4

1952 Ferrari Arno XI Racing Boat

Posted: August 13, 2019
1952 Ferrari Arno XI Racing Boat

Racing champ - boat racing champ - Achille Castoldi scored this Ferrari Arno XI Racing Boat, the only boat that has ever been powered by Scuderia Ferrari for one simple reason: he asked Enzo Ferrari to build it for him.

In the 1950s Castoldi set his sights on breaking the World Speed Record on water. No surprise he turned to Ferrari for help, and perhaps only slightly more of one that the man agreed. Why not prove your engine can defy land? Soon enough, we might see Ferrari test its skills on SpaceX's Falcon rockets.

Castoldi indeed used his 1952 Ferrari Arno XI Racing Boat to set a world record. In the 1953 flying kilometer in the 800kg weight class he hit a top speed of 150.49MPH, and the record still stands today. So too does the Arno XI, though Castoldi never raced it again himself, and the boat's next owner, Nando dell'Orto, got just second place in the 900kg class in 1965, after making a few modifications that added weight to the hydroplane.

Since then the Ferrari-powered Arno XI has been retired, making various appearances at boat shows and in parades. But it's looking for a new champion. Or at least a new collector, following a complete restoration and certification by Ferrari Classiche. The 3-point hydroplane is made of hardwood, covered in a mahogany veneer. Its upper body, of course, is painted Ferrari Red.

More Products You Might Like