The Ferrari F50. With only 349 models ever produced, this F40 successor has only four recorded models that are known to have reached our shores, with one of them sold to a US client last year. Here’s a quick look at the few F50 owners in SA.
Before being shipped off to the land of red, white and blue, this pristine F50 appears to have emerged from a 90’s time capsule as its only ever driven 5 420 km since it blistered off the Italian production lines. Additionally, the car was only in the possession of two owners for its entire 30-year lifespan.
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Its first owner is one of the more interesting parts of this F50’s life —which now resides in the US with DK Engineering. Leonard Smith, received a call one day stating that a family member in the UK had passed away and Smith had an inheritance to collect. Not having the resources to travel to the UK, a friend sponsored UK bound trip, which saw Smith return to SA with an estimated R800 000 000 to his name. Lifechanging.
Shortly after this, Smith acquired his first Ferrari in 1991. Unfortunately unable to have purchased an F40 when it was released, Smith had attended the launch of the F50 in 1995, whereafter he sent us a letter requesting allocation for an F50 and a plan detailing his intent to start a small collection. Shortly after the acquisition of that beloved V12-powered F50, his collection saw the likes of the 328 GTS, 512TR, 355 Challenge, and 348 Spider join Smith’s arsenal. Interestingly, neighbours state that Smith would often only drive his Italian gems at night. Some even stated that Smith could be heard leaving his house around 11 pm.
Smith, unfortunately, passed away in 2012 and his collection was dissolved with many of his cars auctioned off. The F50 was sold to its second owner, who only added around 400 km to the odometer in the decade period of his tenure. This is by far one of the most pristine examples of this extremely rare piece of Italian supercar history and it was proudly cared for in South Africa.
