This Ferrari 458 Speciale 'A' Has Become A Million-Dollar Supercar In 4 Years

As Ferrari inches closer to officially unveiling its hottest 488, which could be called GTO, Speciale, Competizione, Challenge Stradale or something else that sounds awesome in Italian (we vote for Quattro Formaggio) here’s a chance to see what buyers can expect to get for their investment.

Here we have a 458 Speciale; possibly the most amazing car I’ve ever driven. This 4.5-litre high-revving V8 legend in its own time was – and is – famed for responses so sharp you have to wear an anti-stab vest just to get it off your driveway safely.

This is also an ‘A’, or Aperta, the later, open-top version of the car. Just 499 were made. It was less purely about lap times, perhaps, and more about parting sickeningly rich Ferrari collectors from many, many Euros.

It had the wonderfully angry 597bhp V8 behind two seats. The vicious flappy-paddle gearbox had seven speeds. You got the clever E-diff, magnetorheological dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes and the best hero cheat of them all; Side Slip Angle Control, or SSC.

It was 50kg heavier than the coupe thanks to the extra chassis bracing and the centre of gravity sat slightly higher, but realistically you’re not going to notice. Merciful Jesus, was this car good, despite the Aperta’s exhaust volume being turned down to make it physically bearable when the roof was off.

This one, for sale with Amari in Preston (like this P1), is special even for a Speciale. It’s completely unregistered. It has covered just 57 miles in its lifetime, presumably from delivery mileage and the owner having a bit of a play with it on private ground before it was shut away for a few years. Built in 2015, at the very end of the 458’s life cycle, it has led no life at all, really.

Possibly the most exciting thing this right-hand drive, UK-spec Speciale Aperta has ever done is to go for its running-in service at a Ferrari main dealer. It had 42 miles on it at the time.

Much as though we hate the waste of a knee-weakening supercar like this, we have to respect the reason people with big money to spend buy these cars. The original price was £228,682 plus options and customisations, but the price today? Clench, because it’s £719,994. Over a million dollars.

We assume you’ve taken a moment to compose yourself again, so let’s carry on. Painted in Rosso Corsa with a Nero Alcantara interior that itself is complemented by Filo Speciale Rosso stitching, it also has the tri-band Speciale stripe and gun metal five-spoke alloys.

None of that really matters. What matters is that someone with a good relationship with Ferrari bought this car, hasn’t even bothered to enjoy it, and in three years has tripled their money. This is how the rich get even richer…