Tuesday 16th September 2014
Ferrari Enzo prototype: You Know You Want To
Looks like a wonky and dog eared 348, actually houses an Enzo V12
Looking at the images of this car and the familiar-but-wonky proportions, we fully understand if your first instinct is to wonder why we're celebrating one of those MR2 based Ferrari kits that cause periodic amusement in the forums. "The front's pretty convincing," you're thinking, "but what on earth has happened at the back?"
That's quite a dash view!
But you're not. This is, truly, a one-off - the sort of car that we suspect that many senior Ferrari collectors would love to put into their air-conditioned warehouses. Or even - just possibly - to drive. Because this stretched 348 is fitted with the 6.0-litre V12 that later went on to do service in the Ferrari Enzo, being the only prototype from the development programme to have made it into the wild.
And it's definitely a proper mule, complete with some riveted-on bodywork and what looks like a two-part polycarbonate rear window and a properly scuffed-up interior. It was built in 2000, two years before the Enzo went on sale, and has been stretched by 250mm to accommodate the engine. Brakes, transmission and suspension components are from a 355 Challenge racer with the instruments and rear lights looking to have been donated by a 360. Power is quoted at 670hp - 20hp more than the production Enzo - and it's clear the car has been built to be driven hard.
Ah yes, not a 348 then
As Ferrari normally guards its test mules more closely than a teenager protects his internet browsing history, this could well be a genuinely once in a lifetime opportunity. The car previously sold in auction back in 2005, making a relatively modest 195,000 euros and has reportedly changed hands more recently for several multiples of that. The car is now being sold by a dealer in Germany, Modena Motorsport, with the car's rarity reflected in a certain coyness about the exact asking price.
So if you're interested, call them direct. Oh, and be a multi-millionaire.
FERRARI ENZO PROTOTYPE
Price: Lots
Why you should: You want to own the ultimate Ferrari curio
Why you shouldn't: Build quality not quite up to production standards
See the original advert here.
