Ferrari F50

Originally owned by the Sultan of Brunai, this Pininfarina coach built automobile, with carbon fiber body construction, is one of 359 cars produced to celebrate the Ferraris 50th Anniversary. The cost per automobile was approximately $569,690.00

The Ferrari F50 was a mid-engined range-topping sports car made by Ferrari. The F50 was introduced in 1995 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car is a two door, two seat convertible with a removable hardtop. It has a 4.7 L naturally-aspirated 60-valve V12 engine that was developed from the 3.5 L V12 used in the 1992 Ferrari F92A Formula One car.

Only 349 cars were made, one fewer than Ferrari estimated they could sell. This was, in the words of Ferrari spokesman Antonio Ghini, because "Ferraris are something cultural, a monument. They must be hard to find, so we will produce one less car than the market." The last F50 was produced in Maranello, Italy in July 1997.

The F50's engine predated the car: It was used in the Ferrari 333 SP for the American IMSA series in 1994 allowing it to become eligible for the stock engine WSC category.

Design

The F50 was designed solely for its purpose: there was no styling in the normal sense of the word. The surfaces enveloped the mechanicals in a single sweep from the front air intake to the rear spoiler, volumes were kept to the minimum required by the project. Pininfarina succeeded in designing shapes that recalled the great prototype racers.

Aerodynamics played an important role from the beginning of the F50 project because: it was a highly advanced car in terms of performance; there was a link between the internal aerodynamic components (cross-flows) and surface layer flows; there needed to be a balance between aerodynamic loads in the dual configuration (Berlinetta and Barchetta) because of the high performance.

The body was built entirely from composite materials with carbon fiber, Kevlar and Nomex honeycomb molded in one of five available colours: red, red Barchetta, yellow, black and grey Nurburgring. On the Berlinetta version, the function of the integral hard top was to complement the structural elements. On the Barchetta version, the bodywork element incorporated the anchor points for two roll hoops. The engine was visible through part of the transparent, vented engine cover.

The chassis of the F50 was made entirely of carbon fibre, weighing 225 lbs and offering a torsional rigidity of 25,677 lbs-ft/°. Like a Formula 1 car, occupants sat in the central tub formed by the chassis, and the aeronautical rubber fuel cell was located in a protected position between the passenger tub and the engine and rear suspension. The result was in advanced driving position, with a front to rear weight distribution of 42:58. A load-bearing element, the F50's engine acted as a support for the suspension, rear bumper and bodywork elements. To guarantee perfect suspension operation, the engine-transaxle assembly was rigidly attached to the chassis.

General

• Price (1995): $480,000 – $555,000
• Manufactured in: Maranello, Italy
• Number produced: 349 (1995 to July 1997)
• Inspiration: 1990 Ferrari 641 as driven by Alain Prost

Dimensions

• Weight: 2976 lb (1349 kg)
• Distribution: 42 %/58 % (front/rear)
• Length: 176.4 in (4,481 mm)
• Height: 44.1 in (1,120 mm)
• Width: 78.2 in (1,986 mm)
• Wheelbase: 101.6 in (2,581 mm)
• Front track: 63.8 in (1,621 mm)
• Rear track: 63.1 in (1,603 mm)

Colour popularity

• Rosso Corsa (Red): 302
• Giallo Modena (Yellow): 31
• Rosso Barchetta (Dark red): 8
• Argento Nurburgring (Silver): 4
• Nero Daytona (Black): 4

Performance

• 0-60 mph: 3.7 sec ^[1]
• 0-100 mph: 8.0 sec
• 0–1000 m: 21.7 sec
• 0-1 mile: 30.3 sec
• 60-0 mph: 118 ft (36 m)
• 1/4 Mile: 12.1 seconds @ 123.0 mph (198 km/h)
• Top speed: 202 mph (325 km/h)
• Downforce: 970 lb (440 kg) @ 202 mph (325 km/h), 40%/60% (front/rear)
• Cd: 0.372
• Skidpad: 1.03g
• Slalom: 71.8 mph (115.6 km/h)
• Fuel economy: 8/11 mpg (cty/hwy) (US gallon) (Factory numbers: 8.4/14.1 mpg)