Only 30 manual-transmission versions of the 599 GTB Fiorano were produced by Ferrari, 20 of which were exported to the US. It is still one of the most uncommon and sought-after modern Ferraris available today. It was the final V12-powered Ferrari to be offered with a manual. This was CJ Wilson’s everyday driver while he was a professional baseball player and racing car driver, and it is now up for sale.
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On March 9, 2018, a black-on-black 599 GTB will be put up for auction at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island event. Only 10,595 kilometers have been put on the vehicle, which is valued between $375,000 and $475,000.
According to the vehicle’s advertisement, Wilson drove this 599 as his primary vehicle when playing for the Texas Rangers in 2011 before selling it to the current owner in 2013. It has a 6.0-liter, 611-horsepower V12 that is placed in front of the driver, much like every other 599.
The fact that this particular 599 has a celebrity-backed past increases its value further. Prices for manual-equipped 599s are only rising. Visit Gooding & Co.’s website to see it.
In This Article...
Considering The GTB Or GTO?
With just 599 ever produced, the 599 GTO is the more rare model and is therefore a worthwhile investment. However, the 599 GTB should be the best option if you’re an enthusiast wishing to drive a Ferrari for a reasonable price. Going with the F12 isn’t a bad option, but since it still has some depreciation left, you can end up losing a sizable sum of money. Of course, if you can afford to lose, the F12 is a great purchase because it offers a polished driving experience and relatively recent technology. Since just 80 of the 599 SA Aperta were produced and they sell for well over a million dollars, getting your hands on one won’t be simple. However, purchasing a used 599 has its own problems. For instance, if you’re looking for a deal, it probably costs you a lot of money and requires a lot more pampering. The 599 is one of the best current Ferrari GTs available, though, assuming you can get over that.
Whenever Special Editions Are Released
The 599 is remembered as a fantastic supercar with incredible performance, but its special editions garner almost as much attention as the “regular” car itself in terms of its legacy. The 599 GTB, which utilized the Enzo’s V12, was already a serious performance vehicle and was approved for the super-exclusive, rarely-used Ferrari moniker, GTO. After the 250 GTO and 288 GTO, the 599 GTO was introduced in 2010 as the third Ferrari GTO, a road-going version of the devastating 599XX track-only racing.
The 599 GTO was released to great fanfare and is still one of the most serious and collectible Ferrari supercars to this day. It was lighter by 220 pounds, improved handling with beefier anti-roll bars and stiffer springs, increased stopping power with massive carbon-ceramic brakes, halved transmission shift time with the 599XX’s shift control, and increased power to 661 hp thanks to a new flat crankshaft design, better ignition control, exhaust from the Only 599 units of the 599 GTO were produced, but they had similarly ferocious looks thanks to the unique black highlights on the roof and side skirt, the aggressive vented hood, and new wheels.
Although the GTO is the most popular 599 special edition that comes to mind, there were a few more amazing ones that were introduced over its model life. The 599 HGTE improved handling with suspension changes and a lower ride height, and the 599 GTB 60F1 celebrated 60 years of Ferrari F1 victories with the HGTE’s upgrades as well as unique paint jobs and wheels. All of these models were produced in a limited quantity of 80 vehicles.
The end of an era
Only roughly 20 manual-shift 599 GTBs were produced for the American market, and there may have been a similar amount produced for the rest of the globe. Because of this, the manual version is uncommon, but uncommon doesn’t always imply valuable.
Given the conflicting opinions about the manual version and the fact that the 599 transmission was built for paddle shifting, any premium paid for the manual driving experience might not be necessary. The 599 GTB was the final 12-cylinder Ferrari to be offered with a manual transmission, which may have an impact on value. It is a historic vehicle that brought an end to the time when a driver’s talent determined how well an automobile performed.
The purchaser of the 599 received a unique specimen of a fantastic vehicle as well as an intriguing piece of history. The price paid was complete insanity for a car. The estimate was somewhat optimistic—it was only about one-third of the transaction price. In essence, the customer spent $500,000 to be able to boast about owning a 599 manual transmission. There won’t be many miles driven for the manual driving experience, therefore I don’t expect much fun in return. Though it would be a stretch, there is some hope that the car’s historical significance would someday make a comeback. A premium paid for a Steve McQueen Lusso or a Ferrari that won the Le Mans 24 Hours is likely to last forever. In the realm of serious collector cars, one in twenty is not a large quantity, and this association will likely have little, if any, value.
In this deal, the seller came out on top. Any hope of receiving more than $200,000 would have been unrealistic. To have anticipated the outcome he did would have been insane.
The buyer was required to pay for his gift, but he ultimately received it. We frequently neglect passion in favor of values fixation. Looking at his 599 will probably give the buyer more pleasure than seeing bigger numbers on his bank statement, and for him, that may be the only thing that matters.
Annual Updates
With the exception of Ferrari adding an F1 edition, the Ferrari 599 GTB for 2008 had no notable alterations.
On the 2009 Ferrari 599 GTB, not much has changed. 20-inch wheels, a carbon fiber package, and an iPod integration kit were available as options.
For the 2010 Ferrari 599 GTB, a Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione package became available. This upgrade added a stronger suspension, a little less ground clearance, and more inside carbon fiber.
