Ferrari 500 Superfast

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I am just itching to get the car on to the continent and let it rip.. (From a letter to Col. R. Hoare written by Eric Miller in April 1966)  

1 of 3 RHD Cars Built with a 5 Speed Gearbox - The Only RHD Example With 4 Seats From New

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United KingdomLocation: United Kingdom

The 500 Superfast is of the most elite Italian hyperboutique GTs of the 1960s. At the time it was near-mythical, exquisitely couture and fast in an epic way. The Pininfarina Ferrari is long and sensual, a conventional beauty with curves you want to caress. The Ferrari's V12 has a growl that is silken and confident. These were the last coachbuilt, limited-production cars to be offered by the greatest name in Italian Exotica. Nothing else was available for those who required race car performance combined with GT comforts, and their huge price-tags inspired as much awe as their legendary potential for speed. The fact the £11,500 Ferrari cost £2000 more than a Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine in '66 shows what a rarefied universe it inhabited. Cars were only ever built to order, expressly to appeal to the tastes and mores of the wealthiest individuals in society - special international clients who could afford a car that combined uncompromised power with supreme luxury.

In fact cars were targeted directly at royalty and celebrities: even the brochure for the Ferrari proclaimed that it was "destined to be a car for sovereigns, performers and great industrialists" - people who did not have to ask the price. To the potential Superfast customer, an 'ordinary' Ferrari was quite simply too pedestrian and too commonplace. Like many of the world's rarest and most extravagant vehicles, each 500 Superfast would come to be identified by the name of the individual who commissioned it, be it the Shah of Persia, Peter Sellers or as in this case, Sir Eric Miller.

With their heady (unsubstantiated) 170mph plus top speeds, tiny production runs and vast prices, the Superfast was truly in a class of their own. They were born to a world of gilded hand-built exclusivity and effortless Glamour. The 12 cylinders - each the size of a Chianti flask according to Enzo Ferrari - with a combustion volume of 5 litres in total produce a whopping 400bhp @ 6500rpm and 3041b ft @ 4000rpm.

There is something deeply satisfying about guiding the Superfast spiritedly through some of ones favourite curves, riding on the torque of that silken turbine through gear ratios ideally plotted to make the most effortless use of the potential. Romp between corners in fourth and fifth, slice into third and feed in just enough power to kill the understeer, feel the wood rim of the Nardi wheel slide between your fingers as it self-centres and you'll note that your horizon remained fairly level, your position in the generously dimensioned seat stayed firm. Of course, the high-geared 400bhp Superfast is really all about big roads, big destinations and motoring as a glamorous event and adventure. For that, there can still be few better places to be.

This example was ordered by Eric Miller in June 1965 via HR Owen. This car is and has been fitted with a 5 speed gearbox from new making it the more desirable specification (the most notable differences between an SI and an Series II being the 5 speed gearbox ). Just 36 Cars were built in total, only 8 being RHD and just 3 of the RHD cars having a 5 speed gearbox. The car was ordered with many bespoke features such as Air conditioning, opening rear quarter lights, a centre arm rest, rear seats (the only RHD car with these from new) and most attractive 275 GTS louvers in the front wings. A complete record of the order process and service history up until 1977 (1 inch thick file) accompanies the car demonstrating how it was always cared for at no expense spared. At that time the car was sold to Australia having covered just 5,000 miles or so from new.

In the sunny climate of Australia 6659 stayed until later moving to South Africa and therefore remaining in remarkable and original low mileage form free of corrosion or signs of age. In 2005 6659 was sold to its previous owner by DK Engineering. The current owner purchased the car in 2011 and since then the car has continued to be maintained to the highest standard and has now covered, what is believed to be from new, just over 13,000 miles. Recently the car was featured on the front cover of Cavallino magazine. A unique car fit for one of the finest collections in the world and available immediately.

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  • Ferrari 500 Superfast
  • £POA
  • DK Database ID: #505

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