After eight years, during which it offered its range-topping supercars with turbocharged V-8 engines (the 288 GTO and F40 from 1984 to 1992), Ferrari returned to its V-12 roots and introduced the F50 in 1995. The company's first V-12 flagship supercar in more than ten years, the F50 went on to become a prized collectible with just 349 units built. But some examples are rarer than others. While most cars were painted in the iconic Rosso Corsa, Ferrari also made some yellow, silver, and black models. Cars painted in Argento Nurburgring and Nero Daytona are the rarest with eight examples each, and one of the four black F50s just hit the almost empty streets of London to make some V-12 noise. This car is a bit more special thanks to a switchable straight-through exhaust, but it sounds menacing no matter the mode. Check it out in action below.

The Ferrari F50 is a 500+ horsepower monster

The F50 draws juice from an iron block 4.7-liter V-12 engine that's related to the mill Ferrari built for the 333 SP racing prototype. The mill cranks out 512 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. While this might not seem like a lot compared to modern Ferraris that generate in excess of 700 horsepower, it was impressive for the mid-1990s. Tipping the scales at only 3,000 pounds, the F50 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and tops out at 194 mph. It also needs just 12.1 seconds to complete the quarter-mile, crossing the line at 123 mph.

Ferrari F50 specifications

Engine

4.7-liter 60-valve V-12 With Chain-Driven Quad Camshafts And Dry-Sump Lubrication

Power (Horsepower)

512 HP @ 8,500 RPM

Torque (Pound-feet)

347 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM

0-60 mph (Seconds)

3.8 seconds

Top Speed (MPH)

194 mph

Quarter mile time

12.1 seconds

Quarter mile speed

123 mph


Produced from 1995 to 1997, the Ferrari F50 was built in just 349 units. 302 of them were painted in Rosso Corsa, while 31 are Giallo Modena. Ferrari also sold eight in Rosso Barchetta, four in Argento Nurburgring, and four in Nero Daytona. The F50 also spawned a race-spec F50 GT model, but only three were built before the project was canceled after the BPR Global GT Series was replaced by the FIA World Championship that at the time allowed homologation specials. Only three were built with a beefed-up V-12 rated at 739 horsepower.