When Ferrari introduced the 500 Superfast at the Geneva Motor Show in 1964, the company was already producing some of the world's most desirable sports cars. However, the new model occupied a different position within Ferrari's range.
Rather than focusing primarily on racing performance or competition-inspired engineering, the 500 Superfast was developed as an exceptionally exclusive grand tourer intended for a small group of wealthy customers.
With a powerful V12 engine, elegant Pininfarina bodywork and production limited to just 36 examples, the 500 Superfast represented the culmination of Ferrari's America and Superamerica tradition. Its combination of performance, luxury and rarity made it one of the most prestigious Ferrari road cars of the 1960s, attracting owners who included industrialists, royalty and internationally recognised personalities.
Photography: RM Sotheby's, Carrozzieri Italiani, Ferrari
Ferrari’s America tradition
Ferrari's America series had developed during the 1950s as the company began offering increasingly luxurious road cars to wealthy international customers. Models such as the 340 America, 375 America and 410 Superamerica demonstrated that Ferrari could produce powerful grand tourers with greater emphasis on comfort and exclusivity than its competition-focused sports cars.
These vehicles frequently featured coachwork developed by specialist Italian design companies, allowing customers to commission individual specifications that reflected their preferences. Their large twelve-cylinder engines provided substantial performance, while the interiors offered the refinement expected from expensive luxury automobiles.
The America and Superamerica models established a tradition of exclusive Ferrari grand tourers that would eventually culminate in the 500 Superfast.
The Superfast name
The Superfast designation had appeared on several Ferrari show cars before becoming the official name of a production model. Pininfarina used the term for experimental designs that explored aerodynamic styling and the possibilities of creating exceptionally fast grand touring cars.
1956 Ferrari 410 Super Fast chassis 0483SA by Pininfarina
The name was particularly appropriate for Ferrari's new flagship because it emphasised performance without relying on the company's established racing terminology. Unlike models named after engine capacity per cylinder or specific competition categories, the Superfast designation communicated the car's intended character more directly. It also distinguished the new model from the Superamerica series while maintaining a connection to Ferrari's tradition of exclusive twelve-cylinder grand tourers.
Geneva Motor Show
Ferrari presented the 500 Superfast at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1964, introducing a model that represented the highest level of luxury available from the company. The car was developed as a successor to the 400 Superamerica, although its mechanical specification and bodywork were substantially revised.
1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupé Aerodinamico by Pininfarina
The 500 Superfast was not intended for conventional mass production, even by Ferrari's standards. Its construction involved extensive hand finishing and individual attention to customer requirements, making it suitable for a limited group of buyers willing to pay for a particularly exclusive vehicle. The decision reflected Ferrari's established practice of producing specialised grand tourers alongside its more familiar sports cars.
Pininfarina's elegant design
The exterior of the Ferrari 500 Superfast was developed by Pininfarina, continuing the close relationship between the Italian design company and Ferrari. Its proportions featured a long bonnet, relatively compact passenger compartment and smoothly descending rear section, creating an elegant appearance that differed considerably from the more aggressive shapes of Ferrari's racing cars.
1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I by Pininfarina
The design evolved from the aerodynamic coupé bodywork previously developed for the 400 Superamerica. However, the 500 Superfast introduced its own details, including revised front bodywork and a more refined overall appearance. The result was a grand tourer that emphasised understated elegance rather than obvious sporting aggression, making it particularly suitable for customers who wanted Ferrari performance in a discreet and luxurious package.
The unique V12
One of the most interesting aspects of the Ferrari 500 Superfast was its engine, which differed from the V12 units used in many other Ferrari road cars. The Tipo 208 engine combined engineering characteristics associated with Ferrari's two principal early twelve-cylinder engine families, developed by Gioacchino Colombo and Aurelio Lampredi.
The engine displaced approximately 5.0 litres (305 cu in) and produced around 394 HP, making it one of Ferrari's most powerful road car engines of its period. Its design incorporated the wider cylinder spacing associated with Lampredi's larger engines while retaining important features of the Colombo architecture. This unusual combination gave the 500 Superfast an engine specification that was not simply shared with Ferrari's regular production grand tourers.
Ferrari developed the 500 Superfast to deliver exceptionally high performance while maintaining the refinement expected from an exclusive grand tourer. Contemporary specifications quoted a maximum speed of approximately 280 km/h (174 mph), placing the model among the fastest road cars available during the middle of the 1960s.
However, the 500 Superfast was not designed as a stripped-out competition car. Its substantial engine output was intended to provide effortless performance during long journeys, allowing the driver to travel at high speeds without constantly working the gearbox. The combination of power and refinement distinguished the model from Ferrari's smaller sports cars, which placed greater emphasis on direct driver involvement.
