Life is a bowl of chocolates, and so is RM Sotheby’s Cavallino Palm Beach auction scheduled for – appropriately enough – Valentine’s Day. Well, okay, it’s not chocolates on offer, but the variety of modern Ferraris is delectable. And while I’ve been rooting around in the ’60s – mostly – it’s obvious that Ferrari has moved on, creating some of the best cars the modern era has ever seen. This round-up is a refresher covering a few of the iconic Italian carmaker’s models from the past two decades. Featured above is one of the company’s 350 70th anniversary cars, each painted by Ferrari’s Tailor Made department to commemorate a particularly striking historical model. This one is dedicated to the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe, specifically chassis #1301, which was produced by Pinin Farina in a gorgeous two-tone paint scheme. Beneath its glorious livery – nicknamed “Some Like it Red” – this 2018 488 GTB is powered by a mid-mounted, 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 generating 661 hp, brought to heel by carbon ceramic brakes, with gear changes handled by a Getrag 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. This car has travelled only 4500 miles and comes complete with its original books and manuals. The estimate is $350,000 – $400,000. Run-of-the-mill (!) 488 GTBs sell at around $250k, but an anniversary edition brought $605k at Scottsdale this year, so this estimate might be light.
For those who think turbochargers are cheating, this 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale is for you. It’s powered by the last normally aspirated V8 made by Ferrari, displacing 4.5 liters. The direct-injected engine was used in the Italia version of the 458, but there the resemblance ends. Ferrari honed, measured, balanced, optimized, and assembled every internal component of its F136 V8 to F1 specifications, resulting in a prodigious 14:1 compression ratio. While the Italia is no slouch with 570 hp, the Speciale registers an increase in horsepower to 597. Handling is enhanced with active aerodynamics – including electronically-controlled ground-force elements at the front, sides, and rear – lending confidence to the driver determined to test the 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds. Every 458 body panel was scrutinised, with re-designs aimed at decreasing the Speciale’s weight and increasing its aerodynamic profile. The interior is carbon fiber, including the flooring. Only 1309 Speciales were made, and each has appreciated significantly over its original MSRP of about $300k. The estimate on this 4700 mile example is $800,000 – $1,000,000, and while none of us is likely to rush over to Palm Beach with an open checkbook, it will be interesting to see the final price.
There has to be a convertible, and this is it: it’s a 2009 Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M, one of 499 made to celebrate the company’s sixteenth F1 Constructors’ Championship. Based on the 430 Scuderia, it is powered by a brutally fast, extremely loud 4.3-liter V8 feeding 500 hp through Ferrari’s F1-SuperFast six-speed automated manual transmission. Stability control helps keep the wheels where you point them, and the big carbon ceramic brakes make reining in this whole package a piece of cake. The spider is some 200 lbs heavier than the 430 Scuderia coupe, thanks to bracing required once the top came off, but what’s a few pounds when we’re talking 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Plus, the glass engine cover is wicked cool. The estimate here is $925,000 – $1,000,000.
This 2015 LaFerrari is perhaps the company’s magnum opus. Utilizing the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) technology that enabled Kimi Räikkönen to win the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari created an unbeatably fast hypercar by combining its 6.3-liter, 789 hp V12 with a 161 hp electric motor for down-low torque. We’re talking 0-60 in around 2 seconds. I can’t even think that fast! Downforce is controlled by electronically-actuated ground effects panels; gear changes are via a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle. All these modern Ferraris supply the driver with paddle shifters; in fact, the LaFerrari incorporates most of its functionality on the steering wheel. The seats are fixed, with a pad laid directly on the car’s floor and customized for the driver. The steering wheel and pedals move to suit. The LaFerrari makes use of more than 20 onboard computers, aiding and abetting a fantastic driving experience. Only 499 LaFerraris were produced. Even at an MSRP of $1 million, every car was spoken for long before the production run was completed. Since launch, this model has appreciated toward the $5 to $6 million range. This LaFerrari shows only 4788 miles on the odometer, and its estimate sits at $4.45 to $4.75 million – a bit of a bargain!
Oh, thank God, and here I was just about to give my millions to the homeless. How someone can go from Ferraris to tunnel boring machines, is a mystery all its own. With some due respect, I’m just not sure Ferrari buyers and tunnel boring machine buyers visit the same site.
Now, to me, this is BORING!!!
Thanks Howard.
If it runs on wheels, or swims, or flies; if it articulates, swivels, bashes, or scrapes; shiny or grimy; or it’s something that helps those things do those things (hmmm), I am fascinated with it. The things we’ve invented over the centuries and why we invented them – those are the stories I like to tell.
I would like to see more coverage of Bucyrus steam shovels, drag lines and dredges please.
No problem. I’ll go on the hunt. I think a steam shovel is very appropriate right about now, after all this finery.
That was a great answer, very well said.
At first glance I thought the red one had a white vinyl top….sorry white Italian glove leather top
What will $40k get me?
A used 308!
Maybe years ago, but the prices on all have gone up, the 355’s are crazy priced now.
