided in the state of Texas and is one of the rare and desirable units produced with a "Gated Manual 6-Speed Transmission". With Rosso Corsa Red exterior, this F430 is trimmed out in the tan leather interior, black leather dash with red stitching, red-stitched door panels, tan power Daytona seats with red piping, and carbon fiber upper and lower cabin panels. A Manettino toggle on the steering column controls vehicle performance and traction settings. The car rides on Pirelli tires and brake calipers are finished in red, and the car is loaded with all the usual amenities like climate-controlled air conditioning, power windows, HID Xenon headlights, and more. Books, keys, tool kit and Ferrari Car Cover all included. This F430 Spider, with clean CarFax, is in spectacular condition with no marks or damages, spotless carpets, no wear or tear and it has been stored in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. This is just one of approximately 100 great hand-selected cars to be offered at the Toronto Spring Classic Car Online Auction to be held on June 12, 2021 by CCP Auctions. View Listing

1971 Ferrari 365 GTS 4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti 8

By Edward Jones – May 13, 2021

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2021: 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 D...

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Images by Robin Adams - Immediately lauded by Ferrari enthusiasts, the new 365 GTB/4 was dubbed the “Daytona” after Ferrari’s 1-2-3 win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1967. Ferrari’s already impressive V-12 engine gained four overhead camshafts, putting displacement at 4,390 cubic centimeters. With a staggering power output of 352 horsepower, the Daytona dethroned the Miura as the fastest production car. Dry-sump lubrication enabled a low engine installation, while a five-speed transaxle allowed for a 50/50 weight distribution. The chassis was classic Ferrari, made up of oval-section tubing, and the recently developed all-wheel independent suspension allowed for better handling and tire contact. Four-wheel disc brakes rounded out a superb all-around package. Despite the factory not originally planning for an open-top version, between Scaglietti and Pininfarina, designs were created, and a prototype was approved. Launched at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show, the 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider was produced for both the European and American markets, meeting an inundation of requests for an open-top model of the new gran turismo. Finished in the brilliant shade of Giallo Fly (20-Y-191) over Pelle Nera (VM 8500), this 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider left the factory in December 1971 and was the 36th of just 121 Spiders produced. A left-hand-drive example destined for the United States, it was equipped with instrumentation in miles and air conditioning. In February 1972 it was delivered to Luigi Chinetti’s Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut and was shown at the New York International Auto Show two months later. On 28 April 1972, just a few weeks removed from the International New York Auto Show, the Ferrari was sold to banker and long-time Ferrari client Alfredo Ducato of Hillsborough, California. A dedicated tifosi, Mr. Ducato ordered his first new Ferrari in 1951 and over the years developed a close personal relationship with Enzo Ferrari. Mr. Ducato and Enzo Ferrari regularly wrote to each other through the years and the Daytona Spider remained in Mr. Ducato’s collection until his death in 1987. Three years after her husband’s death, Mrs. Ducato sold the car through Walnut Creek Ferrari and Brandon Lawrence to Herb Boyer of Burlingame, California. In 1997 Mr. Boyer decided it was time to freshen the appearance of the car and had it repainted in its original shade of Giallo Fly by Bob Potts and the interior retrimmed in factory-correct Nero leather by Ken Neminick. In 2000, with fewer than 10,000 original miles on the odometer, the car was sold to Tom Knudsen of San Francisco, California. It was subsequently sold in August of 2005 to noted collector James L. Page of Boca Raton, Florida. In January 2008, the Ferrari was offered for sale having covered just 12,775 miles from new. It was subsequently purchased by Charles Yassky of New York, New York. On 26 January 2008 Mr. Yassky showed the Daytona Spider at the Cavallino Classic Concours d’Elegance in Palm Beach, Florida where it took home the coveted Platinum Award at the highly competitive event. In April of 2008, the Daytona Spider received its Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification, proving the car was true to its original specification. Following certification, Mr. Yassky partook in the Ferrari Factory 40th Anniversary Daytona tour from Maranello to Mugello, Italy. In 2008, with 13,020 miles, the Daytona Spider was sold to current ownership where it has remained in a meticulously maintained Ferrari collection. Today, the odometer displays just 13,442 miles from new at time of cataloguing. It is a rare opportunity to acquire any Daytona Spider, let alone one with such low original mileage, a Classiche Certified, Platinum award-winning example, with as interesting provenance as this. Although now over two decades old, the paint and interior remain remarkably fresh in appearance and the car has clearly been well cared for throughout its life. A recent compression and leak down test by Norbert Hofer of Gran Touring Classics confirmed the engine is in good mechanical order. The Daytona Spider is accompanied by manuals with pouch, tool roll with jack and bag, and restoration photos. This Daytona Spider is ready for decades more top-down excitement for its next owner, exactly how Enzo Ferrari intended. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, taking place 22 May during the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. In-person and remote bidding options are available; contact RM Sotheby’s to register to bid. View Listing

