As the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2024 auction approaches, car enthusiasts and collectors have their eyes set on an exceptional lot: a 1995 Ferrari F50, estimated to fetch between $4,500,000 and $5,000,000. This particular F50, chassis number ZFFTG46A3S0103921, serial number 047/349, is a gem in the world of supercars, boasting an illustrious history and pristine condition.
The Ferrari F50 was introduced to commemorate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary, following the resounding success of its predecessor, the F40. Pininfarina’s design, combined with Ferrari’s cutting-edge racing technology, resulted in a road car that was as close as one could get to a Formula 1 car for the streets. The F50 features a lightweight carbon fiber tub, a 4.7-liter V12 engine derived from Ferrari’s 1992 F1 car, and a design that evokes the legendary sports-racers of the 1950s and 1960s.
This specific F50, the 47th of the 349 built, stands out as one of only 55 originally delivered to the United States. It has accumulated just 8,556 miles and remains in outstanding overall condition. The car has received Ferrari Classiche Certification, confirming its originality and authenticity.
Originally finished in Rosso Corsa, the car was sold through Ferrari of Houston to Dahr Jamail of Houston, Texas. Jamail preferred a different color, so the car was refinished in Azzurro California. By 1998, the F50 had found a new owner in Mark Rand, who showcased it at the Texas Motor Speedway during the F355 Challenge races. The car was later returned to its original Rosso Corsa color.
The F50’s journey continued as it was sold to actor Nicolas Cage in 2004 and then to Alex Papas of Arizona in 2005. Papas exhibited the car at various prestigious events, winning a Platinum award at the Ferrari Club of America Concours d’Elegance in 2007 and displaying it in Bahrain in 2008.
The car changed hands again in 2009, moving to Lewis N. Brown of Pennsylvania, who displayed it at the Cavallino Classic and the Panamerican Concours, earning another Platinum award. In 2014, Dr. Daxes M. Banit of Georgia became its owner, followed by a well-known Southern enthusiast in 2021.
The F50 has been meticulously maintained and restored to its factory specifications, earning it three Platinum awards, most recently at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach in 2023. It comes complete with original books, tool kits, six sets of keys, and the all-important Ferrari Classiche Certification Red Book.
The car’s comprehensive documentation includes maintenance records, a dedication book, a factory-produced photo album, and the original three-piece luggage set. It also features the Barchetta top, roll bars, and the original “flight box” with the hardtop and leather hardware pouch inside.
This 1995 Ferrari F50, with its rich history and immaculate condition, is a rare and valuable addition to any prestigious car collection. Enthusiasts and collectors will not want to miss the opportunity to bid on this extraordinary vehicle at the Monterey auction.
Shawn Henry