Ferrari celebrates 60 years in U.S. with special model, party

Ferrari is celebrating its 60th anniversary of selling cars in North America with an ultra-rare car and a party on Rodeo Drive.

The car is called the F60 America, and it’s an open-top version of Ferrari’s F12berlinetta grand touring coupe. Like the F12, the F60 will be powered by a massive V-12 engine mounted up front.

Ferrari won’t reveal official specs until Saturday night, but it’s safe to assume the car won’t have less than 730 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission will also likely remain on the F60.

This divine powertrain helps the rear-wheel-drive F60 do a zero-to-60 mph run in 3.1 seconds, Ferrari said. The open-roof car has no power-operated top; the car can only be closed with a light fabric cover that is only usable up to 75 mph.

The car’s dramatic and sculpted bodywork is customized, though it looks similar to the more common F12.

The open-top ethos of the F60 is designed as an homage to the 275 GTS4 NART Spider that Ferrari built in 1967 for cherished North American customers. Only 10 of those cars were built, one of which sold for a then-record $27.5 million at an auction in Monterey in 2013.

Like its forefather, just 10 copies of this new F60 will be made, and all have been spoken for by valued Ferrari customers. Pricing hasn’t been announced and may never be. But based on other Ferraris recently built in miniscule numbers, the F60’s price tag was likely in the millions.

Departing Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo will unveil the F60 Saturday night at an invite-only gala. He and the new car will then be on hand on Sunday as Ferrari shuts down Rodeo Drive for a car show that’s free and open to the public.

Sixty notable Ferraris will be displayed, including those from TV shows such as “Magnum P.I.,” and “Miami Vice,” the 1954 375 MM that won Best in Show at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and a variety of highly sought after Testa Rossa and 250 GTO models.

The event is set to run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills between Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards.