To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' London event, 24 October
2019.
Estimate:
£85,000 - £110,000
- Finished in quintessential Rosso Corsa over Cuoio leather
- Delivered new to Singapore and currently registered in the
UK
- Includes numerous carbon-fibre options
The Ferrari 599 GTB replaced the 575M Maranello as Ferrari's
flagship two-seat V-12 front-engined GT offering when it was
launched in 2006. Whereas the 575M had been very much an
improvement exercise on the 550 Maranello, the 599 GTB was a
completely clean sheet design that marked a departure from the more
analogue attributes of the Daytona and 550/575M and announced
Ferrari's intention to digitalise the modern V-12 supercar.
Power came courtesy of a variant of the Tipo F140 V-12, which had
been launched in 2002 in the back of the Enzo. In the 599 GTB it
produced 612 bhp and 448 foot-pounds of torque, both record figures
at the time for a normally aspirated series production V-12, and
its combination with the F1 Superfast transmission equipped the car
with a top speed of 205 mph and a 0-124 mph sprint of 11.0 seconds.
Keeping the gargantuan power in check was Ferrari's new traction
control system, 'F1-Trac', which was controlled via the
steering-wheel-mounted manettino switch. The same switch also
controlled the new computerised hyper-responsive magnetorheological
semi-active dampers, which could be tailored on demand to fit the
desired driving scenario.
The 599 GTB was more than just a 'Top Trump' exercise or a
collection of dazzling numbers. For the first time in a Gran
Turismo Berlinetta, Ferrari elected to construct the car around an
aluminium chassis rather than using tubular steel, as it had done
before, which not only improved torsional stiffness, but also
dramatically lowered kerb weight. Aerodynamics were also pursued to
a level that had been the reserve of track cars, let alone GTs with
underbody venturi tunnels and flying-buttress C pillars to guide
and channel air onto a rear wing.
With such potent ingredients, it is of little surprise that the 599
GTB was an instant success, equally able to whisk occupants across
Europe with minimal fuss or to show an F50 a clean set of exhaust
pipes around Fiorano.
This example was first delivered to Singapore in 2007, as evidenced
by the Ferrari 60th Anniversary badge, where it was looked after
solely by the official Ferrari dealership there, with eight annual
stamps in the service book. In 2016 it was imported to the UK and
benefitted from a service at Dick Lovett Ferrari in April of that
year at 45,055 km; most recently it has received an annual service
from Ferrari specialists Keys Motorsport. Specified in the classic
combination of Rosso Corsa with Cuoio leather interior, it presents
in very good condition inside and out and is a testament to the
care bestowed upon it by its current and previous keepers. It also
benefits from extensive optional extras, including the coveted
Carbon interior 1 and Carbon interior 2 packages, which set it
apart from the majority of 599s and combine to make the cabin very
special indeed.
The 599 GTB emphatically raised the industry benchmark of the
front-engined grand tourer class, and it is little surprise that
Evo magazine anointed it as their car of the year in 2007,
proclaiming, 'There isn't another GT that comes close to matching
the exceptional breadth of the 599 GTB's ability, nor the richness
of the experience.'To view this car and others currently consigned
to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19.