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Art For Automotive’s Sake
2008 Ferrari F430 Challenge "Art Car" by Ben Levy

The automotive industry and the art world overlaps from time to time. For example, BMW works with artists annually to develop art cars. Shown here is one of three Ferraris painted by artists for Miami’s Art Basel in 2015, and will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s next month.

Created by U.K. artist Ben Levy, the Ferrari F430 Challenge Art Car has black bodywork and is covered with colourful words and marks in graffiti style. If you look closely you can see cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Pinky and the Brain on the sides of the car. Levy also sprayed the colours of the Italian flag in front of the front wheels.

Before being turned into an art car, F430 Challenge Art Car served its time on the race circuit between 2007 and 2010, following the previous 360 Challenge and later replaced by 458 Challenge. The 4.3-litre V8 engine still generates 483 hp and the entire car is still kept in race-ready spec. Estimate for this art car is USD 120,000 to 160,000 and the auction will take place at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 6-7 April.