This Ferrari is basically a 360 spider with the windshield replaced by a small windscreen reminiscent of the windscreens of several open-toped Testa Rossa sports racers from the early '60s. The car, finished in silver with a tan interior, also had the retractable top removed in order to save weight.

What is most interesting about this Ferrari was how long it was kept secret. di Montezemolo was totally in the dark about its development within Ferrari and even the design firm of Pininfarina kept it under wraps until its presentation on his wedding day. Luca di Montezemolo stated in an interview with the Finanical Times that he plans on keeping the car in a shed at his home. ( a shed??? Surely you jest, we think... ed.)

Agnelli has commissioned several one off Ferrari designs over the years, but the 360 Barchetta is the first after a long sabbatical. The car's construction costs have been estimated at $400,000 and there are no plans at this time to create a second one. Whether this one ever makes it out for collectors to bid on at auction has yet to be seen.

di Montezemolo has been at the helm of Ferrari during the turnaround years and has been instrumental at not only bringing the Driver's and Constructor's Championships back to Maranello, but also saving Maserati from the brink of extinction and reintroducing quality luxury vehicles with the trident on the grill back into the market. All, while ensuring that Tifosi everywhere are supplied with the latest technology on their V8 sports cars and V12 grand touring coupes. It is only fitting that he was rewarded with one of the finest out of the factory.

As more and more cars and information begin to trickle out of what was once the large collection of one-off and limited series designs for the Sultan of Brunei, more of these prototypes will be reported on. But, with the Sultan definitely out of the car business (at least for now) and the world entering what could be a long and interesting recession, there may not be many of these interesting constructions tooling around in Modena for quite some time.