Viola Hong Kong Ferrari 812 GTS for sale

Thought the 12Cilindri was divisive? Enter its purple predecessor...

Light the beacons, a new 12-cylinder Ferrari is on the way and it’s called the, er, 12Cilindri. Of course, those who have checked their phone (or this website) in the last week already knew that and have likely formed a strong opinion about the Daytona-inspired styling (I think it’s ace, for what it’s worth). But a new naturally aspirated V12 Ferrari isn’t to be taken for granted, because - although it’s been said about 12-cylinder engines for years - this really could be the last of the breed.

There aren’t any laws that prevent Ferrari from building a brand new V12 (although there are plenty that make it very difficult), and the manufacturer has gone about its new super GT rather cleverly. It may look radically different on the outside, but underneath there’s a significant amount of parts sharing with the outgoing 812 Superfast, suspension and brakes included, while the 6.5-litre V12 copies the 830hp output of the Competizione. Not that there’s anything wrong with that - and Ferrari’s been doing this since the dawn of time - but it’s a clever (and more affordable) way to keep the V12 alive for as long as the rule makers allow it.

However, that does mean you probably won’t be missing out much by picking up a used 812 Superfast, instead of putting your name down on the (likely very lengthy) waiting list for the new car - and that’s if Ferrari wants to sell you one in the first place. Go for an 812 and you get a smidgen less poke at 800hp, but there's a bit more torque to make up for it (530lb ft for the 812; 500lb ft for the 12Cilindri). Both will be unbelievably fast, matching each other with a 2.9-second 0-62mph times, and will doubtlessly sound spectacular while doing so.

Obviously, there are heaps of new hardware on the 12Cilindri and, for many, a huge part of the draw will be driving the latest and greatest Ferrari, no matter what it looks like. But even if you prefer the design of the new car, you can bet this Viola Hong Kong 812 GTS will turn just as many heads. It takes a brave buyer to veer off the beaten path of resale-friendly colours, and there’s the usual caveat of beauty being in the eye of the beholder, but it’s specs like these that feel extra special against a backdrop of Rosso Corsa and Grigio cars.

Naturally, we don’t know how much the original owner spent on options, but a quick scan of the images provided suggests somewhere in the region of ‘bucketloads’. Any trim elements that would have been plastic on the base car have been replaced with glossy carbon fibre both inside and out, while the wings are adorned with hand-painted Ferrari crests. The interior, meanwhile, is decked in Alcantara with contrasting purple stitching, and a yellow rev counter provides a little pop to the otherwise moody cabin. Oh, and yes, Apple CarPlay (a £2,500 option, let’s not forget) is also present.

So, while its price tag of £379,995 is pretty much identical to the starting fee for the drop-top 12Cilindri (€435,000, or £375,000), it’s worth noting that few boxes on this 812’s options list were left unticked. The real benefit here of course is that you can pick up the keys today and soak up the sun with 12 cylinders blaring in the background, or you could simply pick this one up while you wait for your 12Cilindri to be built. If you're in the latter camp, just do us all a favour and choose a colour that’s as vibrant and unorthodox as this.

See the original advert here