By Edward Jones – May 11, 2021

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2021: 1995 Ferrari F50

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Images Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s - The Ferrari F50 was intended as an early celebration of the marque’s 50th anniversary. What bowed under the bright lights of the 1996 Geneva Motor Show was the culmination of everything the automaker had learned over its five decades of existence. The F50’s 512-horsepower V-12 stretched the limits of natural aspiration as it screamed toward its 8,000-rpm redline, while the car’s carbon-fiber tub kept the weight in check. The F50 split the difference between raw Ferraris of the past and the high-tech future. The F50 could trace its styling roots to the Pininfarina-penned Ferrari Mythos concept presented at the 1989 Tokyo show. That car rode on a modified Testarossa platform, as it was largely a styling exercise. An icon of its era, due in part to being featured in one of the first PC automotive video games, the Mythos was not just a virtual icon: The Sultan of Brunei is known to have commissioned at least two examples, one in red and the other in a decidedly period turquoise. To create the production F50, Ferrari and Pininfarina turned to wind tunnels. The Mythos’ basic shape remained intact, albeit with a curvier design with projector lights housed under headlight covers, deep air intakes in the front hood, a small passenger compartment, and a massive rear wing that likened it to the F40 that preceded it. Enormous, center-locking, 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels supplied by Speedline took the Campagnolo look from the 1980s into a new decade. The shapely body was created from carbon fiber and was wrapped over a tub created from the same material. Solid mounts held the race-derived 4.7-liter V-12 into the car. The V-12 itself was closely related to the engine that powered Alain Prost’s Ferrari 641 Formula 1 race car to five checkered flags during the 1990 racing season. The 65-degree V-12 was placed just ahead of the rear axle. A carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer intake supplied air, while fuel was held in an aircraft-grade Sekur fuel-tank bag to keep weight to an absolute minimum. A longitudinal six-speed manual transmission shuttled power rearward to a limited-slip differential. Cooling came via an oil-water intercooler sandwiched between the transmission’s lubrication system and the engine. Underneath, the F50 utilized rose-jointed unequal-length wishbones front and rear. Bilstein was tasked with creating electronically adaptive dampers to make what was essentially a Formula 1 car with windshield wipers and a passenger seat. Unassisted power steering ensured that the F50 would live up to its predecessors. After all, the F50 was never designed to scrub mileage as it dashed across the continent. Gigantic Brembo brakes guaranteed that the F50 would come to a halt quickly after reaching its 202 mph top speed. Ferrari made no effort to soften the F50 inside, either. Its dashboard was nearly unadorned, consisting of a carbon-fiber panel punctuated by three climate vents. Exposed carbon fiber was visible throughout, which, along with the manual window winders, served to remind occupants that the F50 was an exercise in weight reduction. Unladen, the car tipped the scales at just over 3,000 pounds, a remarkable feat given the power underhood, its relatively long 101.6-inch wheelbase, and the fact that the car’s structure was stiffened considerably because Ferrari chose to include a removable targa roof over the passenger compartment. Put to the test, the F50 was four seconds faster around the course at Fiorino than the F40 that preceded it. Even Ferrari’s then-president, Luca di Montezemolo, gushed with praise. He told Motor Trend in a 1995 review that the F50 would be “the first and last Formula 1 car with two seats.” CHASSIS 103922 The F50 hit the American market with an unusual lease program designed to prevent speculators profiting shortly after the model’s release. Of the 349 examples claimed to have been built, just 55 were earmarked for the American market, including the car offered here: Chassis 103922. 103922 is the 48th F50 produced; assembly was completed at Maranello on 15 December 1995 and the car was delivered shortly thereafter to Ferrari of North America in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. That same month, 103922 was sold new to American-Italian businessman, noted collector, and close friend of Horacio Pagani, Benny Caiola, via Wide World Ferrari in Spring Valley, New York. Caiola is said to have greatly enjoyed his F50, preferring it over all the other pieces of his vast and remarkable collection (notwithstanding his two Paganis). 10392 enjoyed residence and regular exercise within Caiola’s collection until his passing in 2010. The Caiola estate sold 103922 in February 2011, then showing approximately 4,000 miles accumulated during Benny’s 15 years of ownership. 103922 was thusly acquired by a Texas-based collector, who had the car regularly maintained by Ferrari of San Antonio during the course of his careful custodianship. In June 2018, with the car then indicating approximately 5,100 miles, this F50 was treated to a major “engine-out” recommended maintenance regimen which provided the 4.7-liter V-12 with a full suite of requisite gaskets, belts, seals, filters, and consumables. Additional maintenance invoices on file from Ferrari of San Antonio illustrate a saga of fastidious ownership. 103922 is now accompanied by its original owner’s manuals, service invoices, tool kit, hardtop, two pieces of luggage, and photos documenting the aforementioned major service completed in 2018. The F50, lauded as the last, and only, convertible six-speed manual Ferrari supercar, has very few peers. It combines cutting-edge, Formula 1-derived innovation and technology with a road-car platform. As the final generation of modern-day supercars equipped with manual transmissions begins to gain value in the collector car market, the F50 presents itself as not only an excellent-to-drive limited-production automobile, but also a very important model in Ferrari’s illustrious history. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, taking place 22 May during the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. In-person and remote bidding options are available; contact RM Sotheby’s to register to bid. View Listing

