[Boxer]

Great article in the latest issue of Forza:

Forza :: The 1 : Driving the amazing F50 GT1 prototype

[tazandjan]

Boxer- Very interesting, read it earlier this week, and the pro driver said it was the fastest Ferrari he had ever driven. He also said it was faster than the 333 SP, which probably doomed it. 750 hp at 10,500 rpm. Gives you some idea of the potential in an F50 engine.

[Boxer]

F50 engine is just amazingly impressive. Never driven anything that pulls like it.

I had always thought the a 333 SP would be the ultimate track/gentleman's race car, might have to rethink that position.

[tazandjan]

Boxer- Only trouble is there is only one of them and no way the owner is parting with that car. I was personally happy to see the car being demonstrated because the owner had some problems with a tech and had stopped exercising her. Looks like that dark chapter is past and hopefully she will be more visible in the future. A 750 hp, one-off V12 GT is something to be savored and shared.

[wetpet]

still, nothing sounds like a 333 sp going around the track! one of my all time favorite sounds. can't wait to hear it again in a couple of months at cavallino.

the f50 with a tubi system ain't no slouch in the sound department either. A couple of years ago we were driving behind one out of the track and we went quite a distance out of our way to stay behind that symphony.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Boxer- Only trouble is there is only one of them and no way the owner is parting with that car. I was personally happy to see the car being demonstrated because the owner had some problems with a tech and had stopped exercising her. Looks like that dark chapter is past and hopefully she will be more visible in the future. A 750 hp, one-off V12 GT is something to be savored and shared.

I thought 3 F50 GT1s were eventually completed.

Great to see that SN 001 is being used again.

[212Export]

Originally Posted by Boxer

I thought 3 F50 GT1s were eventually completed.

Great to see that SN 001 is being used again.

Yes 3.

[212Export]

Street F50 = more Pontiac Trans-Am like than Ferrari ???......uhhhh that hurts !

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by 212Export

Street F50 = more Pontiac Trans-Am like than Ferrari ???......uhhhh that hurts !

Rest of the article was very good so I just ignored that putrid mis-observation.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Boxer

I thought 3 F50 GT1s were eventually completed.

Great to see that SN 001 is being used again.

#1 was built with 2 spare tubs. A large spares package was offered at time of sale including them. It was turned down and when it became obvious the owner had decided not to race the car Ferrari decided to complete first the #2 car and then later the #3 car.

Lore has it that when #2 was built he was not happy and when #3 was built he reminded them he was sold "the 1 and only". I know Art but not well and that has never come up in conversation but sounds like a very likely scenario. I do know that one of it's crashes required the fabrication of a new tub as no spares then existed.

[Boxer]

Any idea where #2 and #3 ended up?

[tazandjan]

Brian, Boxer- Did not realize there were three. Not that it does me any good. One or three, still out of reach.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Any idea where #2 and #3 ended up?

Last I heard one was in Texas and one was in the Orient, Japan possibly. One was recently for sale so it probably relocated.



I should also add, after thinking about it I am not sure a new tub was required after the crash. I knew his mechanic well and at the time it was thought a new tub might be required. Am unsure of the final verdict. I remember finding out that because of the sequential shifter the tub was different than a production car. Also during the repair from the first crash a few extra body pieces were made at the same time. That facilitated an easy repair of the minor second crash.

[Boxer]

Any idea as to what it might have changed hands for?

Believe the current going rate for a 333SP is $700k.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Any idea as to what it might have changed hands for?

Believe the current going rate for a 333SP is $700k.

Do not even recall the asking price but it was advertised in the public domain, possibly Dupont Registry? There was some discussion at FC at the time. Prices for everything are in such flux I don't even try to keep up.

[SCM246]

Originally Posted by Brian

#1 was built with 2 spare tubs. A large spares package was offered at time of sale including them. It was turned down and when it became obvious the owner had decided not to race the car Ferrari decided to complete first the #2 car and then later the #3 car.

Lore has it that when #2 was built he was not happy and when #3 was built he reminded them he was sold "the 1 and only". I know Art but not well and that has never come up in conversation but sounds like a very likely scenario. I do know that one of it's crashes required the fabrication of a new tub as no spares then existed.

At Monterey Aug 2004, I was walking in the pits and heard the crash as the F50GT was coming past the pits on the straight. I got a couple of pics

[Boxer]

That is not pretty. New tub?

[tazandjan]

Brian- I think we discussed that mechanic earlier.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Boxer

That is not pretty. New tub?

That was the second, and the minor of the 2 crashes.


I knew his mechanic well and he and I got a good look at it just a few minutes later. Exept for a very expensive front body shell it was very minor damage. The car had just returned from Maranello and some spare bodywork was included. The front supporting framework was also damaged and was a std F50 part. Other than that just some ducting and coolers a little banged up.

Worst casualty was pride. Owner is a really good guy and I felt sorry for him doing that in front of a big audience. I have always said if you don't break your toys once in a while you are not playing hard enough. Most of us however have the benefit of doing it in relative privacy.