Time has been kind to the 612 Scaglietti. If you thought it wore the expression of a simpleton up front and had a featureless rear end, as I did when I first saw it a decade ago, do reserve judgement until you see - and hear - a dark grey one slipping through town. In a subtle hue against an urban backdrop the 612 looks superb. It's restrained and understated in a way that nothing in the current line-up could even comprehend. Those four stubby exhausts also leave behind just enough hollow, inertia-free V12 bark to hint at the big mill up front without drawing too much attention.
It's a modern Ferrari cabin with a classic touch
Of course, some of that subtlety is lost in Rosso Corsa, but this car is distinguished by being the only proper manual in the PH classifieds; all the others swap cogs via the F1 paddle shift semi-automatic. There's nothing desperately wrong with that gearbox, particularly once the driver has learnt to smooth out the automated shifts, but there remains something timelessly cool about a manual, V12 Ferrari with four seats.
The 612 was Ferrari's second aluminium-bodied car after the 360, but given its size - the marque's biggest ever at the time - it still tipped the scales at close to 1,900kg. Still, that 5.7-litre engine was good for 540hp, enough to shuffle the 612 up to 62mph in 4.3 seconds and on to 200mph (with a gentle gradient). True to the badge on its rump it was genuinely exciting to drive on the right road, but this was a Ferrari built for the long haul. Refinement and comfort levels made this a consummate GT, and with decent rear legroom a few mates could even come along for the ride.
The cabin still looks remarkably fresh and modern for a 10-year-old design and that open gearbox gate is just delicious. Can't you just hear the polished lever clicking and clacking through it? Anybody who is more accustomed to the very latest infotainment systems will find the 612's to be from a forgotten era, although given the exhaust note you needn't bother with the stereo.
A big old bus but one that's maturing nicely
At £64,990 this car has shed two thirds of its original value in nine years, but with higher-mileage cars available for a little under £50,000 this one does still have some way to fall. Its predecessor, the similarly inconspicuous 456, seems to have levelled off at around £35,000, so perhaps the 612 will eventually reach a lower plateau around the £40,000 mark.
With just 17,000 miles on the clock it's averaged a scant 160 miles each month, so the new owner needn't be terribly concerned about over-using it. The flipside is that these cars can suffer from under-use, with potentially costly issues arising as a result of sitting idle for great lengths of time.
The man Harris owned a 612 a few years ago and he still talks about it with misty eyes. "More rear space than an Aston Rapide," he says via text message from Detroit. "Amazing stability at high speed, looks cool as f*** and you can have one with a stick. Loved mine, even though the interior fell apart and there appeared to be a hole in the fuel tank."
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Engine: 5,748cc, V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual, RWD
Power (hp): 540@7,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 434@5,250rpm
MPG: 13.6
CO2: 475g/km
Recorded mileage: 17,000
First registered: 2004
Price new: £183,057
Yours for: £64,990
See the original advert here.