Last month, we featured a Ferrari 412 which, from 1985 through 1989, continued the luxury 2+2 tradition for the marque. The 412 was never imported to the US, however, a few examples found their way stateside. In 1992, Ferrari brought back the idea of a front engined grand tourer in the form of the 456GT, which packed a 5.5 liter V12 engine derived from the Dino V6 which produced 436 horsepower. These coupes were offered with either a six speed manual or four speed automatic, which was an anomaly in the days when most Ferraris came with three pedals. Luckily our feature car has the manual gearbox to get the most enjoyment out of this sports coupe.

1995 Ferrari 456GT

1995 Ferrari 456 GT, s/n ZFFSP44A5S0100212, Swaters Blue with Tan Leather

When it was introduced, Ferrari’s 456 attracted much positive attention. Since the early 70’s, the company’s 4-place cars were the only front-engined V12 cars, and their appearance was rather conservative and square-rigged. The 456’s dynamic stance and classical proportions caused enthusiasts and critics to make unsolicited comparisons to the legendary front-engined 12-cylinder Ferraris of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and with a 436hp 4-valve V12 and 6-speed gearbox, the 456 provided a level of performance that remains, even today, quite impressive. Indeed, with a top speed near 190mph, the car was the fastest 4-seat production car then available.

This particular example is a freshly serviced car with the desirable 6-speed option in wonderful swatters blue with tan leather. Exquisite exterior with excellent paint and virtually no road rash. Very nice interior with zero dash leather shrinkage. Major belt service just completed by Miller Motorcars. New tires just installed. Interior detailing and stickiness removal. Radiator serviced and window lifters updated. Records to support regular maintenance. Factory 10 disc CD Changer, 3M bra, Tubi Exhaust. Complete with owner’s manual, dealer directory, and pouch, records back to 2001, and the complete tool set. Clean CARFAX. Outstanding value in front engine V12 Ferraris plus seating for four!

Subtle, darker colors such as this hue work wonders for the 456's lines. While more expensive when new than the F550 Maranello, 456 prices have dipped a bit lower than the F550. While this car is roughly the price of a new Corvette, one should always go into Ferrari ownership with their eyes wide open, as maintenance costs for the less well heeled can be disastrous. Barring that, this is a nice example with recent service ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.

-Paul