Ferrari Superamerica 45: One-off 599 created for wealthy American customer

Ferrari has revealed a one-off version of the 599 commissioned by New York-based art collector and property developer Peter Kalikow.

Called the Superamerica 45, the new open-top car was created to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Kalikow's first Ferrari purchase, a secondhand 400 Superamerica convertible. It will go on public display for the first time at this weekend's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa D'Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.

Ferrari has released only limited details, but the Superamerica 45 appears to combine design elements from the limited-production SA Aperta revealed last year and the 575M Superamerica that went into production in 2005.

Among the design flourishes distinguishing the new car from the standard Ferrari 599 are a unique chrome grille and twin air vents in the front fenders, burnished aluminum-trimmed A-pillars, exterior mirror housings and door handles, color-keyed alloy wheels and a contrasting blue for the front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser element.

The biggest change from the standard production car, however, is the Superamerica 45's one-piece carbon-fiber roof and glass rear window. Marking a first for Ferrari, they swivel and retract back under a carbon-fiber trunk lid to preserve the 599's dramatic Pininfarina-penned styling in open-top guise.

Also found on Kalikow's new Ferrari are revised versions of the SA Aperta's rear buttresses, finished in the same Blu Antille paint scheme as the rest of the car, instead of the metallic finish used on the limited run of 80 SA Apertas sold in 2010.

Inside, there is a liberal splashing of deep beige leather and carbon-fiber trim.

Ferrari insists that the Superamerica 45 is to remain what it describes as a "unique one-off model." However, Maranello insiders suggest that its complex roof system, developed with the help of Pininfarina, could find its way onto a yet-to-be-confirmed limited-production version of the Ferrari 599.

Full Ferrari press release below:

NEW FERRARI SPECIAL PROJECTS ONE-OFF TO DEBUT AT VILLA D'ESTE

Maranello, 19 May 2011 – New York collector and Ferrari enthusiast Peter Kalikow visited the factory to take delivery of his Special Projects Ferrari Superamerica 45, a unique one-off model. Styled internally by Ferrari Design and engineered and built in-house, the car was specified by Mr Kalikow to celebrate 45 years since he first became a Ferrari client and will make its public debut on the 20th of May at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza.

The design is bespoke, featuring a carbon-fibre rotating hard-top which incorporates a rear screen. The boot is entirely new to house the roof when open, and is now in carbon-fibre with a design optimised to reduce drag and increase rear downforce.

The rear buttresses are body-coloured, integral with the rear wheelarches, and incorporate rear quarterlights. The side view is further distinguished by double air vents on the front wing. The Ferrari Superamerica 45 also features a specific chromed front grille and special burnished aluminium A-pillars, wing mirrors and door handles.

The Superamerica 45 is finished in an exclusive Blu Antille, a colour that matches another important car in the client's collection – a 1961 400 Superamerica cabriolet nr. 2331SA. The wheels are body-coloured with a contrasting diamond finish to the spokes. The roof and other carbon-fibre elements of the bodywork – front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser – are in a special contrasting darker blue, a theme that is carried over to the cockpit which features dark blue carbon-fibre dash trim and driver zone.

The interior is another area of exquisite personalisation, with a carefully selected combination of Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fibre details and a latest-generation touch-screen infotainment system.

By Greg Kable