When Arthur Zafiropoulo reportedly rejected a $100 million offer during Monterey Car Week for his Ferrari F50 GT1, he made automotive history without even signing a contract. The staggering offer would have shattered all previous Ferrari sales records, yet Zafiropoulo swiftly turned down the offer for what many consider the holy grail of modern Ferraris.
This isn’t just any Ferrari we’re talking about. The 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1 that won Best of Show at The Quail 2025 is chassis number 001, the very first and most significant example of one of the rarest Ferraris ever. It has remained with its first and only private owner, Zafiropoulo, making it one of the most stable ownership stories in supercar history.
Ferrari developed the F50 GT in collaboration with its racing partners Dallara and Michelotto to compete in GT1-class racing, but timing wasn’t on their side. Though built for the international GT1 class, Ferrari ultimately shelved the program in 1997 when regulations changed, making their investment obsolete before it could prove itself on track.
The 4.7-litre V12 engine in the F50 GT was tweaked to generate around 739 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. It was built to beat the McLaren F1 GTR, and just three of them were made, though initially six cars were planned. Constructed around a carbon fibre monocoque, the F50 GT1 wears carbon body panels and sports aggressive aero features like a roof scoop, large rear wing, diffuser, low-slung front splitter and black Speedline wheels.
For context, consider that a Tour de France-winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO has changed hands for a reported $70 million, currently the record for the most expensive Ferrari ever sold privately. The F50 GT1’s rumored $100 million offer would have obliterated this benchmark by $30 million.
This particular F50 GT1’s rarity cannot be overstated. Only the factory development car was assembled in-house at Maranello and the remaining two examples (chassis 002 and 003) were later completed by Michelotto from existing parts, making chassis 001 the crown jewel of the trilogy. For now, this Ferrari unicorn remains exactly where it’s been for nearly three decades. Safe with an owner who clearly values rarity over profit, no matter how high the number gets.