The first series
The earliest Ferrari 500 Superfast examples were equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox featuring an electrically operated overdrive. Overdrive provides an additional high gear ratio, allowing the engine to operate at lower revolutions during sustained high-speed driving. This arrangement was particularly suitable for a grand tourer intended to cover long distances comfortably.
1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series I by Pininfarina
The first-series cars also featured individual differences reflecting customer requirements. Ferrari's coachbuilding process allowed buyers to request specific interior equipment, exterior details and mechanical configurations. Although the model followed a recognisable standard design, individual examples could therefore differ considerably in their equipment and finishing details.
The second series
Ferrari introduced an updated version of the 500 Superfast during the model's production life, commonly referred to as the Series II. The most important mechanical change was the adoption of a five-speed manual gearbox, replacing the earlier four-speed arrangement with overdrive.
1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II by Pininfarina
The second series also introduced several exterior detail changes, including revised front wing vents. Ferrari ultimately produced 24 first-series examples and 12 second-series cars, although individual early examples received equipment more commonly associated with the later specification. These exceptions demonstrate the flexibility of Ferrari's production methods during the period, when individual customer requirements could influence the final specification of a car.
The luxury interior
The interior of the Ferrari 500 Superfast reflected its position at the top of the company's road car range. Leather upholstery, carefully finished trim and an elegant dashboard created an environment that was considerably more luxurious than the cabins of Ferrari's competition-oriented models.
Equipment could include electric windows, power steering and air conditioning, depending on the customer's requirements. The interior was generally arranged for two occupants, allowing generous space for the driver and passenger rather than prioritising additional seating. This approach reinforced the 500 Superfast's identity as an exclusive grand tourer intended for comfortable long-distance travel.
The famous owners
The Ferrari 500 Superfast attracted an unusually distinguished group of customers, reflecting its position among the most expensive and exclusive cars available during the 1960s. Documented owners included members of royal families, wealthy industrialists and prominent international personalities.
Among the best-known names associated with the model were the Shah of Iran, the Aga Khan, Barbara Hutton, British actor Peter Sellers and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Their ownership demonstrates the type of clientele Ferrari hoped to attract with the Superfast, although the model's appeal extended beyond celebrity status. Its rarity, performance and individual specifications made it particularly attractive to customers who already had access to other prestigious automobiles.
One particularly interesting 500 Superfast was commissioned by British industrialist Lord James Hanson. Chassis 6043 SF was ordered with several personalised details and became an example of how Ferrari could accommodate individual customer preferences within a limited-production model.
The car was equipped with a five-speed gearbox despite belonging to the earlier production series, demonstrating that the transition between specifications was not completely rigid. Lord Hanson also requested changes to the passenger seat, interior controls and other equipment. Historical documentation associated with the car includes correspondence and factory records, providing valuable evidence of the relationship between Ferrari and its exclusive customers.
The final examples
Production of the Ferrari 500 Superfast ended in 1966 after just 36 examples had been completed. The final cars retained the model's distinctive combination of powerful twelve-cylinder performance and luxurious grand touring equipment, although individual specifications continued to vary according to customer requirements.
The limited production total was consistent with Ferrari's approach to its most exclusive models during the period. Rather than producing large numbers of identical cars, Ferrari concentrated on serving a relatively small group of customers who valued individuality and craftsmanship. The 500 Superfast therefore represented the conclusion of an established tradition rather than the beginning of a conventional production range.
The Superfast legacy
The Ferrari 500 Superfast occupies an important position in the company's history because it represents the culmination of its early luxury grand touring tradition. Although Ferrari subsequently developed other powerful front-engine models, few were produced with the same degree of exclusivity and individual customer involvement.
Its historical significance also extends beyond the famous people who owned examples. The unusual V12 engine, elegant Pininfarina design and limited production demonstrate how Ferrari approached the development of its most prestigious road cars during the 1960s. While models such as the 250 GTO and 275 GTB receive considerably more attention, the 500 Superfast remains an important reminder that Ferrari's history has always included luxurious grand tourers alongside competition-focused sports cars.
The Superfast name eventually returned in 2017 with the introduction of the Ferrari 812 Superfast, more than half a century after the original 500 Superfast made its debut. Powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 producing 789 HP, the 812 Superfast continued Ferrari's tradition of powerful front-engine grand tourers.
Although the two models belong to very different generations, the revival of the Superfast name created a direct connection between Ferrari's exclusive grand touring heritage and its modern V12 sports cars.
What’s your favourite detail of the Ferrari 500 Superfast?
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