By Edward Jones – May 10, 2021

RM Sotheby's Amelia Island 2021: 1992 Ferrari F40

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Images by Drew Shipley - To this day, the F40 remains one of Ferrari’s most captivating and impressively engineered supercars. Originally modeled from the superlative 288 GTO model to be an FIA Group B competitor, taking on the likes of the Porsche 959, the F40 continued forward even after the racing class was canceled. Rather than scrap the program entirely, Ferrari used the five initial 288 GTO Evoluzione examples as the basis of a new 40th-anniversary road car. It would be the last supercar devised under Enzo Ferrari’s stewardship. The F40 chassis consequently featured a race-developed steel tube-frame chassis with four-wheel double-wishbone independent suspension, coil-over Koni shock absorbers, and four-caliper ventilated disc brakes. Leonardo Fioravanti’s coachwork design, which was aerodynamically perfected in Pininfarina’s wind tunnel, was built with paneling woven of Kevlar and carbon fiber, reducing the curb weight by approximately 20 percent, while simultaneously tripling the car’s structural rigidity. The twin-turbocharged V-8 was bored to displace 2.9 liters and equipped with IHI turbochargers and Behr intercoolers, and married to a five-speed gated-shifter transaxle. The resulting performance was stunning, with 478 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque capable of taking the F40 to 60 mph from standstill in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph. Cosmetically, the F40 amply reflected its basis in race-car development, with the low-weight body echoed by numerous interior considerations. Weight was further reduced with the use of cloth upholstery on plastic-composite racing seats, pull-strap door openers, drilled pedals, and Perspex windows. Publicly introduced at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, the F40 was initially earmarked for a low production run of 400 examples, but unexpected customer interest prompted Ferrari to ultimately build 1,315 cars. The commemorative supercar was initially only available in Europe, and early examples were built without catalytic converters or adjustable suspensions. In 1990, a more developed version began taking deliveries in the United States, standard-equipped with air-conditioning and catalytic converters. By the model’s production conclusion in summer 1992, just 213 examples had been specified and delivered to North America. Occupying such an important position in Maranello’s supercar lineage, it is hardly surprising that many F40 examples were initially purchased by astute collectors and largely restricted to showroom viewing and concours exhibition. Relatively few cars were driven in anger on track,, but a handful of drivers were lucky enough to experience the F40 under such conditions. Case in point: Five-time Le Mans champion Derek Bell was allowed to push the car’s limits during a test drive for Classic & Sports Car magazine conducted during the mid-2000s. His verdict: “It’s just magnificent…This is a car to make your hair curl. The power delivery is sensational, and I love the way the turbos come on with such a rush. Very quickly the situation changes from neutral understeer to amazing oversteer, but it’s all superbly predictable.” CHASSIS 93103 Chassis 93103, offered here, is one of the last F40s built at Maranello. As one of just 60 examples constructed for the US market during the 1992 model year, it benefits from all the updates provided to the model since it was introduced in 1987. 93103 was assembled in February 1992 and delivered new in April 1992 to Ferrari of Houston, Texas clad in the standard F40 livery of Rosso Corsa over a Stoffa Vignona cockpit. On 8 April 1993, 93103 was sold to collector Herb Korthoff, of Park City, Utah; Korthoff is also recorded as having owned another F40 (92501) during this time. The car’s warranty card has been filled out by a “Sean Harris”—likely the son of Steve Harris, an authorized Ferrari dealer in Salt Lake City who also sourced 92501 for Korthoff. The car next appears in 2000 for sale at Shelton Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, then showing 398 miles. Derek Woods of Cape Coral, Florida purchased 93103 and later displayed the car at 13th Cavallino Classic in January 2004. 93013 reappears in 2010 under the care of Christopher Vecillio in West Palm Beach, Florida; Vecillio is believed to have purchased the car from Shelton Ferrari in 2008 then indicating approximately 2,800 miles. Vecillio displayed 93103 at the 19th Cavallino Classic in January 2010, where it scored over 97 points and earned a Platinum Award in the Supercar Class. Invoices on file illustrate a regimen of meticulous care furnished to this F40 by each of its previous owners. 93103 has travelled under 40 miles since it was treated to a complete major service and belt service at Ferrari of Long Island in Plainview, New York. Executed in November of 2020, the car was also fitted with a new starter, alternator, horns, and four new tires. The consignor notes that the F40’s tires are bespoke to the model; the front and rear pair evidence different date stamps because Pirelli only makes them as needed, but both pairs are equally “as new.” 93103 also received an alignment, Pass Time tracking system, and rebuilds to its steering box and fuse panel. Earlier invoices illustrate regular servicing and fastidious attention paid to 93103 by Ferrari of Long Island and Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale. Now showing 3,304 miles at time of cataloguing, this very-late production F40 is accompanied by its proper US manuals, tools, two keys, Ferrari Classiche Red Book circa 2010, and service invoices dating back to the mid-1990s. Despite being the first installment in a long line of commemorative models that includes the F50, the Enzo, and the LaFerrari, the F40 continues to hold a special place in the heart of Maranello enthusiasts, bearing a close relationship to FIA race cars while having been supervised by Enzo Ferrari himself. Often occupying a crowning position in marque-focused collections, the F40 has evolved into one of Ferrari’s most celebrated supercars, revered by Maranello purists and hypercar aficionados alike. This low mileage, late-production US-market example is undoubtedly one of the most desirable examples ever brought to market. This vehicle will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, taking place 22 May during the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. In-person and remote bidding options are available; contact RM Sotheby’s to register to bid. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 29, 2021

