The Ferrari that made waves: Powerboat built by Enzo to break world speed record on water set to fetch £1.5m at auction


Its cars are adored on all corners of the globe and are seen as the ultimate status symbol for the rich and powerful.



But as these incredible pictures show, Ferrari is not just a talented car manufacturer.

This astonishing-looking Ferrari speedboat set an unrivalled world record in 1953 and is now set to fetch £1.5 million at auction.

Legendary: This astonishing-looking Ferrari speedboat set an unrivalled world record in 1953 and is now set to fetch £1.5 million at auction

The legendary ARNO XI Hydroplane craft was the brainchild of wealthy boat privateer Achille Castoldi who had a desire to break a world water speed record.

He persuaded the great Enzo Ferrari to lend knowledge and technical assistance in building the ultimate powerboat.

The result was a 12-cylinder, 4,500cc, V12 Ferrari engine - the same as can be found in the Type 375 Grand Prix car.

In October 1953, ARNO XI travelled at 150.2mph on Lake Iseo in northern Italy, setting a world speed record for an 800kg boat that has still never been broken.

When Mr Castoldi was finished with ARNO XI, it was sold to Nando dell'Orto, a rich engineer, who went on to race it with great success for more than 10 years, securing numerous wins.

The boat went through various aerodynamic improvements during that time, including a modified nose and the addition of a fin.

Powerful: Achille Castoldi setting the world record in 1953 in the ARNO XI

It finished its competitive racing career in 1960 with a European championship victory and numerous fastest laps, many of which still exist.

The current unnamed owner acquired the racing boat over 20 years ago, restoring it to mint condition.

It is now being sold by RM auctions.

Peter Wallman, specialist at RM Europe, said: 'We are thrilled to be offering the historic ARNO XI for sale.

'This awe-inspiring racing boat has beauty, history, provenance and performance; it simply ticks every box for any serious collector.

Powerful: The ARNO XI Hydroplane craft was the brainchild of a wealthy boat privateer who had a desire to break a world water speed record

For sale: The record-breaking speedboat will be sold in Monaco in May. It is likely to appeal to both car collectors and boat collectors

'It's an exceptional piece of history, made even more famous by the countless models one sees of it in important collectors' libraries.

'It is likely to appeal to serious car collectors as much as it will to traditional boat collectors.

'It has that alluring mix of 1950s Ferrari grand prix car with the sheer beauty and simplicity of the hydroplanes of the period.

