Ferrari Enzo 2003, Itália
Fotografia
From the 340
America of the 1950s to the LaFerrari Aperta that recently completed
production, Ferrari has a long track record of regularly building elite
supercars combining advanced mechanical elements with bespoke amenities. Such
cars have justifiably evolved into the most collectable of Ferrari’s models,
each one representing the pinnacle of their respective eras.
As the 21st
century dawned, Maranello brass began considering the next installment in
Ferrari’s lineage of elite hypercars, which had most recently passed from the
F40 twin-turbo V-8 of the late 1980s to the curvaceous V-12–powered F50 of the
late ’90s. As the cities of Maranello and Modena had both already been honoured
with recent road car models, the decision was made to commemorate Enzo Ferrari
himself with the latest prestige model.
The resulting
Enzo was loaded with advanced technology developed through Formula 1
competition, including the 65˚ tipo F140
V-12 engine, which, at almost six litres in displacement, was the largest
Ferrari motor built since the 712 Can Am race car. Coupled to a six-speed,
dual-clutch, paddle-shifted transaxle, the monstrous unit developed 651 bhp and
485 foot-pounds of torque, rocketing the Enzo to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and
an outrageous top speed of 218 mph.
Much debate
centred on the appearance of the new top-shelf hypercar, and an initial design
was soon scrapped in favour of Ken Okuyama’s famous coachwork, which bore the
appearance of an F1 race car covered with a tight skin. Perfected in
Pininfarina’s wind tunnel, the carbon-fibre and Kevlar molded body panels were
fastened to aluminium subframes mounted on the driver cell, itself an advanced
lightweight 200-pound tub fashioned from carbon fibre and honeycomb aluminium.
After debuting
at the Paris Salon in October 2002, the Enzo was favoured with production to be
capped at just 400 examples, ensuring a rarity that has only served to further
distinguish the unique model. Capable of blistering power and performance, and
bearing futuristic aesthetics that leave an indelible impression, the Enzo
continues to evolve as a distinct representation of its era, an unforgettable
time when the Scuderia Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher racked up victories at a
pace since unequaled.
Benefitting
from a recent freshening after years of prolonged storage and minimal use, this
beautifully presented Ferrari Enzo is a pristine and relatively un-driven
example of Ferrari’s venerated turn-of-the-century hypercar. Chassis no. 135870
completed assembly in December 2003. The Enzo was specified for the European
market with instruments in kilometres and finished in Rosso Corsa paint over an
interior of Nero leather
upholstery.
As indicated
by the Enzo’s service and warranty booklet, the supercar was distributed to
SA.MO.CAR S.p.A., a Ferrari dealer in Rome. The car was purchased from the
dealership in February 2004 by Giuseppe Bizzarro, a successful Italian
importer/exporter then living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he was
establishing a new brand of low-cost goods retail stores for value-conscious
shoppers. Given Mr. Bizzarro’s status as a jet-setting executive conducting
business in two countries, as well as the lack of service entries conducted in Brazil
or any exportation paperwork in the car’s file, it is fair to wonder if the
Enzo ever actually left Europe, and it may very well have remained in Italy for
his use during trips to his home country.
In any event,
by April 2008 the modestly driven Ferrari was sold to Dr. Jacques Delfosse, an
orthopaedic surgeon residing in Nancy, France. During his ownership the Enzo
received its first officially recorded servicing, which was conducted in
October 2008 by CLLJ/Modena Motors, a licensed Ferrari dealer in Sausheim,
France. It is important to note that the odometer was replaced by Modena Motors
on 19 December 2011 due to a faulty dashboard display and was reset at 10,000
km. A letter from Ferrari South West Europe in the history file attests to
this. The Enzo received one more servicing from Modena Motors a year later
before being submitted for a checkup in March 2015 to Autohaus Alfred Gohm
G.m.b.H., an authorized marque dealership in Singen, Germany.
Later in 2015
the Enzo was purchased by the consignor, a marque enthusiast living in the UK,
and in November he submitted the car to Stewart Roden Motors in West Lothian,
Scotland, for some freshening. Mr Roden is the principal of the Scuderia
Ecosse, a Ferrari privateer outfit that specializes in competition preparation
and support for modern Ferrari race cars, in addition to running its own cars.
The engine was serviced with the installation of new spark plugs and air
filters, while the brakes were rebuilt as needed (including new front pads).
Some of the original suspension hardware had suffered minor corrosion, so the
system was rebuilt as needed with new pushrod joints and tie-bar rose joints,
and numerous corresponding bolts were replaced. The wheels were then aligned
and mounted with new Bridgestone tires, and some minor paint touch-ups
completed the fastidious freshening.
Over the next
few years, the consignor continued to service the Enzo regularly, as subsequent
warranty booklet entries demonstrate attention in 2016 and 2018 from the
Scuderia Ecosse. These are corroborated with more detailed invoices from
Stewart Roden Motors indicating a full fluid service and multi-point check.
Currently
displaying 14,682 kilometres, this outstanding Enzo is ideal for presentation
at regional concours d’elegance or may be enjoyed during spirited driving. The
powerful hypercar should strike the fancy of any marque enthusiast as a rare
and unique link in Ferrari’s important lineage of premium prestige models.
