The Ferrari Boat That Set the World Speed Record Is for Sale

Achille Castoldi’s “Arno XI” hydroplane packs a 600 horsepower V12 engine

1952 Ferrari Arno XI Racing Boat
This world record-setting Ferrari boat is up for auction.
Silvano Maggi ©Courtesy of RM Auctions

Maybe the problem with your summer lake adventures isn’t that you need, as Martin Brody says in Jaws, “a bigger boat.” Maybe what you need is a faster boat. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Ferrari “Arno XI” Racing Boat that’s up for sale from duPont Registry.

Back in October of 1953, famed Italian speedboat racer Achille Castoldi set the world speed record on water for the 800kg boat class in the Arno XI. And according to duPont, it’s the only Ferrari-powered boat built with Enzo Ferrari’s blessing. 

So what does a “Ferrari-powered boat” actually mean? According to RM Sotheby’s, the auction house which sold the boat back in 2012 for €868,000 (or roughly $973K), Castoldi had previously built boats with the likes of Alfa Romeo and Maserati; but in 1952 he ordered a Formula 1 specification V-12 engine from Ferrari in hopes of achieving the 800kg class speed record. By the time he met his goal, the already powerful engine had been increased by 200 bhp over original specification to around 600 bhp.

In other words? This ain’t no Skiff Craft. Just watch it in action below:

According to duPont, the boat has been “completely restored” through Ferrari’s classic car department, Ferrari Classiche. But it’s not like recent owners have been attempting speed records of their own. As the listing notes, it’s had a “peaceful retirement” and “been seen occasionally at boat shows doing parade laps.”

That could all change with the new owner. We envision racing cigarette boats, pulling up to the lakeside fish taco spot in style and trailering it out of the water in a landlubber Ferrari. If that sounds like the lake life you want to lead, get in touch with duPont for more information. Pricing hasn’t been released, but the RM Sotheby’s selling price is a good starting point.

Editor’s Note: RealClearLife, a news and lifestyle publisher, is now a part of InsideHook. Together, we’ll be covering current events, pop culture, sports, travel, health and the world. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.    

Win the Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Experience

Want the F1 experience of a lifetime? Here’s your chance to win tickets to see Turn 18 Grandstand, one of Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix’s most premier grandstands!