Ferrari 458 Italia SP12 - Eric Clapton

Well said.

 

Personally I don't care for the style modifications in the cAr but has been said many times here in this thread if Mr Clapton likes it and he's paying for it so be it. At it's fore I is still a Ferrari.

 

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/official-patented-drawings-of-eric-clapton-s-ferrari-sp12-leaked-ar127446.html


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http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/GT/Pages/120524-car-new-stylistic-notes-for-ferrari-the-sp12-ec-is-born-ec-like-eric-clapton.aspx

May have been posted already, but what the heck. From Ferrari Magazine/Ferrari.com.

 

Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina was made before the Ferrari SP system existed. It did not cost $6MM USD or anything close to that. Ferrari's SP program has limitations which Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina didn't. As I understand it Ferrari's SP program requires that the Windshield, doors, headlights and bumpers remain as the cost to Homologate these for structures for a one off isn't something Ferrari is willing to spend. PF did spend this money and Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina does have unique Windshield, bumpers, doors and headlights and over 200 uniquely engineered systems and still costs MUCH less than the figures quoted for Eric's car. Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina was made outside of the Ferrari system and even though Ferrari came to embace it as an official Ferrari that door is now shut hard by the SP program.

 

You need a new friend.

 

Now it makes sense. Thanks for the clarity as usual Jim.

 

both the front and rear bumpers and headlights on claptons car look different to me. and the doors. only the side mirrors and windshield look the same.

 

I like it.

I believe on the inside cover of his 1977 Slowhand album he had a pic of his beloved carb 512BB that he crashed.

 

Heres a pic
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The headlights are Enzo not new. The bumper structure is the same which limits design, the windshield size limits design. The door structure size and inner crash bars limit design.

Compare Ferrari P 4/5 by Pininfarina to the Enzo vs This SP and a 458 for size and general volume.

 

The Ferrari SP program has limitations according to the press statements of a few years ago when one of the first projects was for a Japanese customer based on the F430 coupe platform.

As I recall, the customization could not affect drivability, meaning that turbos or cylinder number or displacement could not be altered from the base platform car. There were also limitations to changes in terms of the frame and the cabin dimensions.

I think a lot of these limitations had to do with expenses for R&D- obviously designing new engines takes time and money and changes to the spaceframe would require meeting safety regulations, again a lot of time and money.

I don't know but perhaps these restrictions will be revised and changed for a price of course.

You have shown that with careful planning and meticulous research and a lifetime of experience and financial resoursces, that doing a one -off outside Ferrari is not only possible, but can be done with great success and at considerable savings!

 

I, also, hope this wasn't mentioned but for those of you interested in the SP12-EC, there's a full "write up" on the car in the new issue of the Official Ferrari Magazine, Issue #17 which is now available for download via the "Ferrari Magazine" application on iTunes or Android. It's $7.99 for the download...interesting article though. Ciao.

Mark

 

http://magazine.ferrari.com/blog/2012/05/ferrari-strikes-note-sp12-ec-that’s-ec-eric-clapton/

 

Looks like a 458 LWB.

 

From the pictures it looks more like a Lancia Stratos than a 512 BB. Unfortunately I'm going to have to go into the "not like" camp. I agree if this was something offered by a tuner company it would likely not go over too well.

The problem IMO is the upright angle of the scoop on the 'C' pillar which gives the car it's pagoda appearance.

One of the best things about Ferrari designs of the past is the backward sweep of the 'A' and 'B' pillars and how they would blend into a low angled 'C' pillar. That design element would make the car look like it was moving swiftly even when it was standing still.

This car, not so much.

-F

 

This looks ok but seems old-school compared to a 458 IMHO. Ehhh..... To each their own!

 

I like it!

I think it would look great with these wheels on it:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/hre-introduces-the-vintage-series-modern-versions-of-retro-supe/

 

+1 Those are perfect for this car.

 

Here is Eric Clapton's new Ferrari and the conversion is the most cool verion of the 458 coupe!


According to ***************.com - The most recent product of Ferrari's one-off program is this SP12 EC, which was commissioned by legendary guitarist and longtime car enthusiast Eric Clapton. Based on 458 Italia underpinnings the lines are a tribute to the 512 BB and were penned by Ferrari Centro Stile and Pininfarina. Clapton is particularly fond of the 512 BB; over the years he has owned three different examples.
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Oops... I didn't see the original post on Eric Clapton's new Ferrari... Rob Lay, please delete this thread. Someone beat me to the punch!

 

He blasted past me in this on the A3 this afternoon, fantastic looking car!

 

Yes, about 9 months ago. But nobody believed me at the time. LOL!


Onno

 

This think looks like someone tried to make a Boxer replica out of a 458 - which is exactly what they did adding distinct touches of McClaren. It has lame recreations of Boxer styling cues added and it's missing the best part of a Boxer - the engine.

 

Sorry.....I like it!