RE: Spectacular Ferrari F50 for sale
Discussion
Tickle said:
lauda said:
davebem said:
Back in the day didn’t evo mag spend a few days with a 288, f40, f50 and an enzo and decided the f50 was the best. I’ll have to find it from my old collection…
I might be misremembering, but I thought the 288 GTO came out top in that test. Edited by davebem on Sunday 19th November 17:20
Two fairly minor anecdotes about the F50.
In 2000, I did a fork lift truck course at a small industrial estate in South Devon (Modbury, I think). One of the neighbouring units had an F50 rear clamshell mounted on the wall. Apparently the company owner bought an F50 new and crashed it, but he kept that section of bodywork as a souvenir.
Back in about 2001, I visited the composite specialist in Italy who manufactured the carbon fibre tubs for Ferrari. They still had a tub on display in their reception. I think it was the first production car with a carbon tub. That was way back in 1995.
In 2000, I did a fork lift truck course at a small industrial estate in South Devon (Modbury, I think). One of the neighbouring units had an F50 rear clamshell mounted on the wall. Apparently the company owner bought an F50 new and crashed it, but he kept that section of bodywork as a souvenir.
Back in about 2001, I visited the composite specialist in Italy who manufactured the carbon fibre tubs for Ferrari. They still had a tub on display in their reception. I think it was the first production car with a carbon tub. That was way back in 1995.
I'd struggle with the gloopy styling and the shonky interior. The whole thing looks awfully cheap.
Obvious comparison is a CGT and while that's not a conventional looker, it does rather seem like it's on a whole different level for quality and is in at least the same sort of ballpark for driver appeal. Bit more usable and thus enjoyable, too, one suspects.
Obvious comparison is a CGT and while that's not a conventional looker, it does rather seem like it's on a whole different level for quality and is in at least the same sort of ballpark for driver appeal. Bit more usable and thus enjoyable, too, one suspects.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Probably not talked about as much as an F40 because despite the prowess, it isn’t that beautiful. Not that straight forward beauty (Miura) is something that super high performance specials need as much as looking brilliant and purposeful but this does neither. Long tails are hard but a Porsche 917 looks
incredible. An early countach is purposeful and perfect but not conventionally beautiful. The F50 looks half way between a road car and special and not aggressive enough for a special and not beautiful enough for a road car. That grille looks like something from a Festa. Better than an Enzo though.
I disagree.incredible. An early countach is purposeful and perfect but not conventionally beautiful. The F50 looks half way between a road car and special and not aggressive enough for a special and not beautiful enough for a road car. That grille looks like something from a Festa. Better than an Enzo though.
Edited by Billy_Whizzzz on Sunday 19th November 07:20
Randy Winkman said:
I seem to remember at the time that the reviews were a little disappointing. (As if I'd care if I could have one now.)
It is crazy how much these are worth now for sure. Especially when you consider that nobody in the motoring press seemed to have a good word to say about them at the time as you say. Plus they aren't exactly attractive to my eyes either for a Ferrari. I'd personally have an F40 over this all day everyday for sure(even though on paper I should really prefer this). I was never a fan of these when they came out, and still think they look awkward. I'm stunned at how the values have exploded - I just don't get it (whereas the F40 will always have ultimate icon status in my mind). Ah well, so long as the owners are happy, what does my opinion matter!
esixtythree said:
I'd struggle with the gloopy styling and the shonky interior. The whole thing looks awfully cheap.
Obvious comparison is a CGT and while that's not a conventional looker, it does rather seem like it's on a whole different level for quality and is in at least the same sort of ballpark for driver appeal. Bit more usable and thus enjoyable, too, one suspects.
I don't see the Carrera GT as an obvious comparison, largely because there was the best part of a decade between the 2 cars launching. The Carrera GT is more obviously a comparator for the Zonda/Enzo/Maserati MC12 for me. A better comparison would be the 911 GT1 or Mercedes CLK GTR for contemporary comparison, as well as the McLaren F1 as has already been mentioned.Obvious comparison is a CGT and while that's not a conventional looker, it does rather seem like it's on a whole different level for quality and is in at least the same sort of ballpark for driver appeal. Bit more usable and thus enjoyable, too, one suspects.
I'm torn on the F50. I can appreciate it as an engineering masterpiece, but there just has never been that want factor with me in the way there is the F40, or 288 GTO. I had models of them all as a kid and the F50 just never did it for me in the same way. If I had more money than I knew what to do with, I'd probably add it to the collection, and if I were ever lucky enough to drive one my position may very well be different. But without the luxury of either, for me personally, there's a good number of prettier engineering masterpieces I'd want in my collection ahead of this.