A little over budget but close
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-ferrari-308-gt4-48/
Or you cd go for a Fiat Dino coupe with either a 2.0 or a 2.4 liter Ferrari engine.
I like the sound of those 6s. I looked at a fiat like t h is long ago. Ad mentioned a little rust but not the bent valves.
That’s an easy fix. Chuck the valve in the lathe, heat with the torch and lean on it with the tool rest to straighten the valve. I laughed snd left we it h out the car.
Yes that will work, i luv the looks of those!!
You listed your fetish list quite thoroughly. I have a more brief version. I’m a car s l u t and a junk junkie.
My disdain for newer cars continues to grow and includes Ferraris.
It’s not my age as much as what a pain in the ass the problems are.
A friends bmw 323i is here with sometimes no crank to start. I think it’s the battery in the key but the thing keeps starting on me.
Another issue for me is they keep making cars safer for people that can’t drive and many of those things make them more scary for me.
25 years ago, I asked everywhere I could for what I should do if im incar instructing a nd headed for the tire wall before the bombs in the dashboard go off.
I’ve retired from instructing.
When I drive someone’s car
, besides the basic info, HOW DO YOU TURN OFF THE DRIVER CONTROLS?
I don’t mind the rear wing going up at 90mph.
I’m with you Rallye! Things, cars in particular, that protect us from ourselves drive me nuts. I would never drive anywhere without using my seat belt. I’m not afraid of crashing. I want to be held in my seat so that I CAN control the car to stay out of the accident. My kids were taught the same mind set. Start the car, while the oil pressure is coming up. Put on your seat belt. When taking her driver’s test. Some idiot did something stupid in the intersection and she had to make a fairly aggressive maneuver to stay out if the accident. She received high praise from the DMV test giver. But, she flunked the test because she didn’t put he seat belt on BEFORE starting the car. I would never ride my motorcycle without a brain bucket. But I don’t want someone telling me I have to wear it. I figure if you are stupid enough not to wear a helmet. Then your gene pool will eventually get extinct. And then there are fewer idiots that we have to deal with. AND I only drive vehicles that I can EASILY repair.
There have been times that I was afraid of crashing. I had a bout with a production based race car that was breaking upper control arm bolts….mostly when downhill braking for turn 5 at Road America. When the caster, camber and toe all change at the same time at over 100mph, it’s kinda scary.
Twice I was unsuccessful at getting a drivers license. In CA, my Studebaker PU probably wouldn’t have passed tech. I borrowed a car that would. I was told to park on a hill in neutral. I failed because the parking brake didn’t hold it on that hill.
Back to WI, I surrender my CA license, aced the written test and we go out to take the road test. You cant take the test, you don’t have snow tires and with this much snow, they’re required for drivers tests. I drove 25 miles to get here. Doesn’t matter. It took over an hour of pleading and arguing to get my CA license back so I could legally drive in the snow.
Howie,
Straightening a valve might work. I might try it on a kohler or briggs but not on most other engines especially a 4 cam Ferrari.
My brother in law during his high-school years had a Honda 600 sedan with timing chain issues that regularly bent valves. He got pretty good at straitening them! Easy to check if you got it right when checking the lap pattern.
Don’t forget you cannot buy any of those Ferraris unless you buy two of the cheaper models first.
Mind boggling engineering. Another great write up, Michelle!
Ferraris?? Is this Barn Finds or Bring A Trailer? 😏
We have featured a ton of Ferraris over the years. Check it out: https://barnfinds.com/tag/ferrari/
Thanks, I’ll pass.
Well-said, Jesse. I can’t believe people still make the “This isn’t a barn find” comment.
You don’t like Ferraris? Skip to the next listing – it’s easier than making a snarky comment.
I would expect nothing less.
Pretty lame,Paul.
Nice collection
I myself do not like the designs of any modern day Ferrari’s. There is only two car’s i would chase after if fund’s were available. The first car being a 1963 Ferrari 250 Lusso and the other would be the Enzo.
Why A Lusso?
There are many others that I’d choose before a Lusso.
https://rossoautomobili.com/blogs/magazine/ultimate-guide-to-all-ferrari-250-models.
SWB and GTO would top my list, if someone gave me a winning lottery ticket.
I couldn’t attach a photo with my comment without logging in.
I logged in and don’t see my comment?
This rebodied GTO had more power than an original GTO. The brake master cylinder is as much of a pain in the butt as the original.
I’d probably remain somewhat frugal after a cash windfall and get one of the rebodied to SWB or GTO cars. With alloy bodies and a few sneaky updates, they’re better than the originals. They’re less valuable than originals and cheaper to insure.
You can believe it Enzo
Red/White Coupe
2018 488GTB
Lot #109
Sold for $368,000
Silver Coupe
2015 458 Speciale
Lot#111
Sold for $885,000
Blue Convertible
2009 Scuderia Spider 16M
Lot #107
Sold for $1,105,000
Red/Black Coupe
2015 LaFerrari
Lot # 113
Sold for $5,230,000
Just a “little” out of my league!