The internet hated the Ferrari Luce. Or at least, a very loud section of the internet did. Since the reveal of the Italian marque’s first fully electric vehicle, the backlash has been relentless. Some see it as progress. Others call it a betrayal of the brand’s internal combustion soul. Whatever you think, one thing is undeniable: Ferrari has turned a PR firestorm into a high-stakes auction opportunity.
Chassis 0, the very first production example of this polarizing $640,000 EV, is going under the hammer. And it’s not staying cheap.
A Charity Sale With a Million-Dollar Price Tag
RM Sotheby’s will auction this unique Luce during its Monterey Car Week event in August. The twist here is the beneficiary. All proceeds from the sale go to educational initiatives supported by The Ferrari Foundation. This charitable angle isn’t just window dressing. It’s a strategic move designed to push the final bid well beyond the car’s market value.
For context, the standard production Luce carries a starting price of roughly $640,000 per the source material provided. However, Chassis 0 is not a standard unit. RM Sotheby’s estimates its value at over $1.1 million. That’s a massive premium. Buyers aren’t just purchasing a car. They’re buying entry into Ferrari’s electric history while funding future generations of engineers and students.
Bespoke Tailor Made: The Science of Shifting Paint
This isn’t a off-the-shelf Ferrari. The vehicle has been curated entirely by Ferrari’s Tailor Made division. The theme revolves around light. How it hits surfaces. How it changes perception.
The exterior features a bespoke Madreperla semi-gloss finish. This isn’t standard paint. Ferrari claims it uses a dedicated Tailor Made pigment engineered to interact with light in a specific way. The result? Shifting reflections that move between green and violet depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions.
The application process is so complex that no two applications will ever be identical. Each one develops its own unique character. If you think you can spot a factory flaw, look elsewhere. These are quirks by design.
Inside the Cabin: Metallic Leather and Light
Step inside and the obsession with brightness continues. The cabin uses Perla Le Mans metallic leather for the primary seats, paired with Grigio Corvara trim pieces. This specific metallic leather was developed exclusively for this program. It wasn’t chosen for durability or comfort alone. It was selected because it enhances the cabin’s sense of light.
The aesthetic is cohesive. The car also gets color-coded wheels. Instead of the controversial disc-style wheels seen in early launch imagery, Chassis 0 features a conventional five-spoke design. It also comes with bespoke brake calipers. A unique plaque on board identifies it definitively as the first production chassis of the program.
Don’t eat in there. Seriously. The metallic leather and bespoke finishes are too delicate for spills.
History Made in Monterey
Why does this car matter? It doesn’t have an engine in the traditional sense. It lacks the roaring V12 that built the Ferrari reputation. Yet, its place in automotive history is already secure. The Luce represents a pivot point. A moment where legacy meets electrification.
The controversy surrounding the car suggests one outcome: Chassis 0 might command the highest price of the entire Monterey auction. We often focus on vintage icons like the 250 GT SWB California Spider when expecting record-breaking sums. But what if the shocker this year isn’t a vintage racer? What if it’s a modern Ferrari with no internal combustion engine at all?
The market has spoken, or rather, the market is about to. Whether you view the Luce as a bold future step or a mistake, Chassis 0 will likely command a price that makes the original MSRP look like a discount.
RM Sotheby’s. August. Watch the bidding war.
