Just as the Ferrari F40 was a showcase for the companies technology on it’s fortieth anniversary so the Ferrari F50 showcased the companies technology on it’s fiftieth anniversary.

Unlike the F40 which was loosely based on the 288 GTO evolution of the and 308 GTB the F50 was not in anyway based on any existing road vehicle.

Instead the F50 appears to have used as it’s starting point a 60 valve, 5 valve per cylinder, 4.7 litre / 286 cui version of the 4.0 / 244 cui V12 motor that powered Ferrari 333SP endurance sports racing car, a motor that was itself an evolution of the 1991 3.5 litre / 213 cui V12 used in the companies Formula One programme.

The 513hp normally aspirated motor was fitted to an all new carbon fibre chassis, unusually the steering was unassisted, though by this time power assisted steering had been introduced and later banned from Formula One racing cars.

Of the 349 F50’s built between 1995 and 1997 304 were Rossa Corsa, 31 Giallo Modena, 8 Rosso Barchetta, 4 Argento Nurburgring and 4 Nero Daytona.

Test showed the F50 capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in 3.7 seconds and cover a 1/4 mile in 12.1 seconds reaching 123 mph. Top speed was quoted as 202 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this 50th Anniversary edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at an early Formula 3 car powered by an aircooled motor cycle engine. Don’t forget to come back now !