The Pininfarina stand at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show was an understandably popular installation. There, the coachbuilder unveiled a sleek, new gran turismo which embodied both in name and substance the superlative qualities of its favored client, Ferrari. The new car was named the 500 Superfast, and it featured the largest and most powerful engine fitted to a road-going Ferrari to date. It was a model destined to be so exclusive that no full sales brochure was printed, and so expensive that it became an immediate status symbol among the world’s wealthiest elite. Only 36 examples were manufactured at the Maranello factory between 1964 and 1966.

At over $15,000, the 500 Superfast was by far the most expensive Ferrari road car of its day, commanding nearly as much as the new 250 LM competition car, and double the price of a 275 GTB. Notable buyers such as Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, heiress Barbara Hutton, and actor Peter Sellers lined up for the chance to purchase one of these chic, fleet-footed supercars.

Its five-liter V-12 engine made 400 hp at 6,500 rpm for a claimed top speed of 170 mph. Seemingly effortless acceleration and the ability to cruise comfortably at 100 mph ranked this uncompromising Ferrari among the finest of grand touring cars.

This particular 500 Superfast, chassis 6305 SF, is the 14th of 36 examples built and one of 28 specified in left-hand drive. It is believed that 6305 SF is the only example of the production run ordered in the dramatic color scheme of Nero (Black, 20581A) over Beige (3218). Built in the model’s first series, 6305 SF nonetheless exhibits some traits from the later examples: the attractive three-louver fender vents, power windows, and the five-speed manual gearbox were both common to the later Series II cars. The accompanying report by Marcel Massini shows that 6305 SF was issued a factory certificate of origin on June 9, 1965, and delivered to dealer M. Gastone Crepaldi S.a.s. of Milan, on July 13, 1965. Four days later, Crepaldi sold the car to its first owner, explorer, mountaineer, and Ferrari-powered hydroplane racer, Count Guido Monzino of Milan.

The Ferrari remained in Italy until January 1971, when it was imported and sold to Bart J. McMullen of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Mr. McMullen had 6305 SF painted burgundy and held it for a decade before selling to Herbert L. Levinson of Indianapolis, and by October 1987, it was listed for sale by Mike Sheehan’s European Auto Sales and sold to John Ortega of Newport Beach, California.

In January 1989, Mr. Ortega traded the 500 Superfast for a twin-engine executive aircraft to Aiman Hammouie of Houston, who had the car returned to its original black color. By August 1990, 6305 SF was sold to Axel Urban’s Car Connection in Hamburg, and the car would remain in Germany seeing limited use for the next eight years. During this time, the car was given a high-quality repaint by renowned Ferrari specialist Modena Motorsport GmbH.

The Superfast returned to the US in September 1998 to join an esteemed private collection in the US. Chassis 6305 SF was then sold to Ken McBride, a respected Ferrari collector in the Pacific Northwest, and then to fellow collector Bill Cotter of Seattle, only to be repurchased by Car Connection in Germany in December 2007. In 2012, it was acquired by East Coast enthusiast Arturo Gutierrez, who reimported it to the US, and embarked upon a multiyear, extensive campaign to document and mechanically refresh it, retaining marque experts.

Between 2015 and 2016, Aston Martin of New England, and renowned Ferrari specialist Motion Products Inc. in Neenah, Wisconsin, were tasked with thoroughly vetting 6305’s drivetrain, suspension, and electrical and braking systems. The restoration efforts, including an engine rebuild, supported by detailed receipts on file, total over $100,000 spent, having gone towards making 6305 SF an exhilarating entry for rallies and tours. Additionally, Ferrari Classiche has issued 6305 SF both a certificate of authenticity and a Red Book that attest that all major aspects of this stunning 500 Superfast are factory-correct. Furthermore, 6305 SF is offered with copies of its factory build sheets, period Automobile Club d’Italia registrations, Marcel Massini’s report, historical photographs, ownership history, import paperwork, and service and maintenance receipts. Also accompanying the Superfast are a tool roll, jack, and spare wire wheel.

A limited-production, coachbuilt Ferrari synonymous with privilege and wealth and engineered with uncompromising performance, this uniquely appointed 500 Superfast is entrée to most any concours or driving event worldwide. With low miles since the restorative work by marque experts, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy an exclusive Ferrari supercar and the status it conveys.