Ferrari 500 Superfast

Present with the car:
– Original sales invoice
– Prior registrations
– ACI papers
– Service invoices
– Marcel Massini Report
– Ferrari Classiche Certification
– Rare and unused toolkit

About this car:
Ferrari’s flagship model—a grand touring car with unparalleled performance, prestige, and style
The 11th of just 36 examples built; notable for its factory five-speed transmission, typically found on later cars
Built expressly for famed businessman Lord James Hanson, finished in the exclusive shade of Verde Scuro
Benefitting from meticulous care by its few owners, including a 36-year ownership by a British lord
Displayed at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Cavallino Classic, Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and other major events worldwide
Featured in Cavallino and Forza magazines
Documented with original sales invoice and order details, prior registrations, ACI papers, service invoices, history by Marcel Massini, and Ferrari Classiche certification
The very rare (unused) original toolkit is still with the car
Only 20.300 Miles from new

Ferrari Superfast 500 long read:
Originally featured on prototype cars and design concepts, Ferrari’s “Superfast” name was officially adopted for a production model with the launch of the 500 Superfast. Representing the pinnacle of Ferrari’s esteemed 400 Superamerica model, it was meticulously crafted as a lavish, exclusive grand tourer right from its inception. Fitted with a 4,963-cc Tipo 208 V-12 engine and boasting a sleek, aerodynamic body, the 500 Superfast aimed to surpass its evocative name.

Cloaked in an evolution of Pininfarina’s Aerodinamico coupe coachwork, showcasing a distinctive sloping rear fastback and expansive rear glass, the 500 Superfast made its debut at the 1964 Geneva Salon. Opulent features included a luxurious leather interior and a dashboard adorned with teak accents. As the latest addition to Ferrari’s celebrated line of flagship grand tourers, the 500 Superfast became the preferred choice of jet-set luminaries like the Aga Khan, Barbara Hutton, the Shah of Iran, and Peter Sellers.

Only 24 units were initially manufactured before a second series of 12 cars underwent both cosmetic and mechanical enhancements, culminating in a total production of 36 examples by late 1966. Touting rarity and unparalleled road car performance due to its formidable 395-hp 4.9-liter engine, the 500 Superfast stood as the ultimate embodiment of Ferrari’s flagship Superamerica series. Today, these highly coveted cars find their place in the world’s most exclusive and esteemed collections.

This specific 500 Superfast, bearing chassis number 6043 SF, holds particular allure. Lord James Edward Hanson, the renowned British business magnate, ordered it in May 1964. A notable figure who courted both Joan Collins and Audrey Hepburn, Lord Hanson, reportedly a friend of Sergio Pininfarina, considered purchasing a 400 Superamerica but turned to the newly unveiled 500 Superfast when he found the former unavailable.

Having attended the Geneva Salon where the 500 Superfast was revealed, Lord Hanson was duly impressed and made detailed handwritten notes on the Pininfarina information packet for the car, now on file.

According to marque authority Marcel Massini’s research, this Superfast is the 11th example built, completed by Pininfarina in March 1965. Adorned in Verde Scuro over a Nero Franzi leather interior, the car featured distinctive elements such as triple air ducts, circular Carello turn signal lamps, and left-hand drive, reflecting Lord Hanson’s intent to use the car for continental touring. Notably, 6043 was equipped from the outset with a five-speed transmission, a departure from the four-speed gearbox typical of the initial series of 24 500 Superfasts.

The owner also requested bespoke features, including a longer and lower passenger seat, seatbelts, special positioning for the ashtray and window switches, a Blaupunkt Köln radio with an electric antenna, a passenger’s footrest and padded seat cover, and the removal of both the small parcel tray between the seats and the rear Superfast badging.

Reflecting Lord Hanson’s affluent status, the invoice for his new Ferrari totalled over 12,000,000 lire, approximately $20,000, more than double the price of a new Rolls-Royce, making it the most expensive car offered by any manufacturer at that time. After the issuance of a certificate of origin in April 1965, this Superfast was registered with a Modena registration in Lord Hanson’s name, and a factory delivery note dated 29 May 1965, was signed by Enzo Ferrari himself.

As per Marcel Massini’s historical report, service records from Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti in Modena indicate three instances of factory-supervised maintenance in June 1966, July 1967, and October 1971. By the last service, the car had covered 7,710 miles. Until 1972, the Ferrari remained in Italy for Lord Hanson’s use, during which time it was predominantly stored at Pininfarina’s facility in Turin.

In 1972, Superfast 6043 was imported to Great Britain, yet, due to Lord Hanson’s demanding business travel schedule, the Ferrari saw minimal use in the subsequent years. When he eventually offered the well-maintained car for sale in late 2000, after 36 years of ownership, the odometer displayed a mere 12,288 miles.

In December 2000, Lord Hanson sold the Superfast to Edgar Schermerhorn, a collector based in The Netherlands, who showcased the car at various events. In 2001, the Ferrari secured the Best of Show at the Concours Paleis Het Loo and participated in prestigious exhibitions, including the Louis Vuitton Concours d’Elegance in Paris. Under Mr. Schermerhorn’s ownership, 6043 also claimed victories at the European Concours d’Elegance in Castle Schwetzingen near Heidelberg, Germany, in July 2002, and at the Galopprennbahn near Düsseldorf two years later. The car featured in Keith Martin’s 2004 book Collecting Ferrari, as well as the June/July 2005 issue of Cavallino magazine, and the German magazine Ferrari World in December 2005.

In May 2009, Mr. Schermerhorn sold the Ferrari at RM’s Leggenda e Passione sale in Maranello to fellow Ferrari collector Martin Gruss, a highly discerning enthusiast of fine vintage European sports cars. During Mr. Gruss’s ownership, the car received meticulous maintenance by Paul Russell & Co. Additionally, air conditioning specially engineered and installed by Paul Russell and electric power steering were introduced, enhancing the car’s touring comfort. All original components replaced in the upgrade process have been retained and will accompany the car.

Showcased at the Cavallino Classic in January 2010, the Superfast became the focus of a feature article in the February 2010 issue of Forza. Subsequently, the car was presented at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance before making its way to Europe for exhibition at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como in April 2010. The owner then enjoyed a brief tour of Monaco before returning the car to the United States.

In September 2011, 6043 was shipped to Marcel Massini in Switzerland for preparation prior to being transported to Ferrari’s headquarters, participating in the Italia Classica, a factory-sponsored round-trip tour from Maranello to Venice. Seven months later, the Ferrari took part in the 2012 Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run.

Continuing to exhibit the benefits of attentive care by very few dedicated enthusiasts over its lifetime, this rare and exquisite 500 Superfast maintains the bespoke characteristics with which it left Maranello, earning Ferrari Classiche Certification in 2009.

Occasionally there is a car that, with its aura and sound, effortlessly recalls the Enzo Ferrari era—a time of elegance, of glamor, and of carefree continental touring. It takes a special sort of vehicle to transport you to that bygone period; no modern supercar is up to the task, even if it is painted Verde Scuro.

500 Superfast 6043 is one such machine. If anything, it has only grown more appealing and exclusive than in the years since Lord Hanson took initial delivery; it will greatly enhance the next collection it joins.