CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF FORZA

The only achievement more difficult than reaching the peak is remaining there, an inherent truth the minds at Ferrari had long realized by the early 1990s. Given the success and acclaim of the Ferrari F40, the 40th-anniversary supercar that debuted in 1987, the Italian automaker’s engineers recognized that an even more superlative model would be needed to properly commemorate the soon-to-follow 50th anniversary.

Four years of development went into a dedicated road car with characteristically strong ties to Ferrari’s racing technology, starting with the chassis, founded on a Formula 1-style lightweight carbon fiber tub. The designers at Pininfarina outdid themselves with curvaceous coachwork molded from carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Nomex honeycomb, eschewing the wedge motifs of the 1980s in favor of free-flowing lines evocative of Ferrari’s most legendary sports racers of the 1950s and 1960s. The body included a solid removable targa top that allowed the F50 to strike the pose of either a barchetta or berlinetta, offering the best of both worlds.

Completing the spectacular marriage of body and chassis was a new 4.7-liter V-12 positioned in a mid-rear architecture, ensuring optimal weight distribution. The type F130B engine began life in Ferrari’s 1992 Formula 1 car and underwent further development in the 4.0-liter 333 SP sports racer, which won numerous Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships in IMSA GT and FIA sports car racing from 1995 to 2001. Later enlarged to displace 4.7 liters but detuned for more reasonable revving and tractable road manners, the new high-compression V-12 developed 513 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. The engine provided otherworldly performance, as proven by Road & Track magazine’s test of the car, in which the editors accelerated to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds while achieving a top speed of 202 mph, firmly establishing the model’s membership in the exclusive 200-plus mph club.

The return to earthbound speeds came from monstrous Brembo brakes with huge rotors—14 inches in front and 13.2 inches at the rear—anchored by aluminum pistons. In addition to the engine and braking technology, other Formula 1-inspired details abounded, from the racing-style fuel cell to the LCD dashboard instruments. Despite such heavy motorsport influences, the F50 did not deny creature comforts, with its leather-trimmed seats, air conditioning, and adjustable ride height.

In an apparent response to the criticism that it had built too many F40 examples, thus diluting rarity and corresponding valuation, Ferrari produced only 349 numbered examples of the breathtaking F50 through the conclusion of production in 1998, ensuring a uniqueness and premium cachet that instantly established the model as a bona fide collectible. The F50 remains a favorite of Ferrari-focused collectors, often serving as the centerpiece of modern stables, a critical component of the illustrious “Big Six” hypercar portfolio—including the 288 GTO, F40, Enzo, LaFerrari, and F80—relished by the most dedicated enthusiasts.

CHASSIS NUMBER 104220

According to a history report authored by marque expert Marcel Massini, chassis number 104220 commenced production in November 1995, being specified for the US market with instruments in miles, and finished in the characteristic Rosso Corsa paint over a Nero interior with rosso seat inserts. After completing assembly in February 1996, the F50 was delivered via Ferrari of North America to the retailer Beverly Hills Sports Car in Beverly Hills, California.

The Ferrari was quickly acquired by the esteemed dealer/broker Nader Amirvand of nearby Fountain Valley, who in turn sold the car to its first true private owner, the one and only “Iron” Mike Tyson, the legendary former heavyweight boxing champion and enduring pop culture icon. The flagship F50 would seem to be the perfect acquisition for an acknowledged supercar collector who had just regained the undisputed title to the heavyweight belts, rounding out a banner year.

Later that year Tyson sold the F50 back to Mr. Amirvand, and the car was subsequently purchased circa 2000 by a private collector based in Simi Valley, California. A year later the F50 was sold to Kevin Marcus, a computer technology magnate based in Seattle, Washington, and he kept the car for four years, presenting it at the 2004 Kirkland Concours d’Elegance.

In 2005 the Ferrari was sold to Bruce Weiner of Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Weiner commissioned some mechanical service work by the respected Rod Drew of Francorchamps of America Inc, including an engine-out service with electronic updates, an upgrade of the lighting, and a rebuild of the clutch. Following this work the car participated in the Italian Car Day in Atlanta in October 2005.

In 2006 the Ferrari was sold to Brian Ross, a major Ferrari collector residing in Cortland, Ohio, and he retained possession for a number of years, during which time the car was treated to a bevy of service measures, including the installation of a new fuel tank. In January 2008 the F50 was factory-certified with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book that indicates the presence of the original matching-numbers chassis, engine, transaxle, and bodywork. This factory-based certification confirms that the car remains ideally authentic.

By 2017 the Ferrari was owned by Todd Morici, the well-known collector based in Clifton, New Jersey, and it was next acquired in 2018 by Victor Roof, Jr. before being sold to an unknown enthusiast in 2020. Following a major service by Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale in May 2022, the F50 was acquired by a valued RM Sotheby’s client who passed away a couple years later. Now offered by his estate, the car continues to benefit from a lifetime of dedicated care by enthusiasts, and at the time of cataloguing it displayed 6,196 miles on the odometer. In preparation for its current offering, the car has undergone a major service by the authorized marque dealer Ferrari of Newport Beach, ensuring optimal mechanical condition.

Ideal for display at Ferrari Club of America gatherings, premium exhibitions, and supercar Sundays, this highly authentic and gently used F50 is accompanied by a hard top roof panel, a set of owner’s manuals in the proper leather pouch, a set of fitted F50 luggage, an F50 sales brochure, commemorative Ferrari F50 book, and a pair of Everlast boxing gloves autographed by Mike Tyson. Chassis 104220 would make a smashing acquisition for discerning Ferrari enthusiasts, beautifully representing one of the seminal components of the Italian automaker’s “Big Six” hypercar portfolio.