Building on the success of the formidable F12 - not to mention its illustrious GT forebears the 250 GT, 275 GTB, 365 GTB Daytona and 550 Maranello - Ferrari’s 812 Superfast was launched in 2017 to widespread praise amongst the motoring press. Its 6.5-litre V-12 engine produced almost 800 horsepower and remains the most powerful normally aspirated engine ever fitted to a production Ferrari, whilst its seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox, advanced rear-wheel steering system and active aerodynamics enabled the car to adapt to differing road conditions and levels of performance at the touch of a button. Its performance was predictably other-worldly, with 60 mph being achieved in under three seconds en route to a top speed of 211 mph.

Offered directly from the original owner, this particular 812 Superfast was constructed by Ferrari’s Tailor Made division in 2018 as an homage to the unique Pininfarina-bodied Ferrari 410 Superfast displayed at the Paris and Turin Motor Shows of autumn 1957.

The original car, chassis number 0719SA, bore the fetching colour scheme of Blu Genziana with an Avorio Roof and Naturale interior, and was sold in late 1957 to US-domiciled Dutchman Jan de Vroom. Through his close friendship with Margaret de Cuevas, a granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, de Vroom had been introduced to Luigi Chinetti, purchasing several early Ferraris - most notably a 500 TRC and 290MM - prior to acquiring 0719SA. A keen amateur racer himself, de Vroom subsequently become a co-founder and early financial backer of Chinetti’s New York-based North American Racing Team (NART) before his premature and mysterious death in 1975.

In early 2018, the vendor approached Belgian Ferrari Dealer Monza NV of Sint-Martens-Latem, near Ghent, with a view to recreating the character of 0719SA in a contemporary context; specifically that of Ferrari’s pre-eminent GT car. A detailed list of bespoke modifications was drawn up for submission to Ferrari’s Tailor Made division, which focussed on recreating 0719SA’s distinctive two-tone paint finish and replicating - in so far as possible - the original car’s demure Naturale leather interior. Indeed, such was the attention to detail that the factory incorporated the original 1950s-style vertical ribbed stitching into the new car’s seats, and the otherwise incongruous embossed Prancing Horse headrest motifs were omitted. Not unsurprisingly, these modifications did not come cheaply, the original three page order for the car showing a cost of some €68,728 for the Tailor Made modifications alone, in addition to a further €298,414 for the base vehicle and €41,201 for the “standard” factory options.

Commissioned in a manner befitting many of the great “one off” Ferraris of the 1950s and 1960s, this 812 Superfast truly marries the best of both worlds: bespoke old world charm effected by finest factory workmanship, combined with earth-shattering 21st century performance and technology. With manufacturers increasingly focussing their efforts on the new generation of Hybrid-powered hypercars, the 812 Superfast may yet prove to be the zenith of Ferrari normally aspirated, front-engined GT design, and in the car offered here there can surely be no more eye-catching or historically interesting example presently available.

Should you want more information on the condition of this lot and or discuss the possibility of an in-situ inspection, please contact our office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email Britta Buchmann at bbuchmann@rmsothebys.com