This year’s Ville d’Este concours d’elegance, to be held over the weekend of 21-22 May, will see the debut of a very special Ferrari, commissioned by the American Ferrari enthusiast Peter Kalikow.

The cabriolet design, which incorporates key elements from the fabric-top-only SA Aperta, is a one-off produced in-house by Ferrari’s own Special Projects department. The previous car to carry the ‘Superamerica’ name featured a rotating glass roof. The Superamerica 45 uses that principle, but this time the roof is all-carbonfibre, incorporates a rear window and is stowed in an all-new carbonfibre boot when retracted.

Although a clever idea, the previous model’s roof picked up dust, pollen and road debris – which it then deposited in the cabin when rotated closed... This solution seems far more practical, and could well form the basis for future Ferrari roadsters.

The carbonfibre, incidentally, is subtly coloured dark blue – a classy contrast to the lighter, exclusive Blu Antille paintwork of the rest of the car. I say ‘exclusive’, rather than ‘unique’, as the shade perfectly matches another Ferrari in Mr Kalikow’s collection, a 1961 400 Superamerica cabriolet, chassis 2331SA.

The interior is a tasteful combination of Cuoio leather and Blu Scuro carbonfibre details, coupled with a ‘latest-generation touch-screen infotainment system’, so Ferrari says.

The car was ordered by Mr Kalikow to celebrate the 45 years since he first became a Ferrari customer.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Ferrari