The 599 GTB Fiorano was a ground-breaking achievement for Ferrari. Although it was touted as a dual-purpose grand touring and sports car, the 599, could easily outmatch the performance of Ferrari’s iconic F40, even with all of its luxury accoutrements. Knowing that this was a big moment for the company, Ferrari even produced a video of both cars racing on a winding canyon road, which was titled Dual for the Crown. In the end, the 599 emerges victorious and outruns the fabled F40, demonstrating the advances of Ferrari’s race-bred technology.

The 599’s engine is derived directly from the Ferrari Enzo, which, just a few years earlier, had been acclaimed as the company’s most technologically advanced supercar ever. The GTB can sprint from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, and the six-liter V-12 can produce 620 brake horsepower at 7,600 rpm, bringing the car to a speed of 205 mph. Its acceleration was faster than the Enzo and even faster than the McLaren F1, partly in thanks to its superb traction control, which was initially developed for the Scuderia’s Formula One cars.

Like its cousin, the F430, the 599 was the second Ferrari to wear the now trademark il manettino dial on the steering wheel. This dial, with its name translating to “little lever,” features five settings to adjust the traction damper settings and to monitor the throttle mapping. This gives the driver the option of having both a docile, driver-friendly car and a no-holds-barred racer.

Like all modern Ferraris, the 599 is just as luxurious as it is fast. The interior is spacious and comfortable, with incredible attention to detail being paid throughout. Carbon fiber and aluminum are utilized on the dash, which features Enzo-style instruments and a complex LCD display that allows the driver to access a multitude of settings and in-car information. The seats, developed by Recaro, are multi-functional and have adjustable pneumatic support for the passengers’ hips and ribs, to provide a tight grip during high-speed road or circuit driving.

The 599 GTB offered here was sold new through Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo Ferrari in Portland, Oregon. As it appears today, it was finished in what can only be described as a truly menacing black-over-black color combination. This GTB is also equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, and although a standard feature, most customers opted for the latest F1-style sequential electronic gearbox, making the manual gate-shift transmission extremely rare. Only 20 such examples were delivered to the United States. Optional equipment found on the car includes the famous Scuderia Ferrari fender shields; 20-inch monolithic Challenge wheels wrapped around carbon-ceramic disc brakes with red calipers; an upholstered top; a Bose sound system and six-CD changer; and the desirable Daytona-style seats. The current owner acquired the GTB in November 2009, and the car has accrued less than 3,800 miles since new. It has been properly stored in a climate-controlled collection, and it is accompanied by its original books.

Ultimately, the 599 GTB is a remarkable Ferrari and a spectacular example of 40 years of supercar progress.