A wealthy businessman and avid car collector has launched a lawsuit against Ferrari for allegedly refusing to sell him its latest limited edition supercar.

Preston Henn, who founded the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop in Florida, in 1963, has owned Ferraris for nearly 60 years and is well-known in classic car circles.

The 85-year-old, who was born in Murphy, North Carolina, claims Ferrari North America ordered his local dealership not to sell him the convertible version of the LaFerrari.

Preston Henn has owned Ferraris for nearly 60 years and is renowned in classic car circles

Mr Henn alleges that Ferrari officials told his friends he 'was not qualified to purchase the LaFerrari Spider' (pictured)

Ferrari limited supply of the sought-after Aperta (also known as the Spider) to just 150 examples worldwide.

Its official price has not yet been released, according to a factory spokesman, but orders for the car are rumoured to be somewhere between $1million and $3million.

Mr Henn alleges that Ferrari officials told his friends he 'was not qualified to purchase the LaFerrari Spider' before he made an enquiry about the supercar.

He then sent a $1million cheque to Sergio Marchionne, the Chairman of Ferrari Chrysler Automobiles, as a deposit - but had his money returned.

Ferrari limited supply of the Aperta (also known as the Spider) to just 150 examples worldwide

This has infuriated the high octane-loving businessman, who has decided to sue Ferrari North America for defamation.

In papers submitted to the District Court of Florida in Fort Lauderdale, Henn is described as 'the most qualified, or among the ten most qualified persons in the United States with regard to the standards that Ferrari has historically used to determine who would have "the privilege" of purchasing unique Ferrari automobiles'.

Papers show Mr Henn owns or currently owns 17 Ferraris including a 1955 Ferrari 275 GTB, Competizione Speciale.

This is regarded by many as one of the world's most valuable cars, with estimates it is worth more than $100million.

The official price of the Aperta has not yet been released but orders are believed to be somewhere between $1million and $3million

The lawsuit says Mr Henn is suing Ferrari North America Inc. for damages following alleged statements which injure 'reputation in his profession, trade, occupation, and in the world of high end automobile organisations, associations, and exhibitions and their individual participants'.

It adds: 'He (Mr Henn) seeks damages for reputational injury and the mortification caused by declaring him to be not qualified to purchase a LaFerrari Spider.'

Mr Henn, who made a fortune through his flea market business, is seeking damages 'in excess of $75,000' and is demanding a trial by jury.

The LaFerrari Aperta was officially announced by Ferrari at the beginning of July.

Papers show Mr Henn owns or currently owns 17 Ferraris including a 1955 Ferrari 275 GTB, Competizione Speciale, thought to be worth more than $100million (pictured)

It is yet to be seen in public, with Ferrari giving the car its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Gordon Ramsay has a LaFerrari Aperta on order.

The celebrity chef flashed the keys Ferrari had sent him prior to the supercar being dispatched on the first episode of the new Top Gear series.