Mecum Indy 2021: 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta from Marshall...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Based on the fabulous 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO, this 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta is one of just 80 produced, making it one of the most exclusive Ferrari supercars of the era. The 599 GTO broke new ground as the fastest road-going Ferrari to its moment, combining the 6.0L/644 HP engine derived from the 599XX track car, Ferrari’s own F1 6-speed manual gearbox, computerized stability and traction control systems, and Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes to conjure a driving experience reserved for but a few fortunate mortals. The best never being enough for the magicians of Maranello, they took the 599 GTO one step further to create the SA Aperta, the fastest, most exclusive open Ferrari in the company’s extraordinary history—“SA” standing for Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, whose world-renowned design house conceived the 599’s timeless coachwork and also celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2011, and “Aperta,” Italian for “open.” An original U.S. delivery example showing 4,345 miles, this 599 SA Aperta presents in Rosso Fuoco paint with a Matte Silver windshield surround and removable roof panel over a Nero interior with Rosso contrast stitching and the famed Cavallino Rampante embroidered into both headrests. Supple water-resistant leather upholstery covers the form-fitting Recaro power sport seats, dash and interior trim panels, subtly accented with Gloss Black surfaces on the steering wheel, shift paddles and other driving zone surfaces, and carbon fiber trim on the seats. While the historically exclusive nameplate is conspicuously absent, the SA Aperta retains all of the GTO’s marvelous performance, while differentiating itself with such features as a specially designed SA-specific exhaust system. Finishing touches such as aluminum monoblock brake calipers, Scuderia fender shields, a contrasting red rev counter, front and rear parking sensors, iPod connectivity and Pirelli P Zero tires on 20-inch sculpted alloy wheels add further distinction. Offered with Ferrari Classiche Certification, this awe-inspiring milestone Ferrari comes complete with the factory tool kit, car cover, battery charger, Nero soft top and manuals. This Ferrari 599 SA Aperta will be auctioned off during Mecum Auctions' Indy 2021 event, which runs May 14-22. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: 2005 Ferrari 575M Superamerica Wi...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Offered with highly desirable Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification and all accompanying accessories, this 2005 Ferrari 575M Superamerica has been driven just 1,344 miles, with a major service having been performed on July 7, 2014, at 1,070 miles. The Superamerica designation has traditionally been reserved for Ferrari’s most elite luxury grand-touring machines that capitalized on extensive development in previous models. The 575 Superamerica is no exception to this tradition; indeed, thanks to the exponential pace of improvements in technology through the first years of the 21st century, the 2005 iteration represents the richest expression of the Superamerica concept. To fully appreciate that, consider that the 575 Superamerica came just 10 years after the front-engine V-12-powered 550 Maranello took over the hallowed position of company flagship after 22 years spanning the mid-engined flat-12 Berlinetta Boxers and Testarossas. In that brief period, Ferrari developed a dizzying array of Formula 1-derived technologies in engines, transmissions, suspension and braking that drove previously inconceivable advances in their road cars. The evolution from the 550 and 575M Maranello Berlinettas to 575 Superamerica hardtop convertible perfectly illustrates this phenomenon. Power output climbed from the 550’s 485 HP to 512 HP in the 575, which also benefited from larger carbon-ceramic brakes, improved aerodynamics, and adaptive self-adjusting suspension. Having earned its lofty