This incredibly rare, 661bhp Ferrari SA Aperta is up for sale

Ferrari only ever made 80 of them. Which explains why, when Top Gear magazine was granted a very exclusive drive in 2011, we surmised that, “we should all be very jealous of those lucky 80 who have bought one. Because they’ve just purchased one of the most exciting cars in the world.”

Allow us to introduce you to the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta, a convertible, yet-more-deranged version of the Ferrari 599. Now, one of the 80 is being offered up for auction.

The 599 SA Aperta was introduced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, in honour of designers Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina (hence the ‘SA’ bit: ‘Aperta’ means ‘open’) and packing the 599 GTO’s ludicrous 661bhp V12, an exhaust note that errs more towards the sonic boom end of the audio scale, and more sky.

It also got the gearbox from the GTO, with downshifts recorded at just 120 milliseconds, a 10mm lower ride height over the regular 599, a thicker rear anti-roll bar, recalibrated magnetic dampers, and a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds. Properly fast, then.

Pretty, too, as you’ll see. All 80 examples of the 599 SA Aperta sold out before production of the thing had even started, which makes this – a mint, two-owner car with just 4,786km on the clock and a recent service from Ferrari – a proper find.

Bonhams are offering it as part of their ‘Zoute sale’, which takes place on 9 October. Price? They reckon it’ll go for a smidge under £900,000. If you need any more persuasion as to the Aperta’s excellence, click here for our exclusive drive.

Otherwise, find some money. You’ve got a week.

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