Ferrari 458 Italia SP12 - Eric Clapton

The thing about "one-off" special projects is that the car is not being designed for the masses, it is only being designed for the "one". Obviously Eric had input and he likes it. Most likely it conforms to a vision that he had for the car.

Good for him, I am guessing he isn't really concerned with what others think, only how close it meets his vision of the car in his head.

I have been fortunate enough to have designed and built custom "one-off" motorcycles and the thing about it is, you are doing it for yourself and really not for anyone else. Eric probably has lots of cars that other people also own, but there is only one SP12 EPC

 

I figured it out awhile back thru trial and error; you have to delete some of the URL.

Below is the link you posted with the to be deleted portion in bold:

Below is the link I posted:

Remember to remove the "&" between the "?" and the "v"; this is something I occasionally forgot. It's amazing the # of different URL formats that yield the same video...I'm sure they all mean something to the Google gods.

 

Now that would be great TV!

But they'd need 20 episodes to finish the car....


Onno

 

As far as recent official one-offs are concerned, there is also the 612 Scaglietti Kappa of Peter Kalikow.

 

The Kappa is a stunning car!

Edit: Wasn't the Kappa done before the Special Projects program?

 

Thank you

 

You owe me one refurb iPad 2 for that knowledge.

 

$4 million and they can't even get the steering wheel on the right side? What a ripoff.

 

Fixed!

 

It IS on the RIGHT side;-)

 

Via Car and Driver:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/ferrari-builds-a-one-off-berlinetta-boxer-homage—the-458bb—for-eric-clapton/

 

"The word among Ferraristi is that Clapton wanted a 12-cylinder engine fitted, but the required engineering and certification proved to be too costly."


Well, I guess we can change the name of this thread from "Ferrari 458 Italia V12". It's not a V12.

 

+1...

I agree that only one person needs to be happy with this design and that is Eric Clapton who paid for it. My own opinion is that there are better values out there. For example, whether you like the design or not, the one off Lamborghini Aventador J which sold for "only" 1.75M pounds is outstanding value for a one off crazy exotic!

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/lamborghini-aventador-j-is-beautifully-bonkers/

 

Yes and no. One offs that can be used in the rain are worth a lot more than ones that can't.

The J is cute but its impracticality severely limits it's value especially as it's not US street legal which makes a huge difference in value.

 

Why not do it in reverse? Why not take a Boxer and drop in a 12 cylinder motor?

Oh... wait...

 

Not to digress from the thread too much.

Just saw a pictures of the SA45, 599 based one -off with a rotating hardtop like the SuperAmerica.

That's a pretty nice car.

 

It doesn't confirm it isn't a V12: "Whether this BB-inspired retro sled has a 12-pot residing under the instantly recognizable, matte-black “carb covers” is unknown." We are all intrigued!

Im guessing it probably is a V12. Would he bother with a 458 with nothing more than a very pricey re-skin if his desire is for V12's? He could have done this to the 599, Enzo, F12, 'new Enzo', or any other V12 Ferrari.

The real cost of conversion is peanuts compared to FULL road going regulation/homologation- but we don't know what rules this car has been built to- there are many choices, Jota being a recent example from Lamborghini.

The UK has very flexible mechanical and visual tuning rules. The car could easily have 'left' Ferrari as a 458 for a split second and then had any other drivetrain and electronics in the world fitted to it.

A vehicle enquiry on SP12 EPC shows the engine as 458 capacity https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/home/intro
but those records are not gospel. For example AO57 FHZ which, according to the DVLA still to this day has a regular Elise drivetrain, but in fact has been a Hennessey Venom GT for some time [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnsJapPC74g[/ame]

 

http://youtu.be/5ue30EB6io0

 

I hate to disrespect a rock legend, but let's be thankful that Clapton doesn't design cars for the rest of us. He took a flawless 458 design and added the worst features of the 1980s. Surprising that he didn't had Testarossa doors. Those who have the means to afford bespoke Ferraris should learn from Mr. Glickenhaus who creates masterpieces.

 

Very True

 

It's definitely not a V12.

 

I like it!

 

Wow! Stunning!!! Claptons a man with taste!

 

My factory ordered 2006 F430 with a similar paint to SP12 EPC. Cost was a lot less.
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That looks like it's been dipped in black paint.