title with a boost to 533 HP and the use of Ferrari’s outstanding F1 gearbox and integrated limited-slip differential, the Superamerica reprised the famous limited-production luxury Ferraris of the past, its most fascinating feature is the inspired Revocromico electrochromic roof panel, the first in a production automobile, which rotated 180 degrees from its closed position to flip back into a depression in the rear deck, with no intrusion into the available luggage space. When closed, the Revocromico’s transparency can be adjusted through five levels from almost clear to very dark blue, simply by turning a knob on the center console. This extremely low-mileage 2005 Ferrari 575 Superamerica showcases all these features in a beautiful pairing of Rosso Corsa paint and a sumptuous tan leather interior of unrivaled quality and workmanship. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininf...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - 2001 marked the 70th anniversary of Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and 50 years of its close partnership with Ferrari. To celebrate these historic milestones, the two Italian automotive titans collaborated on the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, a car specifically designed to recall such legendary Ferraris as the 166 MM, the 250 GT California and the 365 GTS/4 Daytona. Only 448 were produced, each one bearing a numbered plaque designed and signed by Sergio Pininfarina. Based on the 550 Maranello, the Barchetta was designed in the mold of the classic front-engined V-12 Ferrari sports roadster. To that end, the Maranello’s aluminum roof gave way to a traditional-style cut-down windscreen that is almost 5 inches lower than the coupe’s. Twin upholstered roll hoops provide stylish passenger protection without intruding on the car’s sleek silhouette. There is no folding convertible top; just a manually fitted add-on soft top for emergency use. The Barchetta retains the 550’s all-alloy 65-degree V-12, a 5.5L 4-cam masterpiece rated at 485 HP at 7,600 RPM, and its manually shifted 6-speed transmission. That car’s ventilated 4-wheel disc brakes, Bosch ABS and limited-slip differential are also kept. No. 4 of the 448 produced, the 550 Barchetta offered here from the Steve Todhunter Collection was delivered new to Ferrari of Long Island in New York with the optional Fiorano handling package, which includes Brembo brake pads in red-painted brake calipers, special front and rear springs and shocks, a larger-diameter rear sway bar, modified power steering ECU and special alignment specifications. Its Rosso Corsa paint and modular alloy wheels are complemented nicely with the sharp beige Connolly leather interior that emphasizes the Barchetta’s sporting nature with large but firmly bolstered racing buckets, the famous gated shifter, suede-like Lorica fabric on the instrument bezel to eliminate glare, and automatic climate control. A fire extinguisher in a sleeve of Connolly leather clearly demonstrates the attention to detail. Showing just 1,507 miles after a major service by Scottsdale Ferrari in June 2019, No. 4 in this exclusive series is offered complete with documentation and accessories. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 13, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: Rosso Corsa 2018 Ferrari 812 Supe...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - The 21st-century edition of Ferrari has executed one technological leap after another in its pursuit of the “Next Great Car,” applying its Formula 1 expertise ever more rapidly to its road cars. One of the latest in this series of advances is the 812 Superfast. At first look it seems to be an evolution of the F12 Berlinetta, the incredible front-engined V-12 coupe that surpassed the legendary Enzo’s record-breaking lap of the company’s famous Fiorano test circuit. In so doing, however, the F12 proved such a handful to many of its owners that Ferrari saw the need to make its successor more user-friendly, and the 812 Superfast answered that need while fulfilling its mission to exceed the F12’s on-track performance. An all-aluminum body/chassis structure, better