Thursday 22nd March 2012

What you can do to your 458 if you're Eric Clapton

Rock star's homage to 512BB showcased at London dealer

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Well, obviously not, but it does appear to be a very special custom-built Ferrari.

Sadly these shots, snapped at a launch party for the 458 Spider at London Ferrari dealer HR Owen last night, do not show an all-new model. Instead they reveal a bespoke creation, apparently commissioned by Ferrari fiend Eric Clapton.

Clearly the car, which some are calling the SP12 EPC - although that could be the registration plate, the actual name, or possibly both - is an evocation of the classic 512BB from the 70s. But any other details are pretty scarce. Especially since a quick call to Ferrari confirmed merely that Maranello 'wishes to respect the privacy of its clients' and therefore doesn't pas comment on its one-off projects unless specifically asked to.

Judging by the car's stance and interior, however, we'd take a punt on it being a 458 Italia underneath its pseudo 70s robes - more than likely with the same V8 drivetrain in situ.

UPDATE:
Having found the reg on the DVLA database, we can confirm that it is a V8, registered on 1st March (so as to get the 12-plate number).

Having done a little digging, we can also reveal that SP12 is likely to be the name of the model, SP denoting Special Projects and the 12 a nod to Clapton's known fondness for 12-cylinder Ferraris. The underpinnings will, however, be straight from a 458, as Ferrari's bespoke programme doesn't go so far as to tmaper too much with existing platforms.

As for how much this little beauty cost, the answer is likely to be a heck of a lot. You do get all the tooling for your car thrown in with the deal (so that Ferrari can never build another), but the price can be price could be astronomical even considering that - for example bespoke paint for brake calipers can cost as much as 300,000 euros (we kid you not)...

Thanks to PHer Luke Gilbertson for the pics - you can see more on his Flickr account here

[suffolk009]

Eric, clearly a man of wealth and taste. Taken a hideous looking car and made it beautiful.

[CBR JGWRR]

Nice update on styling from the 512.

[SWoll]

Or done exactly the opposite, depending on your point of view.

Not a fan.

[Godzilla]

Some reports say it has the V12 from the 599 in the back. Impressive bit of packaging if true.

[Mark-C]

When someone with wads of money decides they can improve on a Ferrari it usually ends up looking blingtastically awful. I rather like this one

[The Danimal]

Much better. I can't stand the Dame Edna Everage lights on the 458, they ruin the whole car for me. This looks very nice at the front. I wonder how much this was? Crazy-Lire I imagine.

[LotusOmega375D]

If you want a BB, buy a BB. A whole lot cheaper than spunking your wad on this Eric.

[AndrewW-G]

30 years ago, the answer to this question would be "Get very very drunk and roll it into a ball"

[Nursing a hemi]

That looks like the b'stard child of a 458 Italia and an MP4-12C.

Me no likey.

[FourWheelDrift]

LotusOmega375D said:

If you want a BB, buy a BB. A whole lot cheaper than spunking your wad on this Eric.

He has a Ferrari collection, if he wants a BB he will already have one.

[bullies180]

"SP12 EPC - although that could be the registration plate"

Eric Patrcik Clapton?

[ar0u2211]

Take a 'rari, put the front end of a fiat coupe on to it. Job's a good'un

I quite like the fiat coupe, but for the $$$$$ this would have cost? You must be joking

[pistonpie]

vents on bonnet a bit overkill..apart from that I prefer the look of it to the 458

[Fire99]

It's not great, if i'm honest. The 458 is a bit odd looking at the best of times. 'Retro' does it no favours.
That said, fair play to E.C for doing it his way.

[Devil2575]

How the other half live...

[pistonpie]

here's the rear

[marshall100]

Computer says No.

[HandsomeBob]

Lukes flickr photos are absolutely stunning...raw talent!

[MarkOlley]

Just me?

[SWoll]

pistonpie said:

here's the rear

That hasn't helped IMO. Like it even less now.