Playboy Toy

(page 2 of 2)

(Recent research has found that many updates actually started before the last twelve cars, so there really isn't a pure SII model, if you look beyond the louver count.)

The 500 Superfast would be the last of the ultra-Ferraris. Cost control initiatives from Ferrari's new partner Fiat are often cited as the reason for the demise. As mass production became more commonplace, the expense of designing, developing, and building a small run of specials grew exponentially. The 50 to 100% premium charged for these special cars was not enough to justify the effort necessary to produce them.

500 Superfast S/N 5981 is the fourth of the series. It is an eleven-louver car with a 4-speed overdrive transmission. It does not have power steering, nor does it have air conditioning. Swiss Ferrari historian Marcel Massini has written a thorough genealogy on this car. It was a Torino Auto Show car in 1964 and was pictured in the 1965 Ferrari Yearbook. It has a known ownership chain and a clean history.

These early ultra-Ferraris have faded into Ferrari history, often overshadowed by the sexy racecars. Reward yourself by closely examining one of these machines sometime. They are true works of art, and your time will be well spent.

In 1984 the 288 GTO was introduced, and signaled a new era in ultra-Ferraris; today we call them supercars. The GTO's performance and exclusivity put it a class apart from the production Ferraris. The GTO was followed by the F40, the F50, and the Enzo, which has been one-upped by the new FXX. At ten times the cost of a normal Ferrari, the FXX is by far the most expensive Ferrari ever built.

SCM's online auction database shows this to be the third time our subject Superfast has been offered at auction in the past few years. This time it sold, after being bid to $250,000 at Pebble in 2003 (SCM# 36239) and $440,000 at Sotheby's/Maranello last year (SCM #38631). In addition, the database tells us this car was sold by Christie's at its Beaulieu, U.K., auction in 1972 for a mere $16,958.

This time around, the car was beautifully detailed, and this, along with a rising market, is probably what made the difference; this result is in line with other, similar sales. The new owner should take great pleasure in his purchase and, given how interest continues to grow in these early V12s, he may even find some gold at the end of the rainbow.

Years Produced: 1964–66

Number Produced: 36

Original List Price: $29,300

SCM Valuation: $400,000–$500,000 (at time of print)

Tune-up Cost: $2,500

Distributor Caps: $450 (two required)

Chassis #: 5981

Chassis # Location: Left frame member by steering box

Engine # Location: Right rear above motor mount

Club Info: Ferrari Club of America, PO Box 720597, Atlanta, GA 30358

Web Site: http://www.FerrariClubofAmerica.org

Alternatives: 1959–64 Maserati 5000 GT, 1955–57 Pegaso Touring Coupe, 1956–59 Ferrari 410 Superamerica

Investment Grade: A

Provided by Sports Car Market—The Insider's Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values and Trends