Ferrari’s limited-run halo cars started with the 288 GTO, originally designed for Group B racing. Although Group B was canceled, the overwhelming demand for the car led Ferrari to produce a road-going version. The next halo car in Ferrari’s lineup was the F40, created to commemorate the brand’s 40th anniversary and was the last car personally supervised by Enzo Ferrari before his death.

Following the F40, Ferrari introduced the F50. While it sold out its limited run of 349 units, it was considered a misstep due to its racing influences from Formula 1 instead of rallying, making it a challenging car to drive. Additionally, it faced tough competition from the McLaren F1, widely regarded as the best road car ever made. In recent years, the F50 has regained popularity, leading to increased prices. However, during the development of the Enzo, it was seen as somewhat disappointing. Ferrari had to create a car worthy of the founder’s name and prove their prowess in road car development compared to McLaren and Porsche.