ferrari F50 racer prototype

Javi · 19 Oct 2005, 06:32 (Ref:1437634)

What happened to the F50 prototype that was seen testing at 1996 (1997?) ?? It was supposed to be produced for the BPR, and there were confirmed buyers, but at the end nothing happenened. Was it because it lacked performance (F50 was a convertible from the beggining, hardly the best)? , was it because the launch of the McLaren F1 and the 911 GT1 (expensive, hardcore racing machines...) ?

Dauer 962 · 19 Oct 2005, 06:41 (Ref:1437638)

The appearance of the McLaren F1 and even more of the Porsche GT1 put everything on another level.

Altough Ferrari had at that time some more work to do with their other operation, remember they were at that time on the level of performance in open wheel racing like in these days.

Don´t know how much F50 GT were build, but one was for sale some time ago at Oakfields.

Truckosaurus · 19 Oct 2005, 08:02 (Ref:1437674)

There is at least one F50 GT car in storage at Maranello, as it appeared in photos accompanying a magazine article detailing Frank Mountain buying an ex-Schumacher F1 car.

mamba · 19 Oct 2005, 08:36 (Ref:1437709)

former prancing horse racing in australia has a f 50 gt
in there show room last i saw dropping oil on the floor.

andy97 · 19 Oct 2005, 08:53 (Ref:1437716)

Saw an F50racer advertised in Classic and Sportscar mag a few months ago. Supposdly factory built.

Dauer 962 · 19 Oct 2005, 08:57 (Ref:1437717)

According to this site three F50 GT are existing :

http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All..../SN.F50.GT.htm

Very interesting, I tought they build one or two.

But what about the mentioned chassis 4 - 6 ? It´s mentioned hhat "remaining chassis are destroyed by court order".

Does anyone know more about this ?

Truckosaurus · 19 Oct 2005, 09:02 (Ref:1437722)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauer 962

But what about the mentioned chassis 4 - 6 ? It´s mentioned hhat "remaining chassis are destroyed by court order".

It is common for manufacturers to destroy engineering prototypes for tax purposes, perhaps that is the fate of these chassis.

TheNewBob · 19 Oct 2005, 15:12 (Ref:1438030)

Nice looking cars indeed. Although for some odd reason I actually prefer the 550...?

F360 · 19 Oct 2005, 21:04 (Ref:1438390)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

It is common for manufacturers to destroy engineering prototypes for tax purposes, perhaps that is the fate of these chassis.

'fraid not in this case. There were only ever 3 built, all sold to collectors..

AllonFS · 20 Oct 2005, 10:32 (Ref:1438744)

And therefore condemned to to sit somewhere gathering dust rather than being driven which is the whole point of such a car.

Osella · 20 Oct 2005, 11:40 (Ref:1438783)

I'm sure I read somewhere that when they were sold there was a contract stipulating that they wouldn't be raced... anyone else remember that?

The Badger · 20 Oct 2005, 11:57 (Ref:1438793)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javi

What happened to the F50 prototype that was seen testing at 1996 (1997?)

It was bought by the Sultan of Brunei . Where it sits gathering dust cuz he was complaining that he had no place to race his cars . With your money , build a track Mr.Sultan .

Bernie persuaded Ferrari to can the project and direct the money into F1 .

Did you know that ..... when the Sultan of Brunei has a shower in his aircraft ..... there is a special catch tank for any water that touched his body . Something about him being closer to Allah than his servants . I know , cuz I was working on his VIP Boeing 767 this year . We even had to wear special slippers to go inside !!!

Oh yeah , you should have seen the kitchen and bedroom !!! Wow

and the gold toilet and shower ..... what a place to drop a steamer !!!

Its on the internet someplace .... sultans flight . com or thereabouts .

rdjones · 20 Oct 2005, 11:58 (Ref:1438795)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllonFS

And therefore condemned to to sit somewhere gathering dust rather than being driven which is the whole point of such a car.

I have to say I agree there, it goes back to the thread I started the other day about old sports and where are they now, it is really shame that they are not running and in either a) a museum b) a private collection c) site in a workshop somewhere gathering dust or d) they have been broken up.

Dauer 962 · 20 Oct 2005, 12:48 (Ref:1438838)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

It was bought by the Sultan of Brunei .

Refering to this site

http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All..../SN.F50.GT.htm

again, one is in the US, one in Japan and one in Australia.

Maybe should give the Sultan a call that he forgot to buy some of these cars, maybe Ferrai build him some more if he wants them.

The Badger · 20 Oct 2005, 13:01 (Ref:1438847)

One was in New Orleans ...... according to that web site !!!! Where is it now ? Out in the Atlantic !

fazzaz · 20 Oct 2005, 14:25 (Ref:1438894)

There was one "real" F50 GT1 prototype built. It was sold, and is now in California. Two more were later built from parts to specific orders; the last I knew one was in Japan, and one (for sale) in Australia.

The owner of the first car felt he had been promised that he was buying the only one. By a legal agreement all other spare and unused tubs were destroyed so that no further cars (beyond the three) could be built.

In a bit of irony, when the first car was later crashed and the tub damaged beyond repair, a new tub had to be constructed to rebuild the car as there were no longer an spares.

FastJoel31 · 22 Oct 2005, 02:02 (Ref:1440243)

I have a video of a guy driving behind an F50 GT1 at Fontana Speedway...available for download at the bottom of this webpage (fun read too!):

http://www.nsxfiles.com/fontana_ferrari.htm

Lukus · 26 Oct 2005, 12:23 (Ref:1443886)

Not a sight you'd see everyday!

fausto · 26 Oct 2005, 13:54 (Ref:1443961)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukus

Not a sight you'd see everyday!

No F50 GT here....

The Badger · 27 Oct 2005, 07:26 (Ref:1444784)

That would have made a beautiful GT1 car ..... shame !!!

Lukus · 27 Oct 2005, 07:51 (Ref:1444803)

Sorry guys, and to make up for it, here are some of actual GT1's!

Sorry!

Pilgrimage · 27 Oct 2005, 13:05 (Ref:1445066)

It's alright - we forgive you.

Duffacus · 27 Oct 2005, 14:46 (Ref:1445160)

Out of interest, does anyone know who drove/tested this car at the time?

fausto · 27 Oct 2005, 14:56 (Ref:1445167)

Nicola Larini

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