Tag Archives: Ferrari

NEW CARS

Ferrari 12Cilindri Manual Rumors Grow as New Patent and July 4 Teaser Emerge

A mysterious July 4 reveal, a clever new shift-by-wire patent, and whispers of a six-speed 12Cilindri suggest Ferrari is ready to prove that the analog driving experience still has a place in a digital world.

For decades, Ferrari chased faster lap times by replacing gated shifters with lightning-quick paddle-operated gearboxes. The numbers improved, the shifts became nearly instantaneous, and the manual transmission quietly disappeared from Maranello’s lineup. Fourteen years later, however, the pendulum may finally be swinging back.

Ferrari has officially confirmed that it will unveil “something new” on July 4, and while the company is keeping the details under wraps, a recently published patent application strongly suggests that enthusiasts may finally get what they’ve been asking for: a V12 Ferrari with three pedals.

Speaking about the upcoming reveal, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna teased a project that “combines something from the past with a look into the future.” If current rumors are accurate, that statement couldn’t be more fitting.

Rather than simply bolting a conventional manual gearbox behind the glorious naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 found in the 12Cilindri, Ferrari appears to have engineered an entirely new interpretation of the classic manual transmission.

The patent describes a shift-by-wire system that mimics the tactile feel of a traditional gated six-speed while electronically communicating with the transmission itself. In concept, it’s remarkably similar to the ingenious setup used in Koenigsegg’s CC850, allowing drivers to enjoy the engagement of rowing through gears manually while retaining the convenience and performance of an automatic transmission.

Patent illustrations reveal a gear lever equipped with dedicated R, N, D, and M buttons, enabling seamless transitions between operating modes. The lever itself moves across two axes and uses an electronic pin connected to a dedicated control unit, while spring-loaded contact rollers are designed to recