The Most Special Ferraris You Can buy, And The Ones You’re Too Poor To Afford

Ferrari Enzo just too bland, boring? Ferrari owner James Glickenhaus thought so. Working with legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina, the idea was to create a modern version of the Ferrari P sports prototype car of the ’60s.

And so the one-off Ferrari P4/5 was born. This successful collaboration contributed to the establishment of Ferrari’s in-house Portfolio Coachbuilding Program. Or Special Projects.

7 Ferrari P4/5

The car that really inspired Ferrari to create its SP division. In 2005, film director James Glickenhaus and Italian design legend Pininfarina collaborated to create a special one-off car based on the Enzo. Glickenhaus was a big fan of the styling of the Ferrari P sports prototype racing cars of the 60s, and Pininfarina set about creating an Enzo that performed like an Enzo, but that resembled the 60s racer. It was a thorough process, starting with sketches, then computer-aided sculptures and even wind tunnel testing.

It is said that more than 200 Enzo components were modified. This included modifications to the drivetrain. When the Ferrari bossman saw the finished car for the first time, he insisted that this ‘special’ should be offically badged a Ferrari. So it was named the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina.

According to reports, Glickenhaus originally paid $4 million for the pleasure of the P4/5 – a price he considered a relative bargain for the car he received in return. Glickenhaus has apparently declined offers of up to $40 million for his once-off Ferrari, stating it is not for sale. Ever.

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6 Ferrari SP1

This was the first vehicle created by Ferrari’s in-house Special Projects department in 2008.

Commissioned by Japanese businessman Junichiro Hiramatsu, a long-time Ferrari enthusiast. Ferrari’s engineers worked closely with Leonardo Fioravanti, former chief stylist at Pininfarina and the creative power behind legendary Ferraris such as the Dino 206 GT and 246 GT, and the 1998 Ferrari F100 prototype – the design that served as inspiration for this project.

Under the skin it is all F430, so there’s a 4.3-liter V8 that produces around 500 hp. The official story behind the car’s name SP1 is that it is an abbreviation for Special Projects number 1. Designer Fioravanti, with typical Italian flair, suggested that it may also refer to ‘Sport Prototipo’, as the Ferrari sports cars of the ’60s were called.

The car remains in Hiramatu’s Ferrari collection, and is not for sale.

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5 Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta

The Superfast Aperta was the second Ferrari created by the Special Projects department. Edward Walson, television producer and son of John Walson (the man credited with inventing cable television), commissioned a once-off special based on the Ferrari 599.

Compared to the SP1, the Aperta was a much more extensive modification project, and it is based on a custom Ferrari Walson had seen in an obscure ’60s film called Toby Dammit. (Check the film and the original Ferrari here, from 30:30).

The process took more than a year to complete, and included cutting the roof off a perfectly good 599 GTB, and creating a custom body with lots of carbon fiber bits resembling the golden car in the film. The result is, arguably, one of the most spectacular Ferrari’s ever created. Ironically, two years after the Aperta came to be, Ferrari introduced the topless 599 Spider.

The car apparently remains parked in the Walson garage, and is not for sale.

4 Ferrari SP30 Arya

PRICE: $5 million

This is the first Ferrari SP vehicle made available for the public to purchase. Unfortunately, for Indian business tycoon Cheerag Arya, who commissioned the SP30, and shares its name, the reason behind the public sale is not as glorious as the car he helped create.

Based on the Ferrari 599 GTO platform, the SP30 features a comprehensive styling update, with 599X taillights, a more compact body than the GTO, and the four tail pipes are positioned in the middle of the beautifully crafted rear bumper. The interior remained largely unchanged, with only detail updates.

The SP30 remained unseen and a bit of an enigma until 2019, when it first went on sale. This followed after Arya reportedly had to flee the Middle East in 2017, running up debts of nearly $600 million. The SP30 has seemingly changed hands a few times since then, and the value is estimated at $5 million. Oh, and comes with SP30 branded luggage and a scale model built by Ferrari.

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3 Ferrari SP12 EC

As a wise man once said, you know you’ve made it when Ferrari will build you your own car, and even name it after you. You just need to bring a few bags of cash to the game. Famous musician Eric Clapton is a prolific Ferrari collector, ranging from a 1964 250 Lusso to modern classics like the 612 Scaglietti, an Enzo and 599 GTB. So when he asked Ferrari’s SP department to create him a one-off special, putting a wallet with $5 million on the counter, they created the SP12 EC.

Based on the 458 Italia, the SP12’s unique coachwork is inspired by the Ferrari 512BB, a Clapton favorite. The result is a stunning interpretation of the original 552BB, complete with the aero intake on the hood and the BB’s aero strakes replicated at the back.

Clapton initially wanted to throw the puny only 570 hp V8 out and fit a V12, as in the original 552, but not even Ferrari’s engineers could squeeze the much bigger V12 into the smaller 458 frame.

The SP12 EC (EC for Eric Clapton, by the way) remains in Clapton’s care, with no plans of selling it.

2 Ferrari SP America

When you are the CEO of Wegmans, chances are good that you have a few dollars to spare at the end of the month. Danny Wegman used some of those dollars to create his own dream Ferrari: the SP America. The base car is an F12 with styling cues that resemble the 250 GTO.

It features a custom body, with a new hood (with splendid GTO-style intakes), unique vents on the fenders, slats on the side windows, and new front and rear bumpers.

The drivetrain apparently remains stock F12, with a handy 740hp from the V12 engine. While other collectors seem to keep their special Ferraris under lock and key, far away from prying eyes, Wegman seems to, on occasion, use it as a daily runner. The car was once spotted in front of a Wegmans Supermarket, where Wegman and his family had gone shopping.

Value? The car cost around $4 million, back in 2014. It remains in the Wegman collection, with no plans to sell it.

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1 Ferrari KC23

It’s any car designer’s dream: a track car, with no consideration required for mundane aspects like indicators, pedestrian safety, emissions, and so on. Enter the spectacular 2023 Ferrari KC23. A track-only car, unashamedly crafted to not only negate the need for Viagra among men, but also provide a track driving experience bar none.

The newly sculpted body is a complete departure from the 488 GT3 Evo on which it is based. The KC23 features a massive, adjustable rear wing, spectacular wheels, headlights reminiscent of Ferrari’s Le Mans-winning 499 Hypercar, and doors that open vertically, like the LaFerrari.

The owner is a Ferrari collector who commissioned the car, turning his dream of the ultimate Ferrari into a reality. How much did it cost? Is it for sale? Ferrari will not divulge the cost, but it must run into many millions. And no, it is sooo not for sale.

Thankfully, the owner is willing to share his creation with the world. Bless.

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