The thing that Ferrari hates

The Ferrari One-Off program began a few years ago when Japanese Ferrari collector Junichiro Hiramatsu asked for something special to mark his story with the supercar company. The result was the SP1, based on the F430, and the positive response to the project convinced Ferrari that there was a market for such cars.

Ferrari 458 MM Speciale - a one-off model for a customer in the UK. Based on the 458 Speciale, the unique version only reuses the chassis and engine, while the aerodynamic design and many other details have changed. Photo: Carscoops.

But how do you order a one-off Ferrari? It’s not as simple as showing up at Maranello with a blank check.

Here are five things customers must do to have a chance to own a unique Ferrari, as revealed by the company's commercial director to Autocar.

I am a Ferrari enthusiast and have owned a Ferrari.

No one can buy an invitation to the One-Off program, and Ferrari doesn’t encourage it. Instead, it judges the suitability of car owners for events like the Festival of Speed ​​and the special things they own. A passion for all things Maranello is the basis for consideration.

"When faced with a customer who loves our special models or is looking for something different, we can propose the One-Off program. The choice of customer is very important. We try to choose people who live and breathe Ferrari and understand the value of a one-off car," Galliera said.

Japanese Ferrari collector and his special SP1. Photo: Acarisnotarefrigerator.

Willing to invest time

Creating your own Ferrari can take 18-24 months, including regular consultations with the engineers and designers in Maranello. “It’s like building a house, the more changes you make, the longer it takes. It also depends on how different and special the car is to you.”

More and more often, customers come to Maranello and watch the Ferrari people at work. It’s a big investment of time. They’re like employees: sitting with the designers and the engineering team. The company takes input from customers whenever someone has an idea, like if they want a car inspired by Ferrari’s history, or a race car.

No pink required

Core technical details like the engine and frame are always standard, but everything around it can change. Like the 458 MM Speciale, whose aerodynamics are essentially custom.

There are, however, some things Ferrari will never accept, no matter how many zeros are on the check. "You have to be consistent with the brand," says Galliera. "So if someone asks for a pink Ferrari, the answer is no. If they ask for a GTC4 Lusso with racing features, the answer is no. If the special request doesn't match the status of the car, no matter how much money is involved, the answer is no. First and foremost, Ferrari is performance that does not compromise design."

Singer Eric Clapton's Ferrari F12 EC. The supercar costs $4.7 million. Photo: Motorburn.

Be patient

The One-Off program only produces a maximum of three cars per year. And all are sold out by 2021, according to Galliera. There are long waiting lists. And there is a huge demand that Ferrari cannot meet.

Owning a unique Ferrari requires a lot of money. The price depends on the type of chassis as well as other features according to the customer's wishes. The figure can be as high as 3.3 million USD.

Ready to drive

While Ferrari builds rare cars, they still want them to be used and driven on the road. These special pieces might be in a beautiful museum or in a private collection, but they're always better off on the road. "We want our customers to take their cars out into the world. That's really important," Galliera says.

However, customers are not forced to show their cars at events like the Festival of Speed ​​if they prefer privacy. The presence of the car is largely up to the owner, and Ferrari respects the wishes of the customer. The only thing the supercar company wants is for you to drive it and enjoy it.

According to VNE