Let’s say you have amassed a garage full of Ferrari sports cars. Or even a warehouse. Most of Maranello’s finest creations are already accounted for in your collection, both in terms of roadgoing and track-focused examples. But there is still one area in which one of the world’s strongest brands can still dominate: on water. Whether your waterway of choice is on the intercoastal, on a lake, or ocean, this Ferrari is for you.
Offered in the appropriately sunny location of South Florida, at RM Sotheby’s nineteenth annual Fort Lauderdale auction, hosted at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from March 25 to 26, the only less-than-ideal part of the sale of this epic 1990 Riva Ferrari speedboat is that it will not be able to cross the block for bidding. No matter, for the Ferrari fans who wish to take their passion for the prancing horse into a new environment entirely, this rare Riva is absolutely worth a closer examination:
1990 Riva Ferrari 32
Estimate: $100,000 - $150,000 USD
Sporting similar side strakes to the superlative, twelve-cylinder Testarossa sports car, the Riva Ferrari 32 presents a genuinely unique presence on the open water. While most sailing boats and superyachts are finished in a reflective white, the vibrant Rosso Corsa paintwork makes this example comfortably stand out from any other watercraft you are likely to witness. The rationale for this statement is more than merely its color: the rarity of this example is extreme, even among limited-edition Ferrari sports cars, with only 40 examples built throughout the whole of its production run. This boat is the 28th of 40 produced.
Inside the driver-focused cabin, Ferrari fans will instantly appreciate the numerous references to the brand’s characteristic instrumentation. From the leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel to the high-visibility Riva/VDO gauges, the Testarossa-loving tifosi will feel right at home in this environment. Of course, few places are as naturally wet as the open sea, so all the included switchgear is thankfully waterproof.
Unlike automobiles, boats represent built environments that one can practically live in. The Riva Ferrari 32’s model name is derived from its 32-ft length, surely one of the longest Ferrari examples ever conceived. The well-appointed interior cabin includes a sleeping berth built for two, as the above panoramic photo displays. Accompanying the lucky owner below deck is a full stereo system with a Clarion AM/FM/CD player. This is one Ferrari that one would not hesitate to sleep in overnight.
While the Testarossa sports car was proudly powered by a flat-twelve, naturally aspirated engine, the Riva Ferrari 32 has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to its powertrain. With not one, but two hemispherical-head Vulcano 400 V-8 engines, both rated at 390 horsepower from new, connected to the rear propellers via Borg Warner transmissions, this Ferrari was made to move. Even more intriguing, both engines are controllable independently by the captain. With a top speed of 54-knots (62-mph) produced via its Rolla propellers, this Ferrari boat is not a mere façade, but a credible and capable cruiser.
Zooming out, there is little wonder that this powerboat, with its expressive, forward canted carbon fiber spoiler and powerful engines, is as adept on the open water as a Ferrari is on the open road. After all, its manufacturer, Riva, is another storied Italian brand with a history that stretches back even further in time than Ferrari itself. Founded in 1842 on Lake Iseo in Sarnico, Italy, the Riva shipworks survived the transition from wind-powered sailing ships to expressive, wood-paneled powerboats. Having started incorporating fiberglass hulls into their portfolio starting in 1969, and with a lineup that today includes superyachts, Riva chairman Gino Gervasoni and Enzo Ferrari collaborated on this watergoing project in the late 1980s.
Featuring a handful of Ferrari-referencing details, from the signature side strakes to the unique, multi-layer Scuderia Ferrari badges, this example is perhaps the ultimate capstone to any prancing horse collection. Perhaps most importantly for anyone in the market for a water-bound vessel, this boat has received an extensive engines-out service which was completed in 2015. Its current consigner reports receipts totaling over $100,000 in refurbishment and sorting. For those who are truly passionate about living the Ferrari core values of power, prestige, and luxury, is there any better way to live those values than a weekend cruise in a one-of-forty Riva Ferrari powerboat? For interested bidders, RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale auction is open for registration. Certainly, one will not find another for sale in Florida anytime soon.
