American customer’s car inspired by 1968 film

Being rich is pretty cool isn’t it? I mean, only when you have serious wonga can you ask Ferrari to build a special one-off supercar for you.

That’s exactly what one “discerning” American gentleman asked Fezza to do, who responded with this: the one-off Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta, which has just appeared at the Cavallino Classic show in Palm Beach, Florida.

Edward Walson – son of John Walson, the creator of cable television – asked Ferrari to make a car based on the one specially built for the 1968 film Toby Dammit, itself inspired by the tales of Edgar Allen Poe.

Ferrari then went about customising a near £200,000 Ferrari 599 to look like the specially-built Carrozzeria Fantuzzi-designed Fezza used in the flick, and built the P540.

Don’t be put off by the questionable looks however because, this being a Ferrari-customised 599, it is seriously powerful.

The Ferrari P540’s 6-litre V12 engine develops 612bhp and a whopping 448lb/ft of pulling power.

No word on performance figures, but bear in mind the standard Ferrari 599 accelerates from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds and runs on to a top speed of 205mph – possibly more.

There’s certainly no mistaking this ‘Goldmember’ special, considering its open roof which required an extra 20kg worth of chassis strengthening material. And how’s this for a turnaround – the P540 took just 14 months to complete.

by Vijay Pattni

First image courtesy of jalopnik.com