Baddie said:
Lukewarm reviews back in the day because the F1 obliterated it statistically, and was more special in build/execution. The F1 was also £300k more and didn’t sell 1/5 as well.
Since then there’s been a readjustment. Pretty sure Tiff reckoned he’d be quicker round the ‘ring in this than the F1, and it regularly comes out on top in Ferrari special comparisons, mostly because of its fidelity as a driver’s tool. By comparison the F1 is supposed to be less friendly and precise at the outer edges - partly because it was also conceived as a more useable road car.
Also, when you see subsequent efforts to put F1-esque powertrains on the road, it’s hard to say any have been as successful. Someone correct me if I’m wrong though, have read these need a top-end rebuild every 25k miles (not that that seems relevant to most).
If I remember correctly the lukewarm reviews were because Ferrari wouldn't let anyone review it properly. Restricted road tests and track time.Since then there’s been a readjustment. Pretty sure Tiff reckoned he’d be quicker round the ‘ring in this than the F1, and it regularly comes out on top in Ferrari special comparisons, mostly because of its fidelity as a driver’s tool. By comparison the F1 is supposed to be less friendly and precise at the outer edges - partly because it was also conceived as a more useable road car.
Also, when you see subsequent efforts to put F1-esque powertrains on the road, it’s hard to say any have been as successful. Someone correct me if I’m wrong though, have read these need a top-end rebuild every 25k miles (not that that seems relevant to most).
Don't think I've ever seen on IRL, but I think the styling was right for the time and still looks good - longer (ie bigger engine) more racy looking than say a 355, with enough styling cues from cars like the Testarossa to keep the family look.
If they really do now change hands for 4 million, then suspect that's mainly because of the rarity, 349 total production vs 1311 for the F40.
Enzos apparently change hands for 3 million, I wonder if the Enzo has firmed up F50 values with it's challenging styling and performance that was quickly outdated by mainstream models. Maybe the F50 was less susceptible to seeming outdated as it was more obviously an F1 car for the road (Stressed engine as part of the chassis etc.) rather than trying to be bleeding edge.
If they really do now change hands for 4 million, then suspect that's mainly because of the rarity, 349 total production vs 1311 for the F40.
Enzos apparently change hands for 3 million, I wonder if the Enzo has firmed up F50 values with it's challenging styling and performance that was quickly outdated by mainstream models. Maybe the F50 was less susceptible to seeming outdated as it was more obviously an F1 car for the road (Stressed engine as part of the chassis etc.) rather than trying to be bleeding edge.
Great museum piece... but not fo rme, i would still go for the F40. I know of two F40 owners who looked at changing to the F50 back in the day but due to being normally aspirated both said it did not feel that quick compared to the t/turbo'd F40
Yes a different car and far more F1 than supaercar but good luck to the new owner.
Yes a different car and far more F1 than supaercar but good luck to the new owner.
Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since this was first released. I wonder what they were worth back then?
https://youtu.be/8PQ4VGMDMQU?si=OvC1EGuSj2MlYdSg
https://youtu.be/8PQ4VGMDMQU?si=OvC1EGuSj2MlYdSg
Paulo_G said:
I don't see the Carrera GT as an obvious comparison, largely because there was the best part of a decade between the 2 cars launching. The Carrera GT is more obviously a comparator for the Zonda/Enzo/Maserati MC12 for me. A better comparison would be the 911 GT1 or Mercedes CLK GTR for contemporary comparison, as well as the McLaren F1 as has already been mentioned.
It's not a direct contemporary. But as the years tick by, that becomes less relevant. 50 years from now, I'd wager the basic proposition of a period carbon-tub supercar from the two most storied sports car brands, both with high revving NA lumps of similar capacity and power, manual boxes and minimal digital intervention will seem very much the same.911 GT1 with its turbo flat six is very different. Ditto the CLK GTR with it's weirdo gearbox. As driving tools, those cars have very different appeal (in both cases, not a great deal for me), whereas the F50 and CGT are much closer in that regard, despite the age gap.
Edited by esixtythree on Monday 20th November 16:24
LotusOmega375D said:
Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since this was first released. I wonder what they were worth back then?
https://youtu.be/8PQ4VGMDMQU?si=OvC1EGuSj2MlYdSg
The extremes of F50 owners: tosspots who buy this type of car and never drive it or, in the vid above, a pair of arrogant c*nts – sons of a notoriously shyster estate agent, no less – who abuse the car. Classy https://youtu.be/8PQ4VGMDMQU?si=OvC1EGuSj2MlYdSg
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