This car, Lot 131, sold for for $3,216,435 (CHF 2,592,500), including buyer’s premium, at RM Sotheby’s Zurich, CHE, sale on October 11, 2025.
Ferrari presented the idea of producing a modern interpretation of a classic Ferrari icon at a dinner following a Corse Clienti track day. The audience was some of Ferrari’s best customers, those who buy almost every new model and have funds left over to do some insanely expensive racing. The plan was presented as a concept with few details, and I am told it got a cool reception. But the train had left the station, and Ferrari forged ahead.
This eventually came to fruition as the Icona Series, a run of special models that blend modern mechanicals with features that pay tribute to an iconic past Ferrari model. The first of the series, the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2, was introduced for the 2019 model year. The Monza was inspired by mid-1950s Ferrari sports racers with a name that is a nod to Ferrari’s classic 750 Monza.
Ferrari has a rich history of beloved models. It is not unusual to hear enthusiasts say, “I wish Ferrari made a car like… again.” Of course, that contradicts Enzo Ferrari’s philosophy that his favorite Ferrari was always “the next one.” Enzo continuously strived to improve his cars, and a “greatest hits” model was not his style. These days, the now-publicly traded corporation found adding half a billion dollars or so to its coffers was too tempting to pass up.
A styling sensation
The Monza was built on the underpinnings of Ferrari’s 812 Superfast. Ferrari’s own design house, Centro Stile, was tapped to produce its unique body. Ferrari Design Chief Flavio Manzoni is credited with the award-winning result. The body reinterpreted Ferrari’s classic barchetta silhouette. The word “barchetta” translates to “little boat,” a shape in which the top of the body is nearly flat, leaving the sides and ends of the car to define the design. And yes, it really did win an award. Ferrari’s styling center was awarded the 2020 Compasso d’Oro industrial-design award.
The Monza SP1 is a single-seater, while the SP2 has conventional seating for two. The Monza trades a traditional windshield for a “Virtual Windshield,” an aerodynamic trick where air is routed around the occupants. A distinctive styling feature is a hump in the rear deck behind the driver’s head that mimics the headrest of the 1950s 750 Monza racer. On the SP2, these headrests are found behind both occupants.
The Monza’s body is carbon fiber, and power comes from the 812 Superfast’s 6.5-liter, 789-hp 12-cylinder engine. Much to the chagrin of apparently everyone, the Monza was only available with Ferrari’s F1 paddle-shift transmission.
The lack of a roof makes it slightly lighter than its 812 sibling, but you wouldn’t know it from its performance numbers. The 0–62-mph sprint is identical, with both cars clocking in at 2.9 seconds. However, their top speeds are much different, with the 812 topping out at a stellar 211 mph and the Monza’s less efficient aerodynamics holding it back to a “meager” 188 mph.
Top American clients were offered an opportunity to buy a Monza with the proviso that they would not be able to register the car or drive it on public U.S. roads. Here, the base price for a single-seat SP1 was roughly $1,300,000, with the 2-passenger SP2 starting at $1,600,000. Clients were encouraged to personalize their Monzas, adding tens of thousands to the total.
The big mistake
The large tab, plus the fact that the Monza did not have a top, was not homologated for any racing series, and could not even be driven to Cars & Coffee, caused some of Ferrari’s most loyal U.S. clients to balk at ordering one. As Julia Roberts’ Vivian told the sales clerk in “Pretty Woman,” “Big mistake. Big. Huge!”
Not being able to drive the car to Kroger apparently created a backlash so great that Ferrari subsequently developed a $75,000 kit that allows the Monza to meet legal EPA status. This means the Monza can now be registered and driven on the street, though with a limit of only 2,500 miles per year. This turned what was essentially garage art into one of the most valuable modern Ferraris, costing clients who passed on the car a million dollars or more. These dubious clients also learned that Ferrari required Monza ownership to be considered for the next Icona model. No Monza, no SP3 Daytona — or whatever else comes next.
A good buy
RM Sotheby’s Tailored for Speed auction saw the liquidation of a large and impressive Swiss collection, including our subject car. It is estimated that just one-third of Monza production was the single-seat SP1 builds, but this is a case where rarity does not increase desirability. There may be some purity in the configuration, but there’s definitely less joy and less value in not being able to take a passenger with you.
This SP1 was as new as they come, showing just 78 kilometers. It was being sold by the original owner and was complete with all the special toys — a bespoke helmet, car cover and more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but unlike some Monzas, there was nothing too garish or objectionable about the build. The sale price represents a nice return on the happy owner’s investment. Dealers are asking north of $3.5 million for used Monzas, so at $3.2 million, the buyer should be happy too.
