2003 Ferrari Enzo Coupe

Ferrari has a history of breaking the mold and defining new levels of style and performance. The competition-bred 288 GTO gave way to the F40 of the late 1980s, followed by the F50 of the 1990s. Built in small batches for discerning enthusiasts, these high-performance automobiles were among the most exotic vehicles on the road at the time.

After F50 production concluded in 1998, the world waited for the announcement of the next exotic supercar from Maranello. In mid-2000, then president Luca di Montezemolo announced the forthcoming Ferrari Enzo, named in honor of the company's founder. The new model had a strong connection to Formula 1 racing, as the manufacturer had just won the 1999 and 2000 Manufacturers' Championship and the 2000 Drivers' Championship. Michael Schumacher would eventually earn five consecutive championships at the wheel of a Ferrari.

Ferrari chose to 2002 Paris Motor Show to formally debut the new Enzo. In a similar fashion to the Formula 1 cars, the Enzo was built using futuristic materials to achieve maximum weight savings, with a foundational chassis tub made of carbon fiber and Nomex honeycomb weighing just 200 pounds. The tubs received aluminum subframes upon which resided the Pininfarina coachwork. The design was courtesy of Ken Okuyama, who penned a shape that mimicked an open-wheel race car. The shape was aerodynamically perfected in Pininfarina's wind tunnel. The body was composed of panels woven from carbon fiber and Kevlar. The 15-inch Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes were concealed by 19-inch alloy wheels. Unique scissor doors allowed entry and exit from the cabin.

Behind the driver was the Tipo F140B V-12 engine, which was essentially the concurrent 90-degree V-8 extended by two cylinders on each side and altered in angle, creating the 65-degree V12. Its displacement reached nearly six liters and was the largest engine built by Maranello since the 712 Can-Am race car of the 1970s. Again, exotic materials were used in its construction, such as Nikasil-lined cylinder walls, titanium connecting rods, and a telescoping intake manifold. It developed 651 horsepower and 485 foot-pounds of torque giving the Enzo a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 218 mph. Production was eventually capped at 400 units ensuring its exclusivity.

This particular example is finished in Rosso Corsa over a red leather interior. it was originally sold through Wide World of Cars in Spring Valley, New York, and its first owner retained it for just over a year, covering less than 1,000 miles. Lake Forest Sportscars sold it in 2004 to its second owner, an Illinois resident. In the fall of 2005, it became part of the Lingenfelter Collection. Soon after, it was sent to Cauley Ferrari in West Bloomfield, Michigan, for a service that included the installation of an upgraded Tubi Extreme exhaust.

Currently, the car has less than 1,700 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2020