When you are Eric Clapton, guitar god and long-time Ferrari enthusiast and collector, somehow an ordinary, run-of-the-mill $229,825 Ferrari 458 Italia just isn’t all that exciting.
So what’s a guy like Clapton going to do? Easy. You call up your mates at Ferrari HQ in Maranello and say build me something special.
Which is exactly what he’s done. His brand new Ferrari SP12 EC – yep, the EC stands for Eric Clapton – is the creation of Ferrari’s Centro Stile custom design department with a little help from Italian design studio Pininfarina and a few Ferrari engineers.
All the mechanical bits are based on the stock 458 Italia with its 4.5-liter 562 horsepower V8. But the entire body is new, its shape inspired by the legendary Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer of the late ’70s and one of Clapton’s favorites. He’s owned three.
Slightly disappointing is that Ferrari wasn’t able to squeeze in one of its 6.0-liter V12 engines, that Clapton supposedly requested. Initially, the car’s SP12 EC badge suggested there was a 12-cylinder under the hood. But that’s not the case. Pity.
Not that 562 horsepower is anything to sneeze at. A standard 458 Italia will sprint from 0-to-60mph in 3.4 seconds and hit a 202 mph top speed.
But engine aside, the car is spectacular and features many of the great styling cues of that mighty 512BB, like the slatted hood, roof spoiler, engine cover and black and red color scheme.
No word on what Clapton paid, but estimates from those who know suggest somewhere around $4.5 million.
Facebook Comments