Though Ferrari has been producing some of the world’s most exotic and high-performance cars for the last 75 years, it wasn’t until 2008 that the Maranello marque took things to the next level with the introduction of its Special Projects division — an ultra-exclusive one-off personalization program reserved for the Prancing Horse’s most affluent, discerning, and passionate customers. And while the Ferrari Special Projects branch only crafts a few vehicles annually, the bespoke building operation has already pulled the cover off of its next work, the SP51.
Built for a diehard Ferrari enthusiasts in Taiwan with what’s said to be one of the world’s most impressive stables of Prancing Horses, the SP51 is a front-engine Targa-esque roadster based on the 812 GTS platform. Dressed in all-custom bodywork, the SP51 features a completely novel headlight arrangement, a small carbon rear wing, exposed carbon side skirts, carbon fiber scoops set just behind the passenger’s headrests, inset taillights directly below the car’s rear wing, and a pair of modernized Dino-style rear buttresses. The front of the car also boasts a massive carbon fiber front intake sandwiched between a low-hanging front splitter and the sharp nose of the car’s hood. Penned by a design team headed up by Flavio Manzoni — Ferrari’s Senior Vice President of Design and the force behind models like the F12berlinetta and the LaFerrari — the SP51 also benefits from ample aerodynamic testing, with the team utilizing both driving simulations and wind-tunnel tests.
Taking inspiration from the livery on Ferrari’s 1955 Ferrari 410 S, the bespoke-built spider wears a one-off ‘Rosso Passionale’ three-layer paint job with blue and white race stripe paintwork developed specifically for the SP51. The interior is also completely bespoke, and features a carbon trim package, custom embroidering, and red Alcantara upholstery with contrasting white and blue highlight stitching — a color scheme that matches the exterior of this one-of-one Ferrari. Now placed up front, under the hood of the SP51 is the 812 GTS’ engine, an 800-hp naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 that allows for a three-second 0-60mph time and a top speed of over 200mph — performance capabilities we assume the SP51 also boasts. Additionally, this new one-off Ferrari also rides on custom project-exclusive set of five-arm wheels with carbon fiber wing profiles and a diamond-cut tone-on-tone finish.
Though we have no idea what the Ferrari Special Projects team will whip up next, we’re sure it’s only a matter of time before we see the Prancing Horse’s one-off division’s first Purosangue-based SUV or fully-electric build.
