To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 6 - 7
March 2020.
Estimate:
$525,000 - $625,000
- Ferrari Classiche Certified
- Offered with less than 1,330 miles
- Striking Rossa Corsa over Nero leather
- One of 599 built; only 125 US-delivery examples
- Rare example of Ferrari's modern GTO homage
Ferrari's V-12 coupes represent perhaps the most romantic notion of
continental grand touring, but they can also make for impressive
track machines. Their basic theme can be traced to the 250 GT, with
its legendary Colombo V-12 power and race-honed design. With the
250, Ferrari had both breadth and depth for every definition of a
performance car. Subsequent twelve-cylinder designs ranged the
gamut, but Ferrari eventually returned to the long-nose,
front-engined, two-seater form.
When the 599 GTB debuted at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show as the
long-anticipated replacement for the 550 and later 575 Maranello,
contemporary press praised its modern design penned by Ken Okuyama
at Pininfarina. Its naturally aspirated F140C 6.0-liter V-12, an
evolution of the F140B from the Ferrari Enzo, was even more
eye-opening with its astounding 612 hp rating.
To prove that its grand tourer was indeed a true descendent of the
250 GT, a track-only 599XX arrived three years later at the 2009
Geneva Salon. In the same vein as the Enzo and FXX, Ferrari's
Formula 1 team set to work, trimming weight where possible,
improving its aerodynamics, and uprating its V-12 to a screaming
720 hp using racing fuel. The V-12's rev limiter crept up to 9,000
rpm, and air quickly and loudly exited via a special exhaust
system. F1-grade carbon-ceramic brakes brought things to a
halt.
The 599 GTO announced in the spring of 2010 resurrected the three
most important letters in Ferrari parlance, making it only the
third GTO model after the 250 GTO and the 288 GTO. Since it was not
designed with racing in mind, the 599 GTO was not merely a
homologation version of the 599XX. Instead, it had performance
credentials of its own, earning its revered letters.
Underhood, the 599 GTO featured a 670 hp version of the V-12 with a
180-degree crankshaft paired to a version of the 599XX's
single-clutch automated transmission that could fire off shifts in
just 60 milliseconds. The combination was good for a 208 mph top
speed and a 0-60 mph sprint of 3.35 seconds. The 599 GTO also took
the best of the HGTE package with a version of its
magnetorheological automatic-adjusting shocks and added staggered
Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Compared to the Ferrari Enzo, the
599 GTO was more subtle and sophisticated, yet also faster and
sharper. Ferrari at the time called the 599 GTO its "most extreme
sports car," and the company admitted that it could lap Fiorano a
second faster than the Enzo.
Ferrari built just 599 examples and earmarked a mere 125 for the
United States, including the Rosso Corsa example offered here.
Originally delivered by Ferrari of Central Florida to its first
owner, the GTO is presented in like-new condition. Without
question, the 599 GTO stands out even in the rarefied crowd of
high-performance Ferraris. Its specification is truly amazing, with
over $25,000 in options. This includes such options as the use of
carbon in the interior, its boot compartment finished in dry
carbon, "elegant" interior trimming, leather upholstery, iPod
connectivity, aluminum-colored brake calipers, and rear parking
sensors.
In later years, the car entered the ownership of another Florida
enthusiast. Upon acquiring the 599, the owner equipped the car with
a performance sports exhaust system, making the already violent
6.0-liter V-12 sound even more menacing. The GTO presents in
exceptional condition throughout, care of having been driven less
than 1,330 miles from new. Accompanying the Ferrari is a host of
documentation, including a copy of its window sticker, dealership
binder, owner's manuals, and Bill of Sale. Furthermore, it is also
offered with Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it
maintains its original mechanical components, including the engine
and transmission, and is presented today just as it left the
factory.
A staple of any top-quality Ferrari collection, the 599 GTO is
truly one of the most remarkable road-going Ferraris of the 21st
century, and this example will not disappoint even the most
discerning of collectors.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20.
