The Monzas evoke Ferraris long, long history in racing.

“The ... SP1 and SP2 are inspired by ‘barchettas’ [Italian for ‘little boat’, which refers to a small, open-topped sports car] of the 1950s,” Ferrari said last year when the cars were revealed.

“[They] were driven to victory in international motorsport, not just by official works team drivers from the Scuderia, but also by a legion of gentlemen drivers who, in those years, frequently found themselves wheel to wheel with legendary professional drivers of the era.”

I recently had a chance to visit Ferrari’s North American headquarters to look at the Monza SP1.

Check out how it went:

The Monza SP1 is a “barchetta”. You’ll need a helmet with a visor. Or goggles. Or some very fashionable sunglasses. Because the Monza has no top and no windscreen.

Ferrari has created two new, limited versions of the Monza – the SP1 and SP2.

Ferrari brought an impeccable example of the 750 Monza from 1955 to its North American headquarters to celebrate the new Monza SP1 and SP2.

The two models form the basis of the new Icona range. Icona cars will be situated above exclusive versions of Ferrari's main sports cars and GT cars, but below hypercars, such as the LaFerrari.

That's some old-school interior action. Where do I recharge my phone?

I was so thrilled to be in the presence of the 750 that I delayed in checking out the main event.

The new Monza is both larger and vastly more powerful than the 750 model that served as its inspiration.

I hopped in and immediately felt like I had joined the cast of a science-fiction film about a world in which classic Ferraris had all been gorgeously updated.

The cockpit offers nothing new – it’s derived from the Ferrari 812 Superfast. There isn’t much room inside for modern conveniences.

The styling of the car is sort of “Speed Racer”.

The name of the car, Monza, evokes the legendary racetrack near Milan.

The Scuderia Ferrari badge connects the new Monza SP1 to Ferrari's grand motorsports lineage.

The Scuderia Ferrari badge connects the new Monza SP1 to Ferrari's grand motorsports lineage.

Let’s check out what’s going on under the bonnet.

It has a V12 engine, based on the motor from the 812 Superfast.

The 6.5-litre engine creates 799 horsepower and can propel the SP1 from zero to 60 miles per hour (96km/h) in less than three seconds. The top speed is just less than 200mph.

What a beautiful machine! So exotic! So exclusive. And at US$1.75 million, not inexpensive.

The Berluti Oxford dress shoes are made of “Venezia leather and feature hidden laces and red piping on the heel”, Ferrari says.

The accessories also include a Ferrari-branded helmet. Remember – the car has no windscreen!

Like much of the car, the helmet is made of carbon fibre.

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