The Ferrari F50 is undoubtedly one of the greatest road cars that Ferrari has ever made. Following the success of the F40, Ferrari opted to mark its 50th anniversary by creating the F50, a limited-edition supercar. However, the F50 has long strived to establish its place in this prestigious company. Maybe it was the styling or the fact that it wasn't a fixed-head coupe that let the company down after the grace of the GTO and the hard utility of the F40.
The F50 debuted during a pivotal point in Ferrari's history, as it allowed the company to remain competitive. The F50 came right after the death of its founder, Enzo Ferrari. During this time, Ferrari was going through so much as a company. The firm needed a boost; they needed something to propel them into the next phase, to help the brand break free from its funk.
The introduction of the F50 happened in 1995. The public had high expectations for the vehicle as it was the younger sibling of the F40. The F40 was the last car Enzo Ferrari himself signed off on; therefore, the newcomers had to show that they were still serious about business even without their founder. And so the F50 developed into a real driver's car. It's far rarer than the F40, with only 349 examples built, making it more treasured.
Despite being just 27 years old as of 2022, the F50 has become a full-fledged classic, and enthusiasts adore it for its naturally aspirated V-12 engine and F1-inspired technology. Here’s why we love the Ferrari F50
The Main Difference Between The Ferrari F50 And The Ferrari F40
The F40 and F50 are two rather distinctive automobiles. With a twin-turbo V-8 engine, the F40 carried on the heritage of the 288 GTO, breaking Ferrari's V-12 history. The F50, on the other hand, signified a return to Ferrari's heritage with its naturally aspirated V-12 engine, based on an engine Ferrari had previously deployed in Formula One and the 333 SP race car.
With 512 horsepower, the F50 outperformed the F40 by 41 horses. The naturally aspirated V-12 produced 347 pound-feet of torque, 79 pound-feet less than the F40. With a 3.8-second benchmark, the F50 was officially almost a half-second faster to 60 mph. It had a max speed of 202 mph, five miles per hour faster than the previous model.
It also drove differently than other cars. The public knows the F50 for its gentler and more refined ride than the F40, often considered a bumpy race vehicle on the road. Finally, while a total of 1,315 units of F40 were produced, Ferrari only produced 349 units of the F50.
When compared to the Ferrari F40, the Ferrari F50 doesn't draw nearly as much attention. But this in no way indicates that the F40 is the greater supercar. However, if you're trying to acquire one as an investment, the F50 is the ideal choice. You'd be sticking to the Ferrari legacy, F1-inspired technology, and the iconic natively aspirated V-12 engine.
The Innovative Design of the Ferrari F50
Pininfarina did the styling for the F50. But the wind tunnel did the designing for the roadster and coupe models. The whole body has carbon fiber, kevlar, and Nomex honeycomb materials. The carbon fiber weave is visible, reminding the owner of what lies behind the red, yellow, or black paint.
The suspension of the F50 has twin wishbones with inboard dampening and springing. The suspension excels in damping, particularly considering the technology available at the time. The vehicle uses electronic damper units to alter the degree of damping in real-time to meet the F50's diverse and dynamic situations. Thanks to the ECU(electric control unit), the vehicle has less body roll, which stabilizes aerodynamics.
Ferraris such as the 575M use electronic dampening systems. For braking, the F50 features Brembo vented discs with four-piston aluminum calipers. The vented discs reinforce the serious character of this automobile. Although, the brakes do not have an anti-lock system.
The Ferrari F50’s Powertrain Is Amazing
The F50 uses a Ferrari 412T Formula One engine from 1994. It has a V12 with a narrow-angle, similar to the one seen in the 1994 412T. The F50's engine has a 4.7-liter capacity, which provides more torque and drivability.
The designers used aluminum for the cylinder heads and cast iron for the block. They also fixed a magnesium oil unit and a longitudinal gearbox behind the engine. The oil unit is an element of the engine's dry-sump system and links the suspension.
The combustion chamber has five valves, three for intake and two for exhaust. The assumption is that smaller valves allow for quicker flutter. The valves on the F50 can tolerate speeds of up to 10,000 rpm.
The Ferrari F50 Is A Collector’s Item With A Hefty Price
The Ferrari F50 was initially priced at $475,000, but no thanks to its limited production run and the rising popularity of the Ferrari name, the collectors' model prices have surged. Recent Ferrari F50 prices have reached $3 million; however, they still fall short of some of Ferrari's most premium models.
There's an F50 that was delivered on June 24th, 1996, by Charles Pozzi to a customer in Monaco and has traveled just 1318 km. It is considered to be in "flawless condition." The 1996 F50 Ferrari will go to auction at the Artcurial Paris Rétromobile sale on March 18th and is projected to earn up to $4 million.