Ferrari F50

Why it matters

Presented at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show in anticipation of Ferrari's fiftieth anniversary, the F50 rejected turbocharging in favor of an exceptionally direct connection to Ferrari's racing engineering. Its 4,698 cc, 65-degree V12 traced its architecture to the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula 1 engine and served as a stressed structural member between the carbon-fibre monocoque and six-speed manual gearbox. Producing 520 cv at 8,500 rpm, it propelled the car from rest to 100 km/h in approximately 3.87 seconds and to 325 km/h. Pushrod suspension, composite bodywork, unassisted steering, unassisted brakes and the absence of anti-lock braking preserved a deliberately mechanical character. Pininfarina's shape integrated a vast fixed rear wing with a removable hard roof, allowing every F50 to be driven as either a berlinetta or open barchetta. Ferrari limited production to 349 examples—one fewer than its estimate of the potential customer base—to protect exclusivity. Positioned between the F40 and Enzo, the F50 remains unique among Ferrari flagships for combining an open cockpit, a gated manual transmission and a V12 mounted directly to the passenger cell.