The value, especially the increased value, of a classic boat is not always easy to measure. However, as soon as a boat appears in Sotheby's auction catalogues, the situation is clear. This was the case with "G. Cinquanta", Gianni Agnelli's favourite speedboat. The Fiat patriarch commissioned it from Renato "Sonny" Levi. The key data: 11.28 metres, composite wood construction, four eight-cylinder engines with almost 1000 kilowatts, 50 knots - a sensational figure in 1968. "G. Cinquanta", which stands for "Gianni 50" and alludes to the top speed, was built at the gates of Rome; Levi borrowed the hull shape from the patrol boats of the Italian coastguard.
The designer with Italian roots, who grew up in Pakistan and England, was also commissioned by powerboat enthusiasts such as Karim Aga Khan IV, Roberto Olivetti ("Hidalgo") and Count Corrado Agusta, for whom "Barbarina" was created. Gianni Agnelli described his "G. Cinquanta" as "the perfect boat" after covering 2000 nautical miles in one season. She changed hands for 450,000 euros in August 2020 as a result of the online auction. It is unlikely that the auction success provided the immediate impetus for the "G-Fifty" project. This is because Sonny Levi drew the 14.60 metre long and 3.60 wide hull back in 2016, the year in which the former RAF fighter pilot died.
The new edition is being overseen by his son Martin Levi, together with PMP Design, a trusted design partner of Levi. Pasquale Mario Passalacqua takes up the positive deck leap, flat freeboard and round cockpit of "G. Cinquanta", but omits the front cockpit and is more strongly orientated towards "Barbarina" with a similarly sheer foredeck. Instead of many analogue pointers, a screen sits enthroned in front of the leisure pilot. Two petrol engines from Mercury Racing with a combined output of 1640 kilowatts should be enough to accelerate to almost 80 knots. This is due to the use of epoxy resins and carbon fibres as well as the maestro's plans. Martin Levi says: "Our philosophy has always focussed on smooth running, dry decks and efficiency." PMP Design markets "G-Fifty", the first of which will be launched this year at the earliest.
