Lot 329: 1996 Ferrari 456

Long awaited as the replacement for the 400 series which had been Ferrari's flag ship four seater for over 12 years, the all new 456 was produced in two versions, the GT and the GTA, the difference being that the latter was fitted with automatic rather than manual transmission. With its flowing lines penned by Pininfarina, replacing the hard edges of the previous '80s model, its design was an instant hit. Many styling cues from the 456 set trends in the industry and for Ferrari this can still be seen in its current designs. The passing of time has been very kind to the 456, and with hindsight one can see that the styling, like other Pininfarina work, was well in advance of its time. At the heart of the car is a 5,474cc, 65 V12 engine, derived, surprisingly, from the Dino V6 rather than the more conventional 60 V12s. The engine could propel the 3,726lb car to 187mph, making it the world's fastest production four-seater passenger car, together with acceleration to 60mph in just 5.1 seconds. At the time of the car's development it was, apart, of course, from the F40, the most powerful road car ever developed by Ferrari. Essentially, the engine is a detuned version of the one that powers both the 550 and 575, but despite its supercar performance the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine which has proven to be a very reliable unit. The chassis is of tubular steel spaceframe construction with a one-piece composite bonnet and body panels formed in aluminium, and the panels are welded to the chassis using a special 'sandwich filler' called 'feran' that, when laid between, allows steel and aluminium to be welded. This is probably one of the most beautiful Pininfarina designs of modern times, an elegant sports touring coupe that looks good from any angle with no need for extravagant spoilers. By the mid Nineties Ferrari had made great strides forward in build quality and reliability, hence, eleven years on, this example still feels tight to drive with no rattles and fully functioning switchgear. Supplied new by Maranello Sales in June 1996, and finished in metallic blue with black hide interior, this rare manual example is in good condition throughout; indeed it has covered only 38,000 miles from new. Accompanying the car are all handbooks in the correct wallet, including a fully stamped service book, together with all MoT test certificates. Although properly stored for the last couple of years and complete with a documented and stamped service history, we recommend that the vehicle is checked over and appropriately re-commissioned prior to use.