The Ferrari F50. With solely 349 fashions ever produced, this F40 successor has solely 4 recorded fashions which can be identified to have reached our shores, with one of them sold to a US client last year. Right here’s a fast have a look at the few F50 homeowners in SA.
Earlier than being shipped off to the land of crimson, white and blue, this pristine F50 seems to have emerged from a 90’s time capsule as its solely ever pushed 5 420 km because it blistered off the Italian manufacturing traces. Moreover, the automotive was solely within the possession of two homeowners for its complete 30-year lifespan.
Its first proprietor is without doubt one of the extra attention-grabbing components of this F50’s life —which now resides within the US with DK Engineering. Leonard Smith, obtained a name at some point stating {that a} member of the family within the UK had handed away and Smith had an inheritance to gather. Not having the assets to journey to the UK, a pal sponsored UK sure journey, which noticed Smith return to SA with an estimated R800 000 000 to his identify. Lifechanging.
Shortly after this, Smith acquired his first Ferrari in 1991. Sadly unable to have bought an F40 when it was launched, Smith had attended the launch of the F50 in 1995, whereafter he despatched us a letter requesting allocation for an F50 and a plan detailing his intent to begin a small assortment. Shortly after the acquisition of that beloved V12-powered F50, his assortment noticed the likes of the 328 GTS, 512TR, 355 Problem, and 348 Spider be a part of Smith’s arsenal. Apparently, neighbours state that Smith would typically solely drive his Italian gems at night time. Some even said that Smith might be heard leaving his home round 11 pm.
Smith, sadly, handed away in 2012 and his assortment was dissolved with a lot of his vehicles auctioned off. The F50 was bought to its second proprietor, who solely added round 400 km to the odometer within the decade interval of his tenure. This is by far one of the most pristine examples of this extraordinarily uncommon piece of Italian supercar historical past and it was proudly cared for in South Africa.
