Up-Shut with the Ferrari 412 Superfast, a One-of-a-Form Grand Tourer Reborn

Photograph credit score: Otsuka Maxwell Design
Officina Moto D’Epoca, a San Diego store often known as OMD or Otsuka Maxwell Design, remodeled a 1987 Ferrari 412 right into a one-of-a-kind automobile. An American collector commissioned the venture and invested his coronary heart and pocketbook in it; a cool $1.8 million and 5,000+ hours later, the beast was created. Over 500 handcrafted components have been included into the automobile, combining the basic strains of the Ferrari with the uncooked energy of a recent supercar.

Energy comes from the 6.5-liter V12 engine discovered within the Ferrari 812 Superfast, however it’s been modified to supply the products. The engine has been transformed to port injection, and it now has 12 particular person throttle our bodies, a carbon fiber airbox and plenum, and a few really bespoke valve covers impressed by Eighties and Nineties Formulation One autos. To high all of it off, the builders put in a high-performance Motec ECU that runs on a mix of E85 and premium gas. In addition they put in bespoke headers, which actually make the engine sing. On the dyno, the engine produced greater than 700 horsepower on the wheels, and if losses are taken into consideration, that places us at roughly 800 horsepower on the crank and a reasonably wonderful 500 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm.

Ferrari by no means supplied the 812 with a guide gearbox, due to this fact the group at OMD achieved the unattainable by adapting a 6-speed guide transaxle from a Ferrari 599 that had been transformed from automated to guide. And what a guide it’s, with a traditional shifter and a knob carved from a shocking piece of 1987 Bastogne walnut.

The outside modifications could not seem drastic at first look, however they add a contact of edge to the unique design with out affecting the automobile’s total look. It’s been painted in a two-tone Superfast Gold over black scheme, and the bumpers are actually nearer to the physique. The fenders have slight steel flares, and the fastened headlights are a bit of shorter than earlier than, just like the Mondial or F40. The 812’s taillights and a few smooth body-mounted mirrors impressed by a Chevrolet Camaro may be discovered within the again. To high all of it off, there’s a extremely custom-looking aluminum rear spoiler that actually catches your eye. The 18-inch Brixton Solid wheels disguise some very rigorously sourced carbon-ceramic brakes from a Ferrari F430, that are supplemented by an FF pedal booster for a super-smooth pedal really feel.

Chassis enhancements have been required to permit this Ferrari to deal with like a dream, and the excellent news is that the unique body rails and glass are intact. As a substitute, the crew put in some extremely superior A-arms, a brand new steering rack with low-speed assist, and a few critically spectacular Bosch Motorsport ABS. There’s a bigger radiator and a brand new air-conditioning system to maintain issues cool on lengthy drives. Lastly, they put in a variable pace Toyota windshield wiper motor.

Inside, the extent of opulence is off the charts. The seat backs are composed of carbon fiber with electrical adjustability, they usually’re upholstered in a critically delicate mixture of Alcantara, Mongolian Cashmere, and the kind of leather-based present in a luxurious automobile. The door playing cards match the seats, and the carpet got here from Rolls-Royce sources. Even the steering wheel is an actual deal with, wrapped in Alcantara within the basic Ferrari design. For good measure, they included a present Excelon infotainment display with Apple CarPlay, some very distinctive {custom} switches with selections for moist mode, traction management disable, and launch management, in addition to a really high quality digital instrument cluster with clear readouts.
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