Today’s Rare Ride is a big, front-engine V12 Ferrari in the company’s fine grand tourer tradition. While its exterior color is nothing to write home about, its interior is absolutely a one-off.
Once you get a look at it you’ll see why.
The 599 GTB Fiorano was introduced for the 2007 model year, as an awkwardly-styled replacement for the outgoing awkwardly-styled 575 Maranello. The 599’s styling was part of a push toward finely-honed aerodynamics, and increased use of technology in a Ferrari GT car.
For the first time, Ferrari implemented an aluminum chassis in its GT offering, in place of the steel tubular setup used previously. The new design meant a more rigid structure and a lower weight. The 599’s body was designed by Pininfarina and included venturi tunnels and underbody spoilers to increase downforce. Flying buttress C-pillars pushed the car downward even more firmly. There was so much downforce generated by the 599 at speed that a rear spoiler was no longer necessary.
Powering all 599s was Ferrari’s 6.0-liter V12, which became a favorite of the company in the early 2000s. In addition to implementation in the 599, the V12 has seen use in the Enzo, FF, F12 Berlinetta, La Ferrari, GTC4 Lusso, 812, and is currently used in the Monza SP1 and SP2. In GTB guise, the engine produced 612 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque. Transmissions on offer were a traditional six-speed manual or an automated six-speed paddle-shift manual. A sign of the times, the standard manual transmission proved very unpopular, and only 30 599s were produced with one. With either transmission, 62 miles per hour arrived in 3.2 seconds, and top speed was 205.
During its production, Ferrari altered the 599 slightly with upgrades and created the HGTE handling package and the 599 GTO. GTO was a road-legal version of the 599XX track car. There was later a restyled track version that was even more exclusive, called the 599XX Evoluzione. In 2010 Ferrari debuted the limited-run SA Aperta roadster, also designed by Pininfarina. Production of the various 599 versions wrapped up in 2012, as the coupe made way for the much better looking but awkwardly named F12berlinetta.
Early on in the 599’s run, this particular example was conceived during some absinthe fever dream and specially ordered. One might imagine the request read “a ketchup and mustard interior,” but the idea’s execution was more strawberry sorbet and French’s. Everything clashes, and Ronald McDonald wouldn’t even approve. Coral, yellow, red, black, and carbon fiber singe the retinas unapologetically. This one-of-one 599 is amazingly for sale in Arizona and not Florida, for $169,000.
[Images: Ferrari]
Well, I expected to be disappointed by having to click through and see the supposedly terrible interior colors. Nope! That was truly horrendous. :)
I wish I could just show you here!
Yeah, it’s not ideal, but I understand the legal (CYA) department constraints you have to work with. In this case, it’s worth a click for shock value!
Funny how yellow on the exterior is fine but on the interior… NOOOOOOOooooooo.
Nothing in that interior works.
Yellow: It starts off on your logo, then migrates to the wheel center caps, then one day finds a home on the brake calipers, and then before you know it, Yellow wants to take over the interior. Just say no.
[Am I the only person on the planet who dislikes contrasting seat stitching? (picture 52)]
(That mounted sailfish has a lot going on.)
Ronald McDonald, your car is here.
On a serious note, I could live with that interior on a black or dayr grey color car. Paired with red though…. just, no.
I’m lovin’ it.
Not really, but it had to be said. That interior looks like Ronald McDonald threw up.
Crush it. There’s no saving this car. It needs to be Thelma and Louise’d Into he nearest quarry.
If there was a way to post a picture, I could show even worse. When I visited the the Ferrari museum at the original workshops in Modena in 2015, there was a similar vintage California convertible in metallic white with purple metallic accents, with a matching white and purple leather interior. It was BAD. BAD, BAD, BAD.
But I have to think Oscar Meyer himself ordered up this hotdog fest.
But you said it was California, probably even LA. What else did you expect.
Is this the Donk prep kit?
A couple of years ago I played with Ferrari’s configurator to see what the most horrific color combo I could come up with was, and wondered whether they’d actually build it.
Now I know.
That must have been a special order. I can’t see any manufacturer making that combination on its own initiative.
My Eyes! The goggles do nothing!
Go tacky or go home!
Maybe the owner was a big hotdog with mustard type of guy? Didn’t want to worry about staining the seats. “There is something majestic in the bad taste of Italy” E.M. Forester
The interior reminds me of a McDonald’s theme “Donk” I once saw a photo of.
A casual google search informs me that more than one person has immortalized their love of the Golden Arches via automotive desecration.
Think favorite college team colors. That could quite possibly the motivation for the color combo.
Does the dealer throw in the marlin on the wall with the sale?
Wow, there’s someone in the world who thinks that the 575M Maranello is “awkwardly styled”.