aerodynamics, tighter gearing, rear-wheel steering, wondrous traction management and more horsepower merge under the umbrella of fully integrated computer controls to realize that goal. At an MSRP of $429,008, the 812 Superfast offered here from the Steve Todhunter Collection is exclusive, made more so by a choice of options amounting to another $48,000, but it adds up to a truly sublime automobile that could only come from Maranello. Delivered new to Scottsdale Ferrari in Rosso Corsa with Scuderia fender shields and 20-inch light-alloy wheels with carbon fiber center caps, its central assets are the Superfast-spec 6.5L/789 HP V-12 engine (with optional Black ceramic exhaust), Ferrari’s excellent 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, magnetorheological suspension, an electronic locking rear differential and massive carbon-ceramic discs with red calipers for mind-boggling deceleration. MUST READ: Ferrari 812 Superfast Price & Specs The black leather interior is trimmed in equal parts red leather and carbon fiber trim. The space-age composite forms the central bridge and upper tunnel, dash inserts and a multi-function steering wheel complete with LED readouts, shift paddles, audio and navigation controls and the ubiquitous Manettino switch. Leather door trim, Prancing Horse headrest embroidery, colored Ferrari-logo mats, a parking camera and heat-insulating windscreen complete the accommodations. The most refined yet powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari to its time, this low-mileage 812 Superfast is offered with extensive documentation and accessories that include the window sticker, books, tools, car cover, battery tender and compressor. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 12, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: 2016 Ferrari F12tdf With Only 449...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Originally owned by Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Team Penske owner Roger Penske and driven just 449 miles, this 2016 Ferrari F12tdf is one of only 799 produced worldwide. As befits a man who has excelled at the pursuit of speed and victory his entire life, the F12tdf demands respect for its approach to achieving supercar superiority. It is truly a demanding driver’s machine, one that requires a mental recalibration to appreciate the capabilities that qualify it to carry on the Tour de France tradition as the ultimate front-engined road Ferrari. The numbers are telling: its all-alloy 6.3L DOHC V-12 engine borrows from Ferrari’s F1 racers to deliver an increase over the “standard” F12’s 730 HP and 509 lb-ft of torque to 769 HP at 8,500 RPM and 520 lb-ft, the latter almost all in at just 2,500 RPM. A 7-speed dual-clutch F1 transmission features tighter ratios and microsecond shifts, combining with F1 traction control to launch passengers to 60 MPH in a hair-raising 2.9 seconds; top speed, if you dare, exceeds 210 MPH. With controls off, the F12tdf is the province of only the most skilled racing driver, but its virtually unobtrusive array of computer controls and precise programming modes that can be tailored to the individual transform it into one of the most exhilarating and rewarding Ferraris imaginable. Presenting in brilliant Rosso Corsa with a red and black interior and red-painted brake calipers behind 20-inch alloys fitted with Pirelli P-Zero rubber, this formerly Penske-owned example builds on that breathtaking performance with almost $55,000 in optional extras to drive its exclusivity to a level foreseen only by the Ferrari brain trust. Carbon fiber has been substituted in place of standard materials in the engine filter box cover, under-door covers, headlight and fog lamp enclosures, and on exterior trim, vents, intakes and rear diffuser. Alcantara lines the seating surfaces, headliner and boot, with carbon fiber again used for the rear shelf and bench trim. An air compressor, car cover, battery tender, books, tools, two keys and the factory window sticker complete this superb and exclusive offering. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

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