Hopefully there are a few cars you have on a classifieds hit list too, those real rarities that you occasionally have a search for in the very slim chance of finding one. Mine include the Mercedes R63 AMG, petrol Citroen C6s and Series 1 106 Rallyes. They don't come up often but, when they do, it's a rare moment of glee. I can't afford one, but to know that they are around and available has to be good news. They're a fairly niche choice, so it's nice to know others share the same fondness for them.
It's a 599, but not as we know it
Top of that list though are manual Ferrari 599s. Up until very recently I believed they were all equipped with F1 gearboxes, but it turns out manual cars were available if you asked very nicely. They are therefore incredibly rare, but ultra desirable too as the last manual V12 super GT Ferrari ever produced. Sure, the car was probably designed for seamless integration of the driving assists and the F1 transmission, but to have that V12 mated to an open gate six-speed manual must be one of the great driving experiences.
Unsurprisingly then, those 599s equipped with three pedals and a stick are rather valuable. Combining one of the finest modern Ferraris with the traditional thrill of a manual is not only something to covet now, but surely one for collectors too. RM Auctions has sold two this year, one for $682,000 in March and 358,400 euros in May.
The main attraction!
Then there's this car. A 599 GTB Fiorano GT Speciale. It's not only a manual 599, but a unique car as well. The advert will provide more details, but essentially this car has been redesigned by Jason Castriota. You may not know the name, but he was the man responsible for the standard 599 and at one point Chief Designer at Pininfarina. This was once his car, but then sold to a family friend. Said friend then commissioned Castriota and his company to create an 'aggressive but sophisticated aesthetic' for the 599 rebody, intended to communicate the 'car's extreme performance capabilities without losing sight of the car's classical GT roots'. The process took two years, through initial design to CAD renderings to hand assembly, presumably at great expense too.
We're no great arbiters of style at PH so will leave opinions on looks to you. We will say the colour combo really appeals though, and you should never underestimate the appeal of a one-off from a reputable designer.
And the other big draw
What else do you need to know? The tyres on this car are now the same size as a 599 GTO and using Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. There's a Capristo exhaust too, ensuring your heel and toe shifts will sound extra sweet. That colour scheme (Blu Notte Metalizato and Poltrona Rau) can't be found on any other 599 and it's only covered 4,500 miles too.
It's listed as POA, but you would have to expect a price in the many hundreds of thousands given its provenance and rarity. Oh, and it's in Connecticut. But given where classic Ferrari values are heading, and indeed the prices already being commanded for manual 599s, it's hard to see this car not climbing further. Whoever buys this must drive it though; we won't get to experience an engine like that with a manual gearbox again!
FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO GT SEPCIALE
Engine: 5,999cc, V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 620@7,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 448@5,600
MPG: 15.8
CO2: 401g/km
First registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 4,000
Price new: £171,825 (standard UK car)
Yours for: POA
See the original advert here.
