The motoring world is about to witness the auction of what could be considered the slowest Ferrari ever registered. This peculiar vehicle, a prototype of the Ferrari F12tdf, is characterized by a maximum speed that barely exceeds 24 km/h. That is, in a race against an electric scooter it would lose.
Despite being equipped with a 7.3-liter V12 engine and capable of developing 780 horsepower, a software limitation restricts its speed to a maximum that defies the very nature of the Ferrari brand. Even so, this car is expected to reach a price close to $500,000 in the bidding that ends this Friday, April 12.
Ferrari has always been synonymous with speed and prestige. Motor enthusiasts and collectors seek to acquire a Ferrari for various reasons, from the prestige it confers to its attractiveness as an investment. However, the sale of this Ferrari F12tdf draws attention for going against one of the main attractions of these vehicles: their ability to reach extremely high speeds.
This particular model, unlike other Ferraris that have lost speed over time, was never destined to break speed records. Initially, it was a prototype for the toughest and most limited version of the F12 Berlinetta, and after fulfilling its purpose, Ferrari decided to cover its operation through software, transforming it into a simple decorative element lest it lead to legal and image complications.
The vehicle was imported to the United States with the purpose of being used as an exhibition piece, a function it fulfilled perfectly given its peculiarity. Despite its limitations, this Ferrari has attracted great interest, as demonstrated by the considerable sum that interested parties are willing to pay for it. The reason for this interest is due not only to its historical value as a prototype, but also to the possibility of eliminating the speed restriction and unleashing its true potential on closed circuits.
However, the purchase of this model poses certain practical problems, such as its inability to register it for road use due to the absence of a valid chassis number. Furthermore, although it is technically possible to modify it to increase its speed, legal and security restrictions remain a considerable obstacle to its widespread use.
If someone is willing to overlook all these problems that come with it, this is a great opportunity to have a luxury car at a price that, compared to other models in the same series, can be considered relatively affordable.
