It’s the powerful heart of the Ferrari 458 that makes it so historically valuable, especially at a time when collectors find it increasingly hard to locate supercars without turbocharging or even electric drive. The 458’s engine was the last mid-mounted naturally aspirated V8 from Maranello before Ferrari switched to turbocharging in its successor, the 488 GTB. This historically significant paradigm shift alone, along with its performance and the timeless Pininfarina design, has secured the model consistently high resale values for years. While the base version, the Italia coupe, trades between $165,000 and $260,000, the two Speciale versions are worth many times that. The coupe, of which an estimated 1,300 were built (Ferrari never published official figures), is typically valued just under the million-dollar mark, while the Aperta, of which only 499 were built, is valued at about twice that.
An extraordinary pair of sequentially numbered 458 Speciales, conceived together and nearly identically specified, will cross the block without reserve at RM Sotheby’s London auction on October 31.
2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
Unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 458 Speciale resembles the base-model 458 Italia only at first glance. A more sophisticated aero package, more powerful electronic systems, a 597-hp (605-PS) 4.5-liter V8 (35 hp more) and a dry weight cut from about 3,042 to 2,844 pounds lift it to a distinctly higher level. With a compression ratio of 14:1, its eight-cylinder revs up to 9,000 rpm, and at the time of its introduction it was the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in Ferrari’s history.
Through Ferrari’s Tailor Made program, this car’s buyer ordered the rare exterior color Alluminio Grezzo Opaco, along with blue NART racing stripes and exposed carbon fiber details. Black brake calipers, Ferrari shields on the front fenders and a titanium exhaust system complete the awe-inspiring look. Small air deflectors ahead of the rear wheel arches smooth the airflow along the sides, while active aerodynamic flaps at the front and rear provide either maximum downforce or minimum drag depending on the driving situation. A suspension lift system guards against unwelcome contact with, for example, high curbs.
For technology highlights such as the seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission, adaptive magnetorheological dampers, an electronic rear differential and the SSC side-slip angle control, Ferrari drew on its experience from Formula 1 and from developing the LaFerrari.
The interior of this coupe, which was delivered new to the United Kingdom and has been driven just 1,980 miles to date, is also custom-tailored. The headliner, upper dashboard, wheel-arch trim and center tunnel are covered in Alcantara. For the carbon fiber racing seats, by contrast, the buyer chose the high-tech fabric Mycro Prestige. Matching the white contrast stitching are white Cavallino Rampante logos embroidered into the headrests. A roll bar completes the specification.
2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta
At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Ferrari followed up with the 458 Speciale Aperta, limited to 499 units. Thanks to nearly identical Tailor Made styling (the NART stripes differ slightly), the convertible looks like a clone of the Speciale coupe. Like the latter, it was delivered new to the United Kingdom, where its two previous owners have enjoyed just over 1,750 miles of motoring.
As the ultimate evolution of the 458 platform, the Speciale Aperta combines the razor-sharp handling of the 458 Speciale with the unfiltered freedom of a convertible with a retractable hardtop. Beneath its aerodynamically optimized body, too, sits the 597-hp (605-PS), 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 from the F136 engine family. Besides the higher compression, it owes its 35 extra horsepower over the standard 458 Italia to reworked pistons, redesigned combustion chambers and a carbon fiber intake system. Paired with the lightning-fast seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission, the Speciale Aperta accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.0 seconds, just like the coupe, and reaches a top speed of around 200 mph, accompanied by the inimitable crescendo of its free-breathing mid-mounted engine.
Ferrari specifically reinforced the Aperta’s aluminum chassis to ensure high torsional rigidity despite the absence of a fixed roof. The retractable hardtop, made entirely of aluminum, folds away in just 14 seconds. The Aperta weighs about 110 pounds more than the Speciale coupe but is roughly 198 pounds lighter than a standard 458 Spider, evidence of the meticulous weight-saving measures.
As one part of an exceptional matching pair with sequential chassis numbers, this Aperta will be auctioned off together with its twin on October 31 at RM Sotheby’s London sale. At £1.2 to £1.5 million, its estimate is more than twice that of the coupe, which is estimated at £500,000 to £700,000. That’s because just over 1,300 coupes compare with only 499 Apertas, and no other version combines Speciale technology with the option of open-top driving. That makes the Aperta the most sought-after 458 of all.
For any Ferrari collector, the temptation to bid on both lots and keep this unique duo together will likely be overwhelming. Especially since both appear in the catalog under consecutive lot numbers (132 for the Aperta, 133 for the Berlinetta) and the auctioneer will call them back-to-back.
Photos: Alex Penfold für RM Sotheby's
