Ferrari Enzo 2002 - World Of Classic Cars -

Ferrari Enzo 2002

As Ferrari entered the new millennium, its Formula One team was embarking on another golden era. The team would go on to win six constructors’ titles between 1999 and 2004, and it would then go on to win a further two world championships in 2007 and 2008. After several years in the doldrums, Ferrari was back on top at the highest level of racing.
In the words of Luca di Montezemolo: “The third millennium has begun with Ferrari enjoying a period of great competitiveness on the world’s racing circuits; so authentic a laboratory for advanced research as it has in recent years. To bring together our racing success and the fundamental role of races, I decided that this car, which represents the best of which our technology is capable, should be dedicated to the founder of the company, who always thought racing should lay the foundations for our road car designs. And so this model, of which we are very proud, will be known as the Enzo Ferrari”.

Ferrari Enzo 2002

These words were spoken at the Paris Auto Show in September 2002, during the unveiling of the Enzo Ferrari, the successor to the F50. The world was waiting with baited breath, as the F50’s successor had very big shoes to fill.
The Enzo Ferrari featured the pinnacle of technology, engineering, and design, combining lessons from Ferrari’s Formula One success with a development team that strived for the best. In fact, Ferrari’s engineers spent countless hours carefully sculpting the car’s design in order to hone the perfect balance of downforce and top speed. The interior is awash in carbon fibre, but there are no superfluous elements in the cabin to distract the driver from the task at hand. Aside from the leather bucket seats, the only nod to luxury is a climate-control system. Not even a radio was available, as it would add unnecessary weight and mask the glorious sound of the 12-cylinder engine sitting just inches behind the cockpit.

Ferrari Enzo 2002

At the Enzo’s heart is its 660-horsepower, Tipo F140B, naturally aspirated V-12 engine. This is an all-new unit that has been developed specifically for use in this car, and when it is coupled with a six-speed, sequential F1-style gearbox, it is capable of launching the Enzo from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, thanks also in part to its lightning-quick 150-millisecond gearshifts. If the pilot is offered a stretch of road long enough, the Enzo can accelerate to an astonishing 218 mph, making it the fastest road car Ferrari had ever produced at the time. As owners would expect of a car of this calibre, the carbon-ceramic brakes are on par with its incredible performance, and the Ferrari can grind to a halt from 80 mph in a scarcely believable 188 feet.

Ferrari Enzo 2002

In keeping with Ferrari’s long-held philosophy of building its flagship cars in limited numbers, the decision was made to produce just 349 examples. Ferrari invited only their best and longest-standing customers to purchase the car, as a reward for their loyalty to the Scuderia. As a result, every Enzo was spoken for before production even began. After numerous requests from clients around the world, Ferrari offered Enzos to an additional 50 customers, making for a total run of just 399. That being said, the 400th Enzo was presented to Pope John Paul II as a gift and was later auctioned off for charity on his behalf.

Ferrari Enzo 2002

The Enzo presented here, chassis number 129581, was produced in July 2002 and is one of just a handful of Enzos finished in striking Giallo Modena with a Nero leather interior. This car was displayed at the Paris Motor Show on the Pininfarina stand in October 2002, where the Enzo was first publicly unveiled to the world. In September 2003, it was then shown by Ferrari France at Magny-Cours.
The car, along with its optional fitted luggage, was sold through Ch. Pozzi S.A to Mr Tunon Gregorio in Monaco on 17 December 2003. In October 2005, the Enzo participated in the first International Enzo Ferrari Rally Maranello-Modena, where it featured Monaco license plate 1111. Additional service records note that the Ferrari was then taken to Eberlein Ferrari Kassel in Germany on 24 January 2012.

Ferrari Enzo 2002

The Enzo was an instant success when new, and it has become even more desirable to collectors over time. It is undoubtedly the most collectible of the Montezemolo-era Ferraris, and whilst production of the Enzo ended a decade ago, its performance is still considered world-class. The Enzo is a product of a time when Ferrari was operating at its peak both on the road and track.