The F50 is a rare Italian stallion considering only 349 units were made between 1995 and 1997. However, Ferrari also built a limited series of only 19 pre-production cars, and this happens to be one of them. It’s one of the six sold to members of the Brunei royal family but unlike most of the others, it retained its original left-hand-drive layout.
DK Engineering has the rare gem up for grabs and has released a walkaround video to show all the subtle differences compared to a “regular” F50. For example, it’s missing the front cargo compartment while the dual fans have a gold center instead of being all black. The storage pocket and bag for the tools have different shapes while the red label denoting the production number attached to the underside of the front hood is missing.
Even the area around the windshield is not identical to a production-spec Ferrari F50 since the base panel ahead of it has a satin finish instead of a glossy coat. At the top of the glass, there are two mounting holes on each side (as opposed to just one) to attach the roof. As for the greenish hue of the carbon fiber weave, it’s not present on those 349 cars, but it’s possible that the clear resin has degraded over time, leading to this greenish shade.
A closer look reveals the side mirror caps (and the interior mirror) are missing the manufacturer’s plaques. At the rear, the Perspex engine cover looks more rudimentary due to exposed screws and louvers attached to the panel rather than being molded in. The engine compartment is missing most of the labels you’ll normally find on a standard F50. In addition, the calipers for the handbrake are gold rather than black, and lack the prancing horse logo.
Stepping inside, a standard F50 doesn’t have those red side bolsters in the seats, nor does it have red stitching on the dashboard or the chassis number plaque on the passenger side. Interestingly, the turn signal stalk is completely blank while the tint of the door cards, dashboard, and side sill is not shared with the customer cars. Missing from the pre-production prototype are the speed warning stickers and the bag to hold the soft top.
Another notable change is the suspension lift system as the nose of the supercar is automatically raised when the ignition is on.
This F50 is in immaculate condition, having racked up only 1,180 miles (1,900 kilometers) after being built back in June 1995. It has changed hands several times since then, and now it’s located in the UK where it’s up for grabs. It earned a certificate of authenticity from Ferrari in March 2018, so it’s the real deal.