- The SP51 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive V-12 speedster that draws heavily from the 812 GTS it shares a chassis, engine and layout with.
- The SP51 livery, said to be based on the 1955 Ferrari 410 S, features blue and white striping running the entire length of the car, inside and out.
- Ferrari offered no mention of price for this one-off car.
To be able to purchase a new Ferrari, one must already be exceedingly wealthy. To purchase a specially designed one-off Ferrari from the exclusive Ferrari Special Projects division? That's serious money. The newest car created by the Special Projects group in Maranello is a V-12 speedster called the SP51, which shares a layout, engine, and chassis with the 812 GTS.
While the 812 GTS has a convertible top and gives the driver's ears unhindered access to the screaming V-12 under the hood, the SP51 forgoes the roof entirely. Working in tandem with the client to bring their vision to life, Ferrari tested the SP51 through simulators and wind tunnel testing to ensure maximum comfort within the car. The front end of the car is redesigned and features unique headlights which are shorter and much less angled than those on the 812 GTS. The front bumper is unique with a more aggressive grille design and front splitter. A boomerang-esque carbon blade sits behind each front wheel well.
Design similarities between rear ends of the SP51 and 812 GTS end with the taillights and quad-exhaust systems. The SP51 features twin flying buttresses connected by a carbon fiber spoiler that sits just behind the cabin and slopes down on either side toward the rear wheel wells. Uniqueness continues to the wheels, designed specifically for the SP51, which feature a diamond-cut finish.
According to Ferrari, the SP51 makes reference to a blue and white livery worn by the 1955 Ferrari 410 S. The one-off version shares the same blue and white striping, which runs the entire length of the car. The primary color for the SP51 called Rosso Passionale, was specifically designed for the car. The tri-color scheme makes its way to the interior of the car where the red Alcantara is accented with blue and white stitching. As might be expected from a sports car of this magnitude, carbon fiber plays a big role in the bodywork as well as the cabin of the car. A small plaque reading "Ferrari SP51 one of one" is tucked into the carbon work between the seats and serves as a reminder to the owner just how special their Ferrari is.
No power figures were offered, and Ferrari made no mention of mechanical changes to the car. Although we have not carried out a full test of the 812 GTS, we did test an 812 Superfast, which achieved 60 miles per hour in a lightning-quick 2.8 seconds. We also had a chance to review the 812 GTS, in which editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga commented that the starting price of $404,494 makes more sense when you consider the dualities it possesses. Sticking to its historically protective stance on the privacy of its clientele, Ferrari gives us no idea how much this one-off cost. Rest assured it was substantially more than the list price of the car.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
