Unique Ferrari FF from the Company Chairman Goes to Auction
An exclusive Ferrari FF, the first shooting brake and the first all-wheel-drive series production model from Maranello, is preparing for auction. The car was commissioned personally by the company’s chairman, but that’s not its only special feature.
Key details of this car:
Unusual Interior Attracts Attention
The charming Nuovo Blu shade beautifully accentuates the FF’s characteristic, slightly awkward design, looking even better than the traditional red color. However, the real surprise is the interior.
The dashboard, door upholstery, carpets, console, steering wheel, and seats are covered in a Blu shade material that perfectly matches the exterior without creating a sense of excess. But the most interesting part is the materials. This Ferrari has cloth seats.
The Return of Fabric to Automotive Luxury
Fabric is gradually returning to the automotive world as a luxurious material considered more ethical and ecological than leather. However, this car was built in 2013, long before this trend became widespread, and many years after cloth seats ceased to be standard for series-production Ferraris.
RM Sotheby’s/Ivan Caravona
Brand experts may know more, but there is a suspicion that Ferrari hadn’t installed cloth-upholstered seats since the wedge-shaped Bertone 308 GT4, produced in the mid-to-late 1970s. Elkann’s car was clearly not a regular FF off the assembly line, as John Elkann was not a regular client. The grandson of legendary Gianni Agnelli, founder of Fiat, Elkann in 2013 held the position of Chairman of the Board of Fiat SpA, Ferrari’s parent company at the time. He is now the Chairman of Ferrari itself, which became independent in 2016.
Custom Commission
A significant portion of Ferrari buyers use the Tailor Made program, which since 2008 has facilitated the process of ordering custom paint and trim. Elkann is likely not the only client who specifically ordered cloth seats.
We know this is the case because English golfer Ian Poulter in 2012 commissioned an FF with tartan trim, although in that case the tartan was mostly used for the headliner, as well as piping and a thin stripe down the middle of the leather Daytona-style seats. Elkann, however, fully embraced the fabric aesthetic.
Auction and Value Estimate
This unusual FF will be presented at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Paris at the end of January. Its estimated value is between 220,000 and 320,000 euros (approximately $257,000 to $374,000 USD at the current exchange rate).
RM Sotheby’s/Ivan Caravona
This car is not just a vehicle, but a tangible testament to the personal taste and status of one of the most influential figures in the automotive industry. Its appearance at a public auction is a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece of Ferrari history, created directly for the person who shaped the brand’s destiny. The sale may also point to an interesting trend: cars individualized for the top management of manufacturers often become objects of increased interest, as they combine exclusivity with historical significance.