The Ferrari 599 GTB remained substantially unaltered for 2011. Ferrari, however, unveiled a brand-new 599 GTO model. The 6.0-liter V12 engine in the 599 GTO produced 670 horsepower, making it faster than the standard GTB Fiorano. Ferrari stated that the GTO, with a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.35 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph, was their fastest ever road-going vehicle. A total of 599 GTOs were produced, all of which were promptly sold out. The GTO, which was lighter and had a stiffer variation of Ferrari’s adjustable suspension, was the sole vehicle with the automated-manual transmission. The GTB did not come standard with carbon-ceramic brakes, but the GTO did. After the 2011 model year, both the 599 GTB and 599 GTO became obsolete.
What kind of engine is in the Ferrari 599 GTB?
The 599 GTB Fiorano, which sits proudly at the top of the Ferrari lineup, attempts to fuse the comfort and exclusivity of a luxury GT with the power and agility of a top-tier supercar. The 599 GTB has a lot to live up to after a lengthy line of front-engined V12 Ferraris, and it faces an increasing number of competitors in its market.
A vehicle of this size and cost needs to have presence, and the 599 delivers. Although the design is relatively small, the strongly stylized appearance tricks the eye with its long, prominent bonnet that reaches back to the small cabin and tail. Ferrari also makes strong claims about the effectiveness of its aerodynamics, which is essential in achieving its claimed top speed of over 200 mph, although it lacks any apparent wings or spoilers to disrupt the flowing design.
The 599 GTB has a mechanical layout created for optimum performance, much like any other top-tier supercar. The powerful six-liter V12 engine has a natural aspiration system and is situated behind the front axle in the front of the car, a design known as a front-mid engined layout that is good for weight distribution. The outstanding 47/53 front/rear weight distribution is also aided by a gearbox and transaxle situated at the back.
Other notable technical elements include the manettino switch, which enables the vehicle to be specially customized to the needs of the driver and the driving circumstances, the use of aluminum for the chassis and body to save weight, and adjustable electronic dampers. The F1 automated manual gearbox, which is an option for the 599 GTB, offers gearchange times of as little as 100 milliseconds, minimizing the loss of power and maximizing acceleration.
The 599 nevertheless prioritizes comfort despite its emphasis on performance. The interior of the car is covered in a combination of leather, aluminum, and carbon fiber, and features like climate control, electrically adjustable seats and steering wheels, and a high-end music system are included as standard equipment.
The quantity of Ferrari 599xx Evo production.
Of course, you can’t drive your 599XX, so you’ll have to wait to enjoy the thrill of flinging open your flap and humiliating the motorist you just passed. Six Ferrari-sponsored track events are included with the purchase of a Ferrari XX car, first the Enzo-based FXX and then the 599. You also get an additional two years of factory track work when you purchase the Evo pack.
Ferrari will send engineers equipped with those cool red Acer laptops you see connected in to Fernando Alonso’s car if you want to drive them outside of factory events and don’t have your own race team available to start the car up for you. It’s a prestigious club, and since the factory believes you are there to assist in the development of next road vehicles, you also need to be a little handy.
The Ferrari 599 was created by who?
A few years ago, this Ferrari 599 GTB Jason Castriota Designs Special was created. It is a distinctive Ferrari. Not by Ferrari directly, but rather, as the name says, by Jason Castriota Designs. Jason Castriota’s father originally built and owned this Ferrari 599 GTB. Castriota is the designer of the 599 GTB Fiorano’s appearance. When he worked with the renowned Italian design firm Pininfarina, he created the vehicle. Alfa Romeo Blu Inverno and Poltrona Rau are combined to make the Ferrari. The famous 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder with chassis number 2561GT served as the inspiration for that piece. The fact that the car has a manual transmission with six gears basically makes it even more distinctive.
In order to have the Ferrari in question transformed into a special design more in keeping with Castriota’s original sketches, the previous owner engaged Jason Castriota Designs in 2011. To finish the look, the automobile received a number of new panels and a pair of new headlights. The brand-new panels are totally carbon-based. A set of gorgeous aluminum rims complete the style. A Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with more aggressive lines is the end product. This vehicle was listed for sale in 2019, yet this is its first appearance! How admirable that people would dare to drive around in such vehicles!
There are how many 599 GTBs?
Ferrari unveiled the 599 GTO’s official specifications on April 8th, 2010. The 599 GTO was a road-legal version of the 599XX track day car, and Ferrari claimed that it was their fastest road car ever at the time. It lapped the Fiorano test track in 1 minute 24 seconds, beating the Ferrari Enzo Ferrari by one second. Its engine produced 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm and 670 PS (493 kW; 661 hp) of power at 8,250 rpm. Along with the exhaust system, the vehicle has the multiple shift program for the gearbox from the 599XX. Ferrari claimed that the 599 GTO could reach its highest speed of over 335 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3.3 seconds. The 599 GTO weighs 1,605 kg (3,538 lb), which is around 100 kg (220 lb) less than the regular GTB. There were just 599 vehicles made. About 125 of these were created specifically for the American market.
The 1962 250 GTO and the 1984 288 GTO were the only other models Ferrari created that carried the GTO moniker; the 599 GTO was the third. The 599 GTO was not intended for homologation in any racing series, in contrast to the earlier GTOs.