ferrari’s only matte enzo in nero opaco heads to auction

THE ONLY MATTE ENZO

There are rare Ferraris, and then there is the one Ferrari apparently allowed to break its own dress code. RM Sotheby’s is offering a 2004 Ferrari Enzo finished in Matte Nero Opaco, the only Enzo painted in a matte finish by Ferrari from new. Commissioned by a member of the Royal Family of Brunei, the car also became the first Ferrari hypercar delivered by the factory in matte paint — years before muted, non-reflective finishes began appearing everywhere from supercars to family SUVs. Bidding for the car opens on September 23 as part of RM Sotheby’s Sealed September sale.

The specification was unusually restrained for a machine designed to attract attention almost by definition. Its Nero Opaco exterior is paired with a Nero leather interior and carpets, interrupted by red instrumentation and large-sized seats. Construction began on June 8, 2004, with the finished car leaving Maranello that October. It was initially kept at the family’s London residence, occasionally appearing around Hampstead, Mayfair and Knightsbridge before later moving to the Asia-Pacific region. In other words, one of Ferrari’s most conspicuous cars spent its early life trying, at least chromatically, to keep a low profile.

the car was completed in 2004 | all images by Mikey Noga, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

BLACK BEFORE MATTE WENT MAINSTREAM

Designed by Ken Okuyama at Pininfarina, the Enzo was already a fairly dramatic proposition without special paint. Presented in 2002 and named after the company’s founder, its sharp nose and carbon-fiber construction drew heavily from Ferrari’s Formula 1 technology. Beneath the body sits a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 producing 660 horsepower, while carbon-ceramic brakes, push-rod suspension and electronically integrated vehicle controls brought race-derived technology onto the road. Ferrari initially built 399 examples, followed by a 400th car produced for Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Most Enzos left the factory in considerably more familiar territory: Rosso Corsa was the dominant choice, followed by Giallo Modena and conventional Nero. Other shades could be ordered, but according to RM Sotheby’s, only one customer specified a matte color from new. The choice feels less surprising given who ordered it. The Brunei royal family became known for commissioning highly bespoke cars from European manufacturers, and this Enzo arrived at a moment when matte paint was still decidedly outside the automotive mainstream. Two decades later, the finish looks considerably less strange — which may be exactly what makes the original feel interesting again.

the one-off Ferrari Enzo in matte nero opaco

RESTORED, CERTIFIED, AND BACK UNDER THE HAMMER

The Enzo returned to Europe in 2022 for an extensive cosmetic restoration at Carrozzeria Zanasi, the specialist facility used for Ferrari hypercars, Icona models and Tailor Made projects. More than €110,000 was spent on the work, which included replacing headlights, rear bonnet glass and ageing interior switches before repainting the body in its original Matte Nero Opaco. The same year, Ferrari Classiche certified the car, confirming that it retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox and bodywork.

Now showing just 5,763 kilometers, the one-off Enzo is returning to RM Sotheby’s as Lot 7 in its Sealed September sale. A new clutch and fuel pumps were fitted in August 2024 at 5,742 kilometers, with minimal mileage added since. RM Sotheby’s has not published an estimate, leaving prospective buyers to decide exactly how much exclusivity — and perhaps the world’s most committed rejection of Rosso Corsa — is worth. Bidding opens at 2 pm EDT on September 23 and begins closing at 2 pm EDT on September 30, 2026.

only one Enzo left Maranello in a matte finish