- Total production of the Ferrari 458 Speciale was capped at just over 1,300 units.
- Ferrari modified the 458’s screaming 4.5-liter V8 to deliver 597 hp and 398 lb-ft.
- Gooding Christie’s expects this 458 Speciale to sell for between $900k and $1.2 million.
A car many would rank among the finest Ferrari has built this century, the 458 Speciale, has become a fiercely desirable collector’s piece, so much so that this low-mileage example may sell for as much as $1.2 million.
The 458 family is fondly remembered for several reasons. Not only was it one of the final Ferrari models designed in partnership with Pininfarina, but it was also the last mid-engined Ferrari to use a naturally-aspirated V8. This wasn’t any regular V8, either, but arguably the finest the Italian brand has ever built, delivering 597 hp at 9,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque in Speciale guise.
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Gooding Christie’s
As if you didn’t already know, the Speciale was built as the lightweight, track-focused version of the 458, following in the footsteps of the 430 Scuderia. Ferrari was able to boost power thanks to a tweaked compression rate, lighter pistons and crankshaft, a carbon fiber intake, and tweaked engine software. Alterations were also made to the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Ferrari’s engineers were able to strip away roughly 200 lbs (91 kg) from the car.
Global production of the 458 Speciale is thought to have been capped at just over 1,300 units, excluding the 499 Aperta models which were also built. Gooding Christie’s is selling a low-mileage example at this week’s Pebble Beach auctions, driven just 2,297 miles (3,696 lbs) and tipped to sell for between $900,000 and $1.2 million.
Gooding Christie’s
This 458 Speciale, finished in Rosso Corsa, was originally sold in Quebec and then exported into the US in 2016. It lived in Connecticut for roughly 10 years and, in preparation for this week’s auction, has been serviced and fitted with a paint protection film.
Five years ago, you could get a low-mileage 458 Speciale for around $350,000, but that was before people started to truly appreciate just how great this car is. With supercars, including those from Ferrari, becoming increasingly heavier and more complex, a car like this reminds enthusiasts of simpler times. If you have the seven figures, the full listing lives over here.
