The golden rocket you see here was at one stage in its existence a factory fresh Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Now it's the P540 Superfast Aperta and the existential realisation of a grownup's nocturnal fantasy.

American Edward Wilson, the son of the man who invented cable television and presumably benefactor of the vast riches that invention generated, used to dream about owning a car he'd seen in the 1968 short film Toby Dammit. Ferrari's 'Special Projects' division was only too happy to make a modern interpretation of the original Ferrari for Wilson, having completed its first car, the F430 based SP1, made for a Japanese businessman.

The 599 isn't a drop top, but the P540 is, you'll notice. This required the usual strengthening to stop the body wobbling like an old Saab Convertible. To get around the weight issue, Ferrari used carbon fibre to that end, adding around 20kg.

We're not sure how much the P540 set Wilson back - in fact, we haven't got a clue and dread to think...

Mark Nichol - 15 Dec 2009