2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta - One of only 80 cars built; Ferrari Classiche certified; under 4,300 km from new
Chassis no. ZFF72RDB000183444
Engine no. 177167
Estimate: CHF1,700,000 - CHF2,000,000 - £ 1,500,000 - £ 1,800,000
• Delivered new in France
• Two owners from new
• Full Ferrari service history
• Last technical inspection carried out in April 2024
• Books in original leather pouch
• Cancelled Swiss registration document
"The Ferrari 599 offers mind-blowing pace and handling. Quite possibly the best Ferrari of its generation. We'll spare the 911 Turbo the ignominy of comparison times, because the Ferrari has moved the game onto another level.
"There are the quick cars – those that nip below 10 seconds to 100mph, such as the Lamborghini Gallardo. Then there are the very quick cars, which post 0-100mph times beginning with an eight. But anything under eight seconds belongs to an elite group, and in gaining such membership, the Ferrari 599 has shaken the establishment like nothing in the past 20 years. Its 7.4sec average matches the time we recorded for the Pagani Zonda S. Rest to 60mph takes just 3.7sec." – Autocar.
The car offered here is one of the most exclusive of modern Ferraris, the 599 SA Aperta, of which only 80 examples were made. It is a development of the original 599 GTB Fiorano that had been introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006. The 599 GTB Fiorano took its name from Ferrari's famous test track and was the latest in a succession of models named after places associated with the marque such as Modena and Maranello. Its immediate predecessor - the 575 Maranello - had met with a mixed reception, disappointing those that had so admired the 550 Maranello, so Ferrari had some catching up to do in designing the 599.
Having favoured the mid-engined layout for its 12-cylinder road cars from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, Ferrari surprised everyone by introducing the 550 Maranello. The latter's arrival in 1997 saw the Italian manufacturer return to its tradition of building front-engined V12 two-seater sports cars, resurrecting a line that had remained dormant since the demise of the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' in 1974. The 599 was the latest in this noble line that stretched all the way back to the 250 GT SWB of the early 1960s. In designing the 599, Ferrari abandoned the tubular steel chassis of the 550/575, adopting a more advanced and lighter all-aluminium chassis of greatly increased stiffness. Styled by Pininfarina under the direction of Ferrari's Frank Stephenson, the 599 with its long bonnet, small cabin, raised haunches and aggressive stance seemed the very definition of the term 'sports car'. The body's aerodynamics were developed in the wind tunnel, where hours of testing ensured that the minimum of drag was combined with constant downforce regardless of set up, an important consideration in a 200mph road car. Styling details such as the front brake ducts and hot air outlets behind the front wheelarches recalled the great competizione Ferraris of the past while the tail incorporated Ferrari's characteristic twin circular lights.
The heart of any Ferrari is its engine, and the 599's 48-valve, 6.0-litre V12 was a reworked version of that found in the Enzo supercar. As installed in the 599, this state-of-the-art unit produced a staggering 612bhp at 7,600rpm with maximum torque of 448lb/ft at 5,600 revs. Weighing a claimed 1,690kg, the 599 has a power-to-weight ratio of 362bhp per tonne, far eclipsing the 291bhp/tonne of its 575 Maranello predecessor. Developed as part of Ferrari's Formula 1 programme, the paddle shift gearbox had become a feature of its range-topping sports cars and was available in its latest form for the 599, capable of changing gear in a mere 100 milliseconds. A conventional six-speed gearbox was available also.
Although active suspension had long been banned form Formula 1, its development for road cars had continued and the 599 came equipped with SCM magnetorheological 'semi-active' dampers. The latter's damping fluid changes in viscosity almost instantaneously when a magnetic field is applied, thereby altering the suspension characteristics. Damper controls were placed on the Formula 1-style steering wheel together with those for traction control and stability, as was the starter button. The 599's fortunate driver would find him/herself looking at a central analogue rev counter flanked by a similar speedometer and an electronic display screen for all other functions. Ferrari thoughtfully provided plentiful storage space within the sumptuous leather-trimmed interior.
In line with Ferrari's current practice, a succession of limited edition variants followed, the convertible version - the 599 SA Aperta - being announced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Conceived to honour designers Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, it was built in a strictly limited edition of only 80. The Aperta used the more powerful (661bhp) engine of the 599 GTO, the road-going version of the track-only 599XX, which when released was Ferrari's fastest-ever road car.
Representing a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of these ultra-rare and exclusive Ferrari supercars, the Aperta offered here was delivered new via Ferrari Gauduel in Limonest, France and comes with the original purchase invoice dated 14th September 2011. First registered on 27th October 2011, the Ferrari is finished in Nero Daytona WB508 with original buffalo leather and yellow stitching, while other notable features include yellow brake calipers and carbon fibre in the doors and on the dashboard.
The car's first owner was a Swiss Ferrari enthusiast living in Plan les Ouates, Geneva. Our vendor is only the second owner, having acquired the Aperta in 2013. Scarcely driven, the car has covered fewer than 4,300 kilometres since delivery and is presented in commensurately excellent condition. The Aperta comes with full Ferrari service history commencing on 12th August 2013 at 2,818 kilometres when it was serviced by Ferrari Modena Cars in Geneva. Subsequent services were carried out by Niki Hasler AG, Ferrari Basel in September 2015 at 3,528km; September 2019 at 4,051km; and July 2022 at 4,104km. Related invoices are on file and the last technical inspection was carried out on 15th April 2024. The current odometer reading is under 4,300km.
One of the most desirable limited edition Ferraris of recent times, this superb 599 SA Aperta comes complete with roof; car cover and charger; Ferrari 'Red Book'; cancelled Swiss Carte Grise; Ferrari Certificate of Conformity; and the following books in their original leather pouch:
Hi-fi system warranty card
Sales and service organization
Servizio Assistenza Stradale
Notice d'Entretien
Carnet de Garantie
Ferrari key code card
THE BONMONT SALE - 30 JUNE 2024, 14:00 CEST - CHESEREX, SWITZERLAND
Please note there is restricted bidding on this lot which requires enhanced bid verification checks. Please contact bids@bonhams.com or call +44 20 7447 7447 as soon as possible if you are planning to bid on this lot to prevent any last-minute delays.
