The performance car world has always been one of moving targets. A top speed of 150mph was once seen as the preserve of exotic European sports cars, but you can now walk into your local Chevrolet or Ford dealership and drive away in a vehicle capable of topping that figure. The benchmark continued moving, and the categories of cars capable of meeting or exceeding those speeds evolved to reflect this. Sports cars became supercars, and supercars became hypercars. One of the most instantly recognizable of that last category is the Ferrari Enzo, named to honor the man who created the company responsible for building some of the most desirable performance cars in automotive history. This 2004 model isn’t just beautifully preserved; it is 1-of-6 to wear this paint shade. It needs a new home, so it is listed for auction here at Gooding and Company. It will go under the hammer on August 19th at Pebble Beach, California. The auction estimate is an eye-watering $3,500,000 – $4,000,000, which isn’t much if you say it really fast! I must thank Barn Finder Araknid78 for spotting one of automotive history’s jaw-dropping classics.

By all reports, Enzo Ferrari was an uncompromising and unpredictable individual who treasured and richly rewarded loyalty and bravery. This philosophy brought him into conflict with drivers like the late Nikki Lauda, who sealed his fate by retiring from the rain-soaked 1976 Japanese Grand Prix because he felt the conditions unsafe. It would not be stretching credibility to say that he idolized Gilles Villeneuve. Many of Ferrari’s associates thought that he never fully recovered from Villeneuve’s death behind the wheel of the 1982 Ferrari 126CK2 during practice for that year’s Belgian Grand Prix. Ferrari named a model after his late son but was never tempted to attach anything but his surname to his creations. It seems fitting that it took sixteen years following his death for the situation to change. The Enzo was the company’s exercise in excellence and an attempt to push the boundaries of automotive engineering. It utilizes significant technology that had seen successful service in Formula 1, including a carbon-fiber composite tub that served as the car’s backbone. They created panels from similar material, meaning rust issues with an Enzo are never a consideration. This car wears a paint shade called Grigio Titanio, which loosely translates to Titanium Gray. Some will think it odd to see a Ferrari wearing anything but red, but the paint is part of the key to its desirability. During a three-year production run, the company built 400 examples of the Enzo. It is worth noting that the total is somewhat “rubbery.” While the official figure is 400, various sources claim the count could be as high as 446. Of those, only six rolled out of the paint shop wearing this shade. From a global perspective, the Enzo is a rare beast. This paint color lifts that rarity to a higher level. It presents beautifully, with no flaws or defects. The 19″ lightweight alloy wheels are a masterpiece and show no evidence of stains or physical damage. The overall presentation is all you might expect from a classic with a healthy seven-figure pricetag.

Enzo Ferrari, also known as “il Commendatore,” once stated, “Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines.” He firmly believed in the philosophy that a great engine should possess twelve cylinders, and many of his race and road cars reflected that belief. While the company was steering towards V8s at the dawn of the new Century, it decided that a model bearing the great man’s name should share his engine philosophy. Therefore, the mid-engined Enzo features a 6.0-liter 65° V12 filled with exotic aluminum alloys, composite components, and titanium conrods, churning out an incredible 650hp. The power finds its way to the road via a six-speed semi-automatic transmission, while enormous carbon-ceramic cross-drilled and ventilated four-wheel disc brakes bring proceeds to a halt. As you might expect, that combination wrapped in a package weighing 3,009lbs was always destined to be fast. If the driver pointed this Enzo at a ¼ mile, the journey would be a memory in 11 seconds. If they were brave enough to keep the pedal pressed to the floor, this Ferrari would run out of breath at 218mph. That brings us to a fascinating point to ponder. When cars first started appearing on our roads at the end of the 19th century, the conventional wisdom was that the land speed record would never exceed 60mph. Medical professionals in the 1890s believed that humans would be unable to breathe beyond that speed. This belief proved false when Camille Jenatzy hit 65.79mph in April 1899. That makes you wonder what those same experts would think about the Enzo just over a century later! As you might expect, this Ferrari is in excellent mechanical health. It has a genuine 2,727 miles on its odometer, and the owner has stored it in a climate-controlled garage between rare outings.

Ferrari’s design brief with the Enzo was to provide the ultimate performance road car. However, it didn’t want a stripped-out vehicle like the legendary F40 that offered no creature comforts. There is plenty of exposed carbon fiber to remind occupants they are in a thoroughbred hypercar, but it isn’t an unpleasant environment. The Enzo isn’t dripping with luxury, but it does feature leather upholstery, carpet, air conditioning, and airbags. The overall presentation is in keeping with a car with a four-figure odometer reading, with no flaws or wear.

I will probably receive some flak for this, but I don’t consider the Enzo to be the best car created by Ferrari. If looks were the sole criteria, I struggle to look beyond the 458 Italia. As what I would call a pure driver’s car, I would choose the F40 because it lacks the electronic driver aids that have become a hallmark of current hypercars. The F40 offers a raw driving experience where the person behind the wheel determines every aspect of its performance. However, the Enzo is one of an exclusive group of cars that rewrote the rulebook on vehicle performance. The reality is that eighteen years have passed since this handbuilt classic rolled out of the company’s factory in Maranello, Italy, and much has changed in the world since. The vehicle that was once the undisputed king of performance road cars has been upstaged by more potent models. Some have emerged from the same factory that gave birth to this classic. Regardless, it remains an awe-inspiring car, and I won’t be surprised if it exceeds the auction estimate before the hammer falls.