2001 Ferrari 456M GT

The Ferrari 456 was produced from 1992 to 2003 with 3,289 examples built. They were designed by Pietro Camardella at Pininfarina and given front-engine, four-seat configuration with pop-up headlamps. It replaced the previous front-engine 412 and equipped with a 5,473.91 cc, 65-degree V12 engine with four valves per cylinder, Bosch Motronic M2.7 engine management system, and offered 436 horsepower. Examples equipped with the six-speed manual were known as the GT, and those with the four-speed automatic (from 1996 forward) were GTA models. The automatic, developed in partnership with FF Developments, in Livonia, MI, was the second and last conventional hydraulic automatic transmission with a torque converter to be offered by Ferrari.

Although the 456 replaced the 412, it did not do so right away, as production of the 412 ended in 1989. When it was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1992, it had shed the flamboyance and excess of the 1980s and embraced a more elegant and mature design. The aluminum coachwork was chemically bonded to a tubular steel chassis, with a wheelbase size of 102.4-inches and an overall length of 186.2-inches. Its 436 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque V12 engine made it the most powerful Ferrari ever produced, apart from the F40. It was the world's second-fastest production four-seater automobile behind the Porsche 959. It could race from zero-to-sixty mph in 5.2 seconds with a top speed achieved at 188 mph. At Ferrari's Fiorano test track, the new four-seater, front-engined Grand Tourer was quicker than its existing mid-engines supercars, the 348 and 512TR.

In 1998, the 'Modificata' 456M GT was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Refinements included an upgraded Bosch Motronic 5.2 and altered firing pattern which improved smoothness and increased horsepower to 442 bhp. Aerodynamics and cooling improved, and a fixed underbody spoiler replaced the motorized one. A larger grille was applied to the nose and used in conjunction with a sharper, more pointed design treatment.

Ferrari produced 1,951 examples of the 456 and 1,338 of the 456M. Of those, 1,548 were 456 GTs and 403 were 456 GTA models equipped with automatic gearboxes. 688 examples were 456M GTs and 650 were 456 GTAs. Production of Ferrari's flagship Grand Tourer lasted until 2003 with a total of 3,289 examples built, in all guises. It represented the start of many new technologies and design integrations, but also marked many lasts as well, such as Ferrari's use of pop-up headlights. Replaced only by the 612, the 456 exudes luxury and performance that only Ferrari can deliver.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021

Sold for $106,400 at 2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.
This Ferrari 456M GT is finished in the unique color scheme of Grigio Ingrid, the flagship color chosen by Pininfarina when unveiling their creation. The interior is done in two-tone Cuio Naturale and Crema interior featuring Daytona seats. Under the hood is the 5,474cc dual overhead camshaft V12 engine with electronic fuel injection and delivering 442 horsepower at 6,250 RPM. It has a six-speed manual transaxle, an independent suspension system, and four-wheel disc brakes. It has spent most of its existence in California and currently has 25,000 miles on the odometer. When new, this car had an MSRP of $242,000.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021