A 1995 ItalPassion originally delivered to heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in February 1996 is heading to RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction on August 15. Offered without reserve with an estimate of $7 million to $9 million, chassis 104220 features a race-bred V12 engine and extensive documentation.
From Beverly Hills to Heavyweight Ownership
In February 1996, a brand-new Ferrari F50 rolled off a transport truck at Beverly Hills Sports Cars.
Tyson kept the car for less than a year. By the end of 1996, chassis 104220 was already back with the dealer. That brief tenure stands as a minor footnote compared to the three decades of subsequent stewardship under a rotating cast of collectors spanning Seattle, Atlanta, New Jersey, and Simi Valley.
Formula 1 Engineering Without Driver Aids
Ferrari built just 349 examples of the F50 between 1995 and 1998 to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. Only 55 of those cars were specified for the U.S. market, placing this particular chassis among an elite group. The production cap was a deliberate response to criticism that Ferrari had diluted the exclusivity of the earlier F40 by building 1,315 units.
The car’s mechanical architecture departs sharply from modern supercars. Ferrari’s own literature emphasizes that the F50 came equipped with no power steering, no brake servo, and zero ABS. At its heart sits the F130B, a 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V12 derived directly from the engine Ferrari raced in its 1992 Formula 1 car. The powerplant was later developed through the 333 SP sports prototype that claimed championships in IMSA GT and FIA competition.
The V12 is mounted as a fully stressed structural member of the carbon-fiber monocoque tub, using aluminum and carbon fiber rather than rubber engine mounts. Power reaches the pavement via a six-speed manual gearbox with a dual-plate clutch. Wrapped in Pininfarina bodywork built from carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Nomex honeycomb, the car produces 513 horsepower and 470 Nm of torque, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 325 km/h.
A Documented Paper Trail and Unusual Inclusions
Following Tyson’s ownership, the car passed through a succession of notable American collectors. An Atlanta owner had the vehicle serviced by Francorchamps of America, an Ohio collector installed a new fuel tank, and a Seattle tech executive exhibited it at the 2004 Kirkland Concours d’Elegance. Every stop along that chain is cataloged in a history report compiled by marque authenticator Marcel Massini.
In January 2008, Ferrari issued the Ferrari Classiche Red Book, certifying that the chassis, engine, transaxle, and bodywork are all matching and original. Prior to the upcoming auction, Ferrari Newport Beach performed a major mechanical overhaul to ensure optimal performance.
The winning bidder will receive far more than the car itself, which shows just 6,196 miles on the odometer. The sale includes the original hardtop, owner’s manuals, tools, a set of three Ferrari F50 luggage pieces, period documentation, maintenance invoices, the certificate of origin, and an unusual piece of memorabilia: a pair of Everlast boxing gloves autographed by Mike Tyson.
Monterey Market Expectations
RM Sotheby’s has placed an estimate of $7 million to $9 million on the car for its August 15 sale. Yet recent market activity suggests bidding could climb higher. Earlier in the year, a nearly new F50 with just 252 miles sold for $12.21 million at Mecum, while another example changed hands for $9.79 million. Other recent sales managed by RM Sotheby’s have ranged between $8.8 million and $9.25 million.
Whether the combination of low mileage, factory certification, and celebrity provenance will push the final hammer price past the upper estimate remains one of the most anticipated questions of Monterey Car Week.
