14.12.2009
Ferrari has produced a one-off custom car, based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, called the P540 Superfast Aperta. Using Ferrari’s Portfolio programme that enables their most discerning customers to create bespoke variations of Ferraris mainstream models to their own unique specifications, this has become the ultimate Christmas present for one lucky owner.
The unique supercar was built for Edward Walson, the American son of John Walson, who is the inventor of cable TV. His inspiration for the car came from a 1968 Federico Fellini film, “Toby Dammit” inspired by an Edgar Allan Poe story, which contained a unique Ferrari built by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi specifically for the film.
The body panels on the P540 have been redesigned from the donor 599 GTB, but the power plant engine remains the same 6.0-litre 611bhp V12. The P540 weighs just 20kg more than the donor car achieved by the extensive use of carbon-fibre, hence performance is unaffected by its conversion to a convertible.
It took Ferrari 14 months to produce the P540 Superfast Aperta from design to testing, and the car was delivered to Walson in Fiorano last week.
“I had always dreamed of designing sports cars,” Edward Walson explains, “and when I saw this film the decision came of its own accord: one day I would have ‘my’ Ferrari.”
About Steve Davies
Steve is a media, venture, and technology advisor and a former Partner at KPMG Consulting, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Managing Partner at EIM - his clients range from global web and media companies to small start-ups. He formed Drivers Republic (DR) in 2007, the UK's first digital automotive magazine, with a team of EVO and Autocar writers before creating SkiddMark, and also writes as a guest contributor on Unruly Media’s Meme Machine blog and for Econsultancy’s digital marketing blog.
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4 Comments
Kyle
December 14, 2009It’s hideous mate, stick to being a rich heir and leave the designing to the designers.
Steve Davies
December 14, 2009I’d have to agree with you there Kyle, the 599 GTB is in my opinion one of the most beautiful cars in the world, so my first thought wouldn’t be “..why don’t we redesign it.”
It’s rather like looking at Christy Turlington and saying “yeah she’s not bad, but I reckon I could do better”
Kyle
December 14, 2009It’s hideous mate, stick to being a rich heir and leave the designing to the designers.
Steve Davies
December 14, 2009I’d have to agree with you there Kyle, the 599 GTB is in my opinion one of the most beautiful cars in the world, so my first thought wouldn’t be “..why don’t we redesign it.”
It’s rather like looking at Christy Turlington and saying “yeah she’s not bad, but I reckon I could do better”