Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, unveiled at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, was named in honor of Sergio Scaglietti, the legendary coachbuilder whose Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena had clothed some of Ferrari's most beautiful and successful racing and road cars since the 1950s. The naming was a tribute to a man whose craftsmanship had defined the visual identity of Ferrari for half a century, and the car itself aimed to embody the spirit of grand touring that Scaglietti's creations had exemplified.

The 612 Scaglietti replaced the 456M GT in Ferrari's lineup as the marque's front-engined 2+2 grand tourer, and it represented a dramatic evolution of the concept. Where the 456M had been conservative in its engineering, the 612 introduced several firsts for a Ferrari GT. Most significantly, it was the first production Ferrari to employ an all-aluminum body and chassis, developed in collaboration with Alcoa. The aluminum spaceframe was 60 percent stiffer and substantially lighter than a conventional steel structure would have been, despite the car's generous dimensions.

The engine was the Tipo F133F, a 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V12 with dual overhead camshafts, 48 valves, and variable valve timing. Producing 533 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 434 lb-ft of torque at 5,250 rpm, it was mounted in a front-mid position, with the engine's mass sitting behind the front axle line for optimal weight distribution. The result was a 46/54 front-to-rear weight split, which gave the big GT surprisingly agile handling characteristics for a car of its size.

The transmission offered two choices: a traditional 6-speed manual gearbox or the F1 electrohydraulic automated manual. The manual was the enthusiast's choice and is now the more sought-after option in the collector market, while the F1 gearbox offered faster shifts and was preferred by most buyers at the time. Both transmitted power to the rear wheels through a conventional differential.

Pininfarina's design was controversial when new. The 612 was a large car by Ferrari standards, measuring nearly five meters in length, and its proportions were deliberately more generous and less aggressively sporting than Ferrari's two-seat models. The long hood, set-back greenhouse, and short rear deck maintained classic GT proportions, but the bulging rear haunches and distinctive headlight treatment divided opinion. Over time, the design has gained appreciation for its elegant restraint and the way it manages to disguise the car's considerable size.

The interior was one of Ferrari's most spacious and luxurious to date. The rear seats were genuinely usable for adults, unlike the token rear accommodation in many supposed 2+2 GTs. The front seats were deeply comfortable and extensively adjustable, and the cabin was trimmed in leather and aluminum with a level of craftsmanship that justified the car's considerable price. The front trunk provided reasonable luggage capacity, and with the rear seats folded, the 612 could accommodate golf bags or substantial luggage for extended touring.

A special edition, the 612 Scaglietti One-to-One program, allowed customers to personalize virtually every aspect of the car's specification, from unique paint colors to bespoke interior materials. This program presaged Ferrari's later Tailor Made service and resulted in some truly individual cars.

The 612 Scaglietti was produced for seven years, from 2004 to 2011, with 3,025 examples built. It was succeeded by the FF (later renamed GTC4Lusso), which introduced four-wheel drive and a shooting brake body style. In the collector market, the 612 Scaglietti occupies an unusual position: it is one of the most affordable ways to own a Ferrari V12 grand tourer, yet offers a driving experience that is genuinely magnificent. The combination of the naturally aspirated V12's character, the comfortable and spacious cabin, and the surprisingly capable chassis makes it perhaps the most undervalued Ferrari of the modern era.