To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 6 - 7
March 2020.
Estimate:
$2,750,000 - $3,000,000
- Offered from the Lingenfelter Collection
- Less than 1,700 miles from new; one of only 399 built
- Upgraded with Tubi Extreme exhaust; original included
- Accompanied by window sticker, service records, manuals, tools,
and charger
If one manufacturer can claim to have created the definitive mold
for a modern evolution of consistently amazing hypercars, it must
be Ferrari. From the competition-bred 288 GTO and F40 of the late
1980s, through the voluptuous F50 of the 1990s, Ferrari combined
unparalleled performance and breathtaking designs to build small
batches of impeccable road machines for ultraexclusive buyers.
These were undeniably the most formidable production sports cars of
their day.
After F50 production concluded in 1998, the die-hard tifosi dreamt
of what exotic machine Maranello would create next-and what form it
would take. Speculation was rampant over whether the next model
would employ a rear-mounted V-8 or V-12, and if the packaging would
be spartan and purposeful like the F40, or luxurious and evocative
of vintage designs like the F50.
In mid-2002, then Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo ended the
wait with the introduction of the forthcoming Ferrari Enzo. Though
the model's name required no explanation, he reasoned that after
Ferrari had named cars for historically important locales like
Maranello and Modena, the time had finally come to honor the
company's founder. He also clarified that the new model would have
a strong connection to Formula 1 racing, as the manufacturer had
just won the 1999 and 2000 Manufacturers' Championship and the 2000
Drivers' Championship. Michael Schumacher was, in fact, just
getting started on his historic dominance of F1, a still unequaled
feat of five consecutive championships.
Formally debuting at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari Enzo
delivered on the promise of its design brief. Like a Formula 1 car,
the Enzo utilized futuristic materials to achieve maximum weight
savings, with a foundational chassis tub made of carbon fiber and
Nomex honeycomb weighing just 200 pounds. Aluminum subframes were
then mounted on the tub, and these laid the groundwork for the
mounting of Pininfarina's unique coachwork.
Penned by designer Ken Okuyama, the Enzo's external design mimicked
the shape of an open-wheel race car, though as if wrapped in a skin
extending over the fenders and cockpit. Aerodynamically perfected
in Pininfarina's wind tunnel, the body was composed of panels woven
from carbon fiber and Kevlar. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels, anchored
by 15-inch Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes, and unique scissor
doors, respectively, completed the Enzo's chassis and cabin,
finishing a car that was highly technological and endlessly
fascinating.
Into this phenomenal marriage of chassis and body a new
purpose-built engine was placed behind the driver, continuing the
manufacturer's long-running configuration for sports prototypes and
hypercars. The concurrent 90-degree V-8 was essentially extended by
two cylinders on each side and altered in angle, creating the
65-degree Tipo F140B V-12 engine. Displacing almost six liters, the
F140 was the largest engine built by Maranello since the 712 Can-Am
race car of the 1970s. It was packed with racing components such as
Nikasil-lined cylinder walls, titanium connecting rods, and a
telescoping intake manifold designed to boost torque, ultimately
developing 651 horsepower and 485 foot-pounds of torque,
earth-shattering numbers even by today's standards. The F140's
evolutions would go on to power the 599 series, the F12berlinetta,
and the LaFerrari.
With power transmitted via a six-speed dual-clutch transaxle that
was actuated with column-mounted paddle-shifters, the Enzo reached
60 mph from a standstill in just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 218
mph. Production was eventually capped at 400 units, so this was a
car whose engineering was also matched by its rarity. As unique and
captivating today as it was in 2002, the Ferrari Enzo continues to
hold sway with collectors, unmistakably carrying the mantle of
Maranello's defining millennial hypercar, the genetic link between
the sensuous F50 and the hybrid LaFerrari.
This Enzo, chassis number 132654, finished in Rosso Corsa over a
red leather interior, was originally sold through Wide World of
Cars in Spring Valley, New York. The first owner retained the car
for just over a year, covering less than 1,000 miles. In 2004 it
was sold through Lake Forest Sportscars to its second owner, an
Illinois resident. In the fall of 2005, the Enzo joined the
renowned Lingenfelter Collection. Shortly after joining the
collection, the car was sent to Cauley Ferrari in West Bloomfield,
Michigan, for a service that included the installation of an
upgraded Tubi Extreme exhaust, a popular modification among owners.
As a part of the collection, it has been looked after by
Lingenfelter staff and stored in a climate-controlled building.
Today it is offered with less than 1,700 miles and is accompanied
by a window sticker, service records, books, tools, charger, and
the original exhaust.
An icon of the Montezemolo era, the Enzo proved to be not only the
benchmark for an industry, but continues to be the benchmark for
Ferrari itself as the company progresses further into the 21st
century. Standing tall amongst such vaunted brethren as the 288
GTO, F40, F50, and now the LaFerrari, the Enzo represents the
ultimate iteration of the naturally aspirated, limited-edition
Ferrari hypercar, combining the very best components and technology
the world had to offer. Offered from the prestigious Lingenfelter
Collection, this Enzo will surely not disappoint.To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20.
