Who doesn't love sports cars? Designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, sports cars are the ultimate favorites for automobile lovers who love thrill and speed.
We love sports cars too. It's all we love doing at HotCars. Admiring anything and everything that runs on an engine, modern or vintage. While each sports car is unique in its own way, there are always some factors that differentiate one sports car from the other. While some boast superior performance attributes, others might outdo others in terms of looks.
But some sports cars are in a league of their own in terms of rarity. We're talking about some rare beasts like the Bugatti Veyron Jean Bugatti Edition, the McLaren F1, the Bristol Fighter, and more. But none of them are comparable to the Ferrari P4/5: the ultimate benchmark when we talk about rare sports cars. The Ferrari P4/5 is as rare as they come. It was specifically produced for one person.
What makes the Ferrari P4/5 the rarest sports car of all time? What are some of its most impressive features and attributes? Let's find out.
The Car Was That Initially An Enzo Ferrari Model
A car that was initially an Enzo Ferrari (also known as the Type F140), had it in its destiny to go on to become the rarest sports car of all time. All Enzo Ferrari models were built for sports racing using Formula One technology such as carbon fiber body, F1 style automated shift manual transmission, and more.
However, the one-off sports car was redesigned by the great Pininfarina for James Glickenhaus, movie director and the son of stock exchange bigwig, Seth Glickenhaus. He desired that the car be styled like the iconic 1960’s Ferrari Race cars from the P series. The car was far from ordinary and came at no ordinary cost either. James Glickenhaus had to shell out $4 million for this rare gem. The Ferrari P4/5 was finally presented to the public in August 2006 at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, while clay models of the car were published on several websites.
Development
The development of the P4/5 began in March 2005, when James Glickenhaus was first approached by Pininfarina. Glickenhaus was asked if he would want to commission a one-off car. He was convinced, and they signed the contract in June that year.
The idea was to build a car from the last unsold Enzo Ferrari (type F140). James purchased the car and work began. Pininfarina’s style expert Ken Okuyama said that they wanted to stay away from retro designs and build a progressive forward-thinking supercar. In September 2005, the P4/5's preproduction began, with Jason Castriota making sketches and moving them through computer-aided sculptures for wind and tunnel testing. For the next part, more than 200 components were custom-designed to suit the needs of this rare beast. The engine, drive-train, and several other components were modified. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the original EF was retained.
Officially the P4/5 was first revealed at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but the grand unveiling took place at the Paris Motor Show, in September that year. The rare sports car was the talk of the town. Former chairman of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, was so impressed by the P4/5 that he felt that the supercar deserved to be "officially tagged" as a Ferrari. Andrea Pininfarina, James Glickenhaus, and Montezemolo all consented, and the sports car was officially named "Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina".
Stunning Features
The Ferrari P4/5 built-in 2006 makes most of the modern sports cars look like an amateur job. This speed monster can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds and boasts a top speed of 375 km/h (233 m/h). The car is rather sharply designed at the front and smoothly curved all over, which helps it achieve an excellent drag coefficient (a stat to determine how likely wind is to deter your car speed) of 0.34.
The Ferrari P 4/5 has the magnificently designed Enzo Ferrari F140B, V12 engine at its heart. The torque and redline are the same as the original Enzo, but the horsepower is slightly higher at 660bhp (at 7800 rpm). The shifting is smooth as you like, with the 6-speed automated-manual transmission, and shifting paddles behind the wheel retained from the original EF.
Related: All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ Vs 2013 BRZ: How Subaru’s Latest Sports Car Compares To The Original
Ahead Of Its Time
The P 4/5 is undoubtedly way ahead of its time. The interiors and exteriors of this custom Ferrari are built as extravagantly as you’d imagine! Built with specific custom tech, this car has an iPod nano stereo and a tablet PC built into the car, as per the instructions of Glickenhaus himself. The tablet features a 3D model of the car as well as an itinerary of all the parts and components for easy servicing. The makers did a unique job to improve travel comfort. Glickenhaus's sons were body-scanned to mold the seats as per their comfort and to improve accessibility and help get a better view from the window. The air conditioning from the original Enzo was upgraded, too. The exterior of this supercar was built entirely out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
The Ferrari P4/5 is—without a shadow of a doubt—the rarest sports car of all time. Practically or figuratively, there's no competition at all because this rare gem was specially produced for one person. So rare that it's impossible to own it. All one can do is admire.