On 9 September, RM Sotheby’s will be setting a record by hosting the world’s largest single marque auction in history. A collaborative effort between the auction house and Ferrari, the three-day “Leggenda e Passione” sale will see 42 Ferraris — each spectacular in their own way — going under the hammer. The sale might also see another record being set, thanks to a very rare item that will be going up for grabs.
Believe us when we say that this Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta is one of a kind. Ferrari is big on tradition (which is only to be expected; they are Italian, after all) and for the last 70 years, the car company has stuck to building only 499 models of every hypercar that they’ve released, with the first model going from the production line and straight to Ferrari’s permanent museum collection.
The car in question, however, is the 500th model of Ferrari’s flagship soft top, launched specially at the beginning of the year to mark the company’s 70th anniversary. To make it even more special, Ferrari had broken its long-held tradition for a good cause: the limited-edition car was built to be auctioned off in aid of the Save the Children charity that focuses on education.
This unique Aperta will naturally stand out at the “Leggenda e Passione” thanks to its metallic Rosso Fuoco red finish, featuring a metallic Bianco Italia double racing strip running from the hood to the rear. Inside, the car’s cabin is trimmed in black Alcantara and black carbon fiber, complete with polished red leather inserts and red contrast stitching.
Perfection comes at a cost, of course. RM Sotheby’s has estimated the value of the LeFerrari Aperta to be between $3.5 and $4.5 million. That’s not too high a price to pay for a car that is this rare, and it’s a good $3 million shy of the amount that made last year’s auctioned off 500th model of the standard LaFerrari the most expensive modern car ever to sell at auction.
Words by Pameyla Cambe.