Sunday 26th March 2017

V12 Ferraris: Market Watch

From 456 to F12, here's the PH analysis of what the market is doing for these iconic V12 Ferraris

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If you've never lusted after a high-revving V12 Ferrari then you're not a true PHer. Many of the very earliest Ferraris produced were V12 Grand Tourers and, in this 70th anniversary year, more recent examples still set the benchmark by which all others are judged. Blending supercar performance with lavish luxury these Italian works of art are more than mere GT cars.

So with the latest in this illustrious line - the 812 Superfast - recently unveiled we felt it was high time to delve deeper into the UK's used Ferrari V12 market to discover which of the most contemporary GT models make the best buys, which offer the finest value and - of course - which offer the greatest prospect of becoming an appreciating future classic. We've split the cars into two different evolutionary streams, reflecting the subtle but important hierarchy in Ferrari's 12-cylinder cars.

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Introduction
Ferrari 456M (1998-2003)
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (2004-2011)
Ferrari FF (2011-2016)
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Ferrari 550/575M (1996-2006)
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (2006-2012)
Ferrari F12berlinetta (2012-2017)

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Many thanks to Foskers, Joe Macari Performance Cars, Glass's Guide, Talacrest, Silverstone Auctions, Club Scuderia and the Ferrari Owners' Club for their help with this feature

[Vergis]

Everything with a Ferrari badge is an appreciating classic.

An interesting question is that is those cars that have not appreciated much the past few years will be in the future. Im thinking Lamborghini Gallardo and BMW e36 M3.

[Itsallicanafford]

A 612 for me please, I saw one in silver in London a few week back quietly going about its business, fantastic..

[323ti]

The 550 Maranello has been my dream car since it came out in 1996.
A few years ago you could pick up a decent one for 50 - 60K euro's but I reckoned the maintenance costs would murder me.
Now I'm left kicking myself for not buying one and not just because they appreciated so much (nice as it is of course) but for the fact they will now probably remain out of reach for the rest of my life.
To me, the combination of front engined normally aspirated V12 with an open gated manual gearbox and rear wheel drive is the absolute dream ticket. I'm sure V10's are nice, but to me they remain two cilinders short of true greatness.

[samoht]

The 456, 550 & 575 look good, but the long front overhang isn't optimal for an FR car, where you want to get the weight off the front wheels. The 599 & 612 fix that and are front-mid-engined, but spoil the looks. With the FF & F12, Ferrari finally managed reasonably good-looking front-mid-engined cars.

[Cold]

Article said:

If you've never lusted after a high-revving V12 Ferrari then you're not a true PHer.

I reject this premise.

[Driver Rider]

Cold said:

Article said:

If you've never lusted after a high-revving V12 Ferrari then you're not a true PHer.

I reject this premise.

I concur, I can appreciate the brand but it doesn't excite me. Sorry. Good read though

[Paradaxos]

What if my favorite Ferrari is a Dino?

[Ftumpch]

Paradaxos said:

What if my favorite Ferrari is a Dino?

Then you'd be in good company... but we Dino drivers still hanker for a nice comfortable modern V12 every time we resolve to drive a distance greater than about 50 miles only to arrive deaf, roasted and gibbering.

[Audemars]

Why are Ferraris V12 cars the ugliest and most undesirable of their product line up?

These all should be entry level models given how awful they look.

[Adz The Rat]

Audemars said:

Why are Ferraris V12 cars the ugliest and most undesirable of their product line up?

These all should be entry level models given how awful they look.

Really?

I think the F12 and the 550 are 2 of the prettiest cars they have ever built.

[Davey S2]

Standard F12 is the pick of the 2nd hand bunch for me.

Obviously can't be considered a 'bargain' but given its been superseded by the TDF and now Superfast it's the best all round but IMO.

456 and 550 have fantastic engines but feel old now and the build quality is noticeably from another era.

599 is nice but massive.

F12 is the best bang per buck IMO as long as you can afford the entry price.

[Hughesie]

Audemars said:

Why are Ferraris V12 cars the ugliest and most undesirable of their product line up?

These all should be entry level models given how awful they look.

Enzo included ?

[Audemars]

Their mid engine style entry level models eg 355, 430 458, 488 are more desirable products than their long front bonnet v12 equivalent models.

The current 488 is an infinitely better car than the current F12. Wouldn't even consider a F12 even at half the price.

[Davey S2]

Audemars said:

The current 488 is an infinitely better car than the current F12. Wouldn't even consider a F12 even at half the price.

On what basis is it 'better'?

I'm sure there are a lot of people who would rather an F12 than a 488 (myself included)

[MonteV]

The market perspective is focusing RHD Ferraris, and not a mention of Brexit? It will have an impact on the price levels. Ferrari, the Rolex of the auto world, having invested a lot of money in marketing, and F1 racing to build the brand. A tarnish, though, the "no we didn't" LaFerrari odometer adjustments carried out by official dealers. BTW who designed the 612, Ken Okuyama? And yes, the 456 is fragile, even side windows break. Not sure if that's the regular 456 or the M version. 599 looks lovely.

[Pereldh]

Why leave out the 400/412..?
I know it's not everyone's favorite, but so is none of the above either.
Secure in my future endless garage...

Edited by Pereldh on Monday 27th March 12:58

[s m]

Pereldh said:

Why leave out the 400/412..?
I know it's not everyone's favorite, but so is none of the above either.
I know which one I'd have in my future endless garage...

Make an ideal Pizza delivery vehicle

[Vitorio]

Hughesie said:

Enzo included ?

I think the Enzo is pretty meh in terms of looks, it combines the rather blobbish lines of the 360/430 era with the already no exactly pretty styling of the post F40 hypercars (as in, i dont think the F50 or LaF are all that pretty either)

A 599 or F12 though absolutely gorgeous, and as an every day car id prefer a FR V12 over the RR V8 range

[323ti]

Audemars said:

The current 488 is an infinitely better car than the current F12.

That is an opinion, certainly not fact. Personal preference, which of course is fine.
A 488 is mid-engined, turbo charged, and only 8 cilinder. Even if it is flat plane crank.
To me, that is three strikes against. Again, just a personal opinion.

If the 488 is a second faster around Maranello, I can not be bothered. If it was ten seconds faster, can't be bothered.
The F12 is V12, and not just any V12 but probably the greatest ever after the Rolls Royce Merlin.
The sound of the thing alone is worth any price to me.

[Schermerhorn]

If the 599 came with the 7 speed DCT box of the F12, I think it would be pretty much the best GT Ferrari ever.