Ferrari seems to have mastered the art of hiding models under development from spy photographers, which is why, once again, the automaker surprised the auto world with another stunner in early May. The 12Cilindri is the latest in its front-engine V-12 franchise that reigned from the late 1940s through the early 1970s and then made a roaring comeback in the mid-1990s. The name is the engine, of course, and the body is, as the saying goes, to die for. It’s on its way to America, starting in the low $400k range, with the open Spider coming later.
Ferrari draws on its heritage for design inspiration and, sometimes, model names. That’s why there were three different Ferrari GTO models over a half century period. While not intended as a racecar like the legendary 250 GTO and later 288 GTO before the 2011 599 GTO was developed from an experimental track car program, called 599 XX. Ferrari built just 599 of these later GTOs, with 125 coming to the U.S. Gooding & Company is offering one of these rare machines at its Amelia Island auction, with a pre-sale estimate of $800K-$1M.
Ferrari had Pininfarina, and Aston Martin had Zagato, at least for a small number of very limited-edition models. The first was in 1961, the DB4 GT Zagato, with just 19 made. One of those sold for $9.5M a few years ago. The most ambitions collaboration between the British automaker and Italian designer/coachbuilder was a quartet of special bodies built around the second-generation V12-powered Vanquish model from 2017-2019. RM Sotheby’s 2024 Phoenix, Arizona auction is offering #33 of the 99 Vanquish Zagato coupes built, with an estimated selling price of $600K-$650K.
The F512 M is considered the Testarossa at its pinnacle, the last of Ferrari’s analog flat-12 supercars. After three decades, the car can still snap necks even while standing still. The F512 M continued the Testarossa / 512TR evolution, and Ferrari would make just 501 of this final version before sunsetting its flat-12 supercar series. Demand was high for the 75 cars sent to the U.S., and RM Sotheby’s Miami auction in December is offering #52, a two-owner model from the Youngtimer Collection with 10,200 miles. The pre-sale estimate is $400,000-$450,000.
Here’s the backstory on the Ferrari Superamerica, first introduced in 2005. Ferrari built only 559 Superamericas, with 170 exported to the United States. At its Monterey auction in August, RM Sotheby’s is offering a Superamerica featuring special order paint and interior, with under 12,000 miles.
Great news from Ferrari: A new Icona Series model, the Daytona SP3; and the last of its flagship 812 Superfast front engine V-12s, a coupe and targa-roof roadster. The bad news: Icona models are reserved for Ferrari’s top clients, and the new 812s are all spoken for.
The Apollo GT is a rarity, with a total of 88 made, and fewer than 50 believed to survive. Fantasy Junction in Emeryville, CA has a critical example, of a 1964 model said to be the second-to-last made, all original with just 4,000 miles.
The 599 GTB Fiorano design by Jason Castriotta at Pininfarina channeled 50 years of Ferrari spirit. There probably is not a better bang-for-the-buck V-12 model in the Ferrari catalog than the 599 GTB.
At the 2020 Scottsdale Auction, RM Sotheby’s is offering a 2017 Ferrari F12berlinetta that happens be one of the 70 offered with a 70th-Anniversary livery. It is just 109 miles from new. The pre-sale estimate is $400k-$450k.
