Ferrari has built some truly unusual cars during its existence, and this one-off pace car from the 1980s is certainly up there among its strangest creations. Based on the often-overlooked Mondial, it looks unlike anything else to emerge from Maranello during that era.
Originally commissioned for the CART Indy Car World Series, the Ferrari was part of an ambitious program sponsored by automotive paint manufacturer PPG. Rather than using ordinary production cars, PPG encouraged automakers to develop spectacular custom-built machines for pacing races.
The resulting Ferrari reportedly cost approximately $1 million to develop and build in the late 1980s. That’s an extraordinary amount for a pace car, particularly considering it was never intended for regular production.
After spending years largely outside the public spotlight, the unusual Ferrari is back in the spotlight thanks to The Caretakers Collection. A recent video from Avants offers enthusiasts a closer look at this fascinating piece of racing history.
A Ferrari Unlike Any Other
The project began with a production Ferrari Mondial chassis, but the finished car received extensive modifications. Its wheelbase was stretched by roughly two inches, while Italian design house I.DE.A completely reimagined its appearance.
The redesigned body featured dramatic glass surfaces, futuristic lighting, and distinctive strakes inspired by the Ferrari Testarossa. Carbon-fiber and Kevlar composite panels were also used extensively, making the construction particularly advanced for its time.
Interestingly, the car wasn’t designed by Pininfarina, the company responsible for Ferrari’s production styling during that period. Instead, renowned designer Ercole Spada led the distinctive exterior design.
A Prototype V8 And Some Wild Technology
Underneath the unusual bodywork sits a prototype 3.4-liter V8 producing approximately 300 horsepower. The engine helped preview technology later used in the Ferrari 348, while a five-speed manual gearbox handled transmission duties.
The pace car also featured experimental electronically adjustable suspension and a rather unusual brake-cooling system. Water could be sprayed onto the brakes during hard deceleration to help manage temperatures during demanding track use.
Other clever touches included automatically opening engine-bay ventilation flaps and integrated flashing safety lights. Inside, the redesigned cockpit featured Kevlar, suede, specialized controls, and additional racing safety equipment.
A Rare Survivor From CART’s Wildest Era
Although the car was first presented as a styling model in 1987, the completed Ferrari entered service in 1988. It remained active in PPG’s CART pace-car fleet through at least 1991, although reliability wasn’t its strongest quality.
Many of the unusual PPG pace cars eventually disappeared or were lost, making this surviving Ferrari particularly special. Its recent appearance in The Caretakers Collection provides another opportunity to appreciate a remarkable automotive experiment.
The million-dollar figure refers to its reported original development cost rather than a confirmed current valuation. Even so, this one-of-one Ferrari is a reminder of an era when race organizers and manufacturers weren’t afraid to create something completely outrageous.