Announced at the Paris International Motor Show in 2010, Ferrari’s SA Aperta carried on the marque’s tradition of limited-edition drop-top V-12 grand tourers, which included the 550 Barchetta and the 575 Superamerica. Intended to commemorate coachbuilder Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary, the SA Aperta’s nomenclature pays homage to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, who helped create so many iconic Ferraris over many decades. Fittingly, only 80 examples were produced, and all were pre-sold by the time the car was announced publicly.

Although the SA Aperta is based on the 599 GTB, Ferrari reengineered the chassis to ensure it maintained a level of stiffness comparable to that of a closed-roof coupe with only a 37-pound weight penalty versus the GTB version—quite a feat for an open-top car. To lend a sleeker look, the windshield was given a steeper rake and the suspension was modified to provide a lower ride height. Two carbon-fiber fins behind the integrated roll bars recall the flying buttresses on the 599 GTB. They are finished in contrasting silver, to match the reinforced windscreen frame and side mirrors. Subtly redesigned front and rear bumpers feature larger intakes and outlets. The side sills are also different on the SA Aperta and fashioned of carbon fiber, while the trunk lid is in aluminum. Completing the exterior changes are five-spoke, 20-inch wheels unique to the SA Aperta.

The interior was reimagined with a two-toned motif. Leather-lined roll hoops mimic the shape of the standard sport seats and blend superbly with the rest of the cockpit. To protect the highly crafted interior from inclement weather, a removable soft top designed for occasional use (rated to 80 mph) integrates seamlessly into the design.

As in every other aspect, the SA Aperta offers a unique experience when it comes to performance and driving dynamics. It features the 661-horsepower 6.0-liter V-12 engine from the 599 GTO—producing 50 horsepower more than the engine in the standard 599 GTB—paired with Ferrari’s F1-Superfast six-speed automated manual transmission. But both have been tuned to be less aggressive, as has the electronically adaptive suspension and exhaust system, which is a modified version of the exhaust system used in the track-focused 599XX. The result is a highly capable open-top 599 with a distinct personality geared more toward comfort than its fixed-roof counterparts, yet no less willing to be pushed to its limits.

This example is finished in a bright shade of red, which Ferrari calls Rosso Dino, and is complemented by a dark brown, or Marrone Scuro, soft top. The two-tone Iroko leather interior features, dash inserts painted in the exterior color, carbon-fiber trim, a yellow tachometer to match the yellow brake calipers, and Testa Di Moro carpets. Driven sparingly its entire life, this SA Aperta’s odometer showed less than 350 miles at time of cataloguing.