1995 FERRARI F50 BERLINETTA PROTOTIPO:
--Rosso Corsa with Stoffa Rossa (Black Leather with Red Cloth Inserts) interior, Black Carpeting, 4.7 liter V12 Engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, Showing 1,400 miles from private ownership, Documented by Massini, Ferrari Classiche Certified, Geneva and Tokyo Motor Show car, The last Ferrari with a five digit serial number.

The stunning Ferrari F50 with serial number ending in #99999 was unveiled at an exclusive preview the evening of March 6, 1995 at Geneva Galleria Museum, the event was preceded the unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show. There had been enough spy pictures published over the previous two years that its looks should have come as no surprise. To some pundits its shape was awkward; to others sublime. Delicate and almost feminine when shown topless at Geneva; though with the hardtop in place the F50 has the look of a Ferrari made to race in battle.

As both the definitive prototype and the star of auto journalists and many test sessions, F50 #99999 had an illustrious career. From early 1994, it had performed lap after lap on Ferrari’s Fiorano test track usually wearing Italian Prova plate MO2112. Then, completing hundreds of kilometers on the roads around Maranello, all in the capable hands of test drivers Dario Benuzzi, Niki Lauda, Gerhard Berger, and Jean Alesi.

In 1994, #99999 posed as the pin-up for factory posters and glamour photos such as those by Rainer Schlegelmilch; it was the basis for scale models by Burago, Maisto, Tamiya, Revell and others, as well as cutaway drawings by Shin Yoshikawa. Its now-iconic image was used for the stock press pictures in Ferrari sales literature and in dozens of books, nearly a hundred magazines, and even on postage stamps.

Along with pre-production development of the final design and assembly line procedures, #99999 had another more ‘Ferrari-family’ role; the car was awarded to automotive legend, Jacques Swaters in recognition of his four-plus decades of loyalty to Ferrari as a racer, dealer, distributor, and goodwill ambassador. Not only is it the very first F50 built, the 1995 Geneva and Tokyo show car, but it bears chassis number #99999 and is therefore the last Ferrari built with a 5-digit chassis number. The unique VIN had been promised to Swaters - a close friend of the Commendatore - Enzo Ferrari himself, back in the 1980’s.

Select F50 #99999 appearances include:

• Geneva Auto Salon, March 9-19, 1995;
• The star of “Forza Ferrari at Suzuka” in Japan April 8-9, 1995, accompanied by Mr. Swaters, Mr. & Mrs. Piero Ferrari, Ferrari’s Maurizio Parlato, Enzo Francesconi and Niki Lauda;
• “Ferrari Days” at Spa, May 5-7, 1995 at ”Ferrari Days”, Spa under the aegis of Swaters Garage Francorchamps, who at the time also took delivery of the first production F50 (001 of 349: F50-103097);
• “Tutti la Ferrari in Pista”, Mugello, October 15, 1995, along with F50-101919 (later presented to Sergio Pininfarina) and F50-102474 (presented to Piero Ferrari);
• Tokyo Motor Show, October 27-November 8, 1995 Makuhari, Tokyo Japan;
• All through 1995, 1996 and into 1997, F50 #99999 gathered perhaps another thousand kilometers in 5-lap increments around Fiorano at the hands of drivers such as Phil Hill and Paul Frere;
• From late 1995 to late 1997 F50 #99999 served as the shining star of the Ferrari Galleria display;
• 2000: Driven to Spa for another “Ferrari Days” event initiated by Mr. Swaters & Garage Francorchamps;
• 2002: F50 #99999 was proudly involved in Garage Francorchamps 50th Anniversary celebration;
• Remained in the Swaters collection until 2006.

After miles of road and track testing by the factory, in late 1997, F50 #99999 was rebuilt by the factory in preparation for its presentation to its first registered owner. On 30 January 1998, F50 #99999 was presented to Jacques Swaters and transported to Garage Francorchamps in Belgium where it joined the Swaters collection.

In Spring 2007, #99999, possibly the ultimate collector’s F50 and with a mere 814km (502 miles) on the clock, was sold to well-known West Coast collector ownership. While in this ownership, #99999 was shown at various West Coast automotive gatherings such as the 2008 Quail gathering in Monterey, California.

Having had just three subsequent United States owners, #99999 was purchased several years ago by a well-known collector/collection on Long Island, New York, just a few miles from Autosport Designs, Inc.

Today, F50 #99999 is offered with Ferrari Classiche certification/Red Book and is complete with original accessories: Hardtop with anvil case, Books, Fitted factory luggage, Serial numbered key fob, Serial-numbered shop manuals, Parts books with microfiche as well as a large file comprising of additional documentation, literature and ephemera.

Recently (2018), this F50 has been Ferrari Franchise serviced, which has included a full servicing of fluids, battery, tires, fuel bladders and a stainless steel Tubi muffler (factory muffler accompanies the sale.)

One of the finest F50’s available, with unparalleled provenance and history, this F50 is and superb in all respects and ready for immediate use.

Autosport Designs Inc. would like acknowledge and thank Mr. Marcel Massini for providing all historical content for #99999.