Exclusivity is a relative concept. A “stock” supercar might be enough for some, but others may demand a measure of customization to set theirs apart. But there is an elite cadre of customers for whom nothing on the market will suffice.
They’re the kind of clients who buy one-offs like the McLaren X-1, Ferrari P4/5 or Lamborghini Aventador J. Legendary rock guitarist Eric Clapton joined that rare group when he commissioned Ferrari to build him a modern tribute to the Ferrari 512 BB.
The Berlinetta Boxer was Maranello’s first mid-engined twelve-cylinder supercar, rivaling the Lamborghini Miura and predating the Ferrari Testarossa to set down a line that Ferrari would follow for decades.
The range, which started with the 365 GT4/BB (not to be confused with the Daytona that had a similar designation) and extended to the 512 BB and later fuel-injected 512i BB, was never officially sold in North America, but it found numerous buyers in the UK – including Clapton.
The guitarist ironically known as Slowhand loves his 512 BB so much that he had Ferrari and Pininfarina convert a 458 Italia to reinterpret its lines. The car was first revealed back in May, but new photos and details have now emerged.
Although Clapton had reportedly requested a twelve-cylinder version, he was apparently dissuaded as the costs would likely have been far too high on top of what undoubtedly also proved a costly endeavor from Ferrari’s Special Projects division.
For this one-off, Pininfarina penned a design based around two clamshells that appear to overlap, bisected horizontally in color with red on top and black on the bottom (again, like the BB). The roofline was also given a pair of buttresses like so many Ferraris or yore, punctuated by a new spoiler.
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Tom Cooper | Elite.
