This supercar was fit for a rockstar. Coming straight from Maranello to the UK, this Ferrari F50 was commissioned by Rod Steward. Today it still looks as if it just rolled off the assembly line, even though it went through a repaint and a seats retrim and then, it was returned to its factory specification.
Ferrari came up with the F50 in 1995. It was a two-door, two-seat, mid-engine, targa top supercar, powered by a 4.7-liter naturally aspirated Tipo F130B 60-valve V12 engine that was derived from the 3.5-liter V12 that set the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula One racing car in motion. That is why, in the mid-1990s, it was dubbed by some as "a road-legal F1 car with two seats." And no one could argue with that.
The Ferrari F50 could run from 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph) in just 3.8 seconds, hit 100 mph (160 kph) in 8.5 seconds, and covered the quarter mile in 12.1 seconds at 123 mph (198 kph) on its way to a top speed of 202 mph (325 kph).
The power plant is linked to a six-speed manual transmission, which steers the 512 horsepower (519 PS) and 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels.
Inspired by the Mythos concept car, which premiered at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, the F50 was underpinned by the same platform as the iconic Testarossa and was designed by the Italian design house Pininfarina.
Photo: Collecting Cars
Only 349 F50s saw the light of day, with the last one of them rolling off the assembly line in July 1997, after the model had been in production for two years.
Only 302 of the F50s were painted in Rosso Corsa (Race Red), while 31 were ordered in Giallo Modena (yellow), eight were in Rosso Barchetta (also red), four in Argento Nurburgring (silver), and other four in Nero Daytona (black). One of the 302 Rosso Corsa Ferrari F50s is right here, ready to rock, as it used to in its hey days, when it belonged to rock star Rod Stewart.
The model that the legendary artist commissioned was completed in 1996 and imported by Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It was first registered in June 1997. But it did not stay in the UK for long. Records show that in 2022, it was shipped from London to Dubai by air. But it returned to the UK in 2007.
The current owner has been pampering it for the past two and a half years. But the list of owners displays six names, starting with Rod Steward. None of them drove it much over its almost three-decade life.
Photo: Collecting Cars
The odometer shows only 10,998 miles (17,700 kilometers). Back in August 2023, it went through the annual service and got a clutch replacement. The car retains its original matching-numbers engine and gearbox.
The original specification includes the Rosso Corso body paint over Pelle Nera (black leather) with Rosso (red) inserts. But the Ferrari was repainted in dark grey, while the seat got a custom retrim. It eventually returned to its factory specification, painted by Zanasi Group. After this move, it received the Classiche certification.
The model rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with a silver star design, specifically designed and manufactured by Speedline for Ferrari. They come with new Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, fitted by Joe Macari Servicing in June 2014 at 9,948 miles. So far, they have only covered less than 1,000 miles (2,575 kilometers).
The cabin sports so much carbon fiber that you don't know where to look first. It covers the dashboard, center console, and gear knob. Alcantara wraps the upper section of the dashboard, while the seats are wrapped in black leather with black backrests. The windows roll down manually, and there are not many buttons on board, because there is not much to control except for the heating and ventilation.
Photo: Collecting Cars
The seller is being honest about the only defect the Ferrari comes with and/or is aware of. There is a slight stickiness to the coating of the indicator stalks. But what matters the most is that there is no mechanical or electrical fault. That is why the car passed the latest MOT test on August 25, 2023, with no advisories.
Whoever will take it home will get the impressive history file that includes the original registration document that proves the supercar belonged to Rod Stewart, a copy of the warranty book page that shows the artist got it in June 1997, and previous maintenance documentation. The Ferrari Classiche 'red folder' also goes to the one who pays to drive this F50 home.
The model comes with the hard top and flight case, the boot bag and suit carrier, exceptionally rare F50 driver shoes, and two keys. But the owner will keep the registration "F 5O AB registration plate.
With six days left to the end of the auction, the latest bid hit 2.4 million pounds, which translates to $2.97 million.
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