Ferrari – 500 Superfast

Vehicle Overview

Shown to the public for the first time at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show, it was the last Ferrari model built in a very limited series for select customers. In fact, the plants of the Maranello car manufacturer were increasingly converting to line production. 36 examples were built, plus a 330 GT 2 + 2 with the body design of the 500 Superamerica, delivered to Prince Bernard of Holland. Other famous buyers of this expensive model (its price was double that of a Rolls-Royce) were Peter Sellers and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Of the first series, 25 were built, while of the second, which appeared in 1966, 12 were built.

The design of the car derived from that of the 400 Superamerica, and was conceived by Pininfarina. The model had spoked wheels, although at the time Ferrari had already begun to mount light alloy rims. It was available in both left and right hand drive. With this last configuration eight copies were produced.

The figure “500” in the model name referred to the total displacement of the engine, which was 5 liters, and not the unitary one. Generally, in fact, Ferrari called its cars referring to the latter. This engine was conceived and produced specifically for the 500 Superfast. It derived marginally from the “long block” engines designed by Aurelio Lampredi, of which he shared only the distance between the axes of the cylinders. In fact, the engine originated mainly from those of Gioachino Colombo with “short block”.