Buy a Ferrari is one thing. Being able to order a F80a Daytona SP3 One such example is owning a car in an extremely unique configuration; another is being invited to purchase the next limited-edition series from Maranello. And even with several million euros at your disposal, nothing is guaranteed. American collector David Lee knows this all too well.
In a recent interview with Road to Success, who today owns one of the most impressive Ferrari collections in the world, recounts how he gradually became one of the brand’s most important clients. His account, in fact, echoes that of from another collector which we told you about a few months ago: at Ferrari, money matters, of course, but the relationship built with the brand matters just as much.
More than 50 Ferraris purchased…
David Lee has been a Ferrari customer for about 30 years. Yet in 2017, despite an already exceptional collection and considerable financial resources, he felt that his profile was not yet prominent enough to secure a LaFerrari new. «It’s a process,» he explains. According to him, Ferrari’s philosophy is to ask its best customers to truly «invest in the brand.» In other words, it’s not enough to simply show up when Maranello unveils a limited edition. You also have to buy the less sought-after models, become more involved in the Ferrari world, and support the brand over the long term.
Since then, the situation has changed dramatically. David Lee estimates that he has purchased more than 50 Ferraris directly from the manufacturer and notes that he has retained a substantial collection. Today, Ferrari is offering him the models he once coveted but was unable to obtain. In particular, an F80 is currently being built for him.
Even among the best customers, there are several levels
Perhaps the most interesting part of his account lies elsewhere. Being considered a Ferrari «top client» doesn’t even seem to be the pinnacle of the pyramid. David Lee explains that certain particularly rare configurations simply cannot be requested by the customer: Ferrari must offer them. His Daytona SP3, for example, features a configuration with exposed green carbon fiber that was reportedly offered to him directly by Maranello. According to him, only about thirty of the 599 Daytona SP3s received this type of treatment.
The same goes for his future F80, which was ordered with plenty of exposed carbon fiber. David Lee thus refers to a tier that lies «beyond» the usual top clients, where Ferrari itself decides who is eligible for certain specifications.
So having money doesn't let you cut in line
This is probably the sentence that best sums up the Ferrari system: «Just because you have money doesn’t mean you can buy the car.» ” According to David Lee, you have to have been part of the journey, supported Ferrari, and built up a history with the brand for long enough to be among the few hundred people who might be offered one of these extremely limited-production cars.
His media exposure now plays a role as well. The collector considers himself to have become a true ambassador for Ferrari on social media and believes that this visibility is now almost as valuable to the brand as his purchases.
His journey ultimately confirms what another major collector had already explained to us: to gain access to the rarest Ferraris, you certainly need to be extremely wealthy, but above all, you must—year after year—become a customer whom Maranello considers important enough to open its doors to. And even once you’ve walked through that door, it seems there’s still another, even more exclusive room behind it.
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