To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 6 February
2019.
Estimate:
Estimate Available Upon Request
- A true one-off built by Ferrari's Special Projects
department
- Single ownership and less than 110 km from new, virtually
as-new throughout
- Based on the Ferrari 599 GTO
- The very first Special Projects car to be offered publicly for
purchase
COACHBUILDING IN THE MODERN ERA
In the late the 20th century, the art of coachbuilding had truly
been lost. Gone were the days of purchasing a chassis and
drivetrain from a noted manufacturer and commissioning your
designer of choice to build a body to your own specifications and
requirements. With mass-production luxury automobiles becoming the
norm and homologation requirements becoming costlier and more
difficult, true coachbuilt cars were reserved for the ultra-wealthy
or heads of state, with the Sultan of Brunei being the archetypical
example.
Nevertheless, well-heeled enthusiasts were still intrigued by
commissioning their own coachbuilt cars. Upon the advent of the
21st century, coachbuilding began to make a return in limited
numbers with cars like the Zagato-bodied Ferrari 575 GTZ and Aston
Martin DB7 Zagato and DB AR1, yet these were produced in limited
quantities. Looking to build something truly unique in the
traditional style of coachbuilding, Pininfarina approached American
Ferrari collectors Jim Glickenhaus and Peter Kalikow in the early
2000s to see if they would be interested in commissioning such a
car. Both responded enthusiastically and in short order had their
own Ferraris with unique Pininfarina coachwork.
Glickenhaus' car, dubbed the P 4/5, was based on the Enzo and
designed as a forward-thinking homage to the Ferrari 330 P4 and was
truly modern in conception and execution. Kalikow's car, the 612
Kappa, largely resembled the 612 Scaglietti it was based on.
Kalikow directed Pininfarina to make subtle changes to each of the
car's body panels to enhance its visual elegance, so subtle that
they would only be noticeable to 10% of Ferrari experts at first
glance, recalling coachbuilt 250 GTs of the 1950s.
Both cars generated much positive press upon their debut and
quickly got the attention of Ferrari themselves. Sensing an
opportunity, Ferrari's own one-off program was unveiled in 2008.
Customers would first select a current production chassis and
drivetrain to work with. The new car had to retain that chassis'
particular hard points as well as other homologated details, such
as headlights, taillights and steering wheels with air bags, to
remain road-legal in most jurisdictions. But in terms of design,
customers are given a blank sheet and creative power of Ferrari's
own designers to work within those limits and turn their dreams
into reality.
Dubbed the Special Projects division, roughly 40 cars have been
produced for Ferrari's very best clients. Approximately a third of
these are known to the public, with some being formally announced
upon their delivery and some masked in supreme secrecy from start
to finish.
THE SP30
This car, dubbed the SP30, received a bit of early attention in the
automotive press, but has largely remained out of the spotlight
since. During the initial design phases, the SP30 was announced as
a project underway for a client based in the United Arab Emirates
and preliminary design drawings were shown, showcasing the
potential final product based on early conversations with the owner
prior to production. After that, the project remained out of the
public eye until only very recently.
Based on a 599 GTO chassis and drivetrain, the bodywork is
completely unique to this car, defined by the 599 XX style rear
winglets and speedster humps at the rear. Utilizing 458 Italia
headlights and 599 tail lights, the car's silhouette is clearly
reminiscent of other front-engined, twelve-cylinder Ferraris.
Boasting unique wheels, the scalloped bonnet most certainly
inspired designers of the F12tdf.
The interior switchgear and components are sourced from two
different Ferraris. With gauges, steering wheel and seats sourced
directly from the 599 GTO, the car's switchgear and infotainment
system appears to be from the 612 OTO, characterized by the large
satellite navigation system in the center console. Trimmed in
two-tone grey Alcantara, standard carbon fiber is seen on the
dashboard, transmission tunnel, steering wheel and paddle shifters,
but red carbon is utilized on the parking brake handle and
passenger side grab-handle, and red paint on the rims of the air
vents matches the red tachometer and seatbelts. Like the 599 GTO,
the SP30's interior is devoid of carpets, hinting at its sporty
atmosphere. Behind the seats is a rear parcel shelf suitable for
two small weekend bags.
Presented in virtually as-new condition, the SP30 has barely, if
ever, seen the open road, showing less than 110 km from new on its
odometer. Even the original plastic protective covering is still
affixed to the infotainment screen. Very much the crown jewel of
its collection, the SP30 represents the ultimate manifestation of
the wildest automotive desires of its first owner, and plainly was
treated with respect as a piece of automotive artistry and
history.
The opportunity to acquire a Ferrari Special Projects car is simply
unprecedented and this marks the very first example to be offered
for sale to the public. Visually linked to a number of Ferraris to
come before and obviously inspirational to some that followed, it
is a unique piece of the marque's history, akin to the much
celebrated one-offs of the Enzo-era. It goes without saying that
this is an unprecedented opportunity to acquire something truly
unique. To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa19.
