V12 Ferraris: Market Watch
From 456 to F12, here's the PH analysis of what the market is doing for these iconic V12 Ferraris
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.
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)
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
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.
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.
Obviously can't be considered a 'bargain' but given its been superseded by the TDF and now Superfast it's the best all round but IMO.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.
A 599 or F12 though absolutely gorgeous, and as an every day car id prefer a FR V12 over the RR V8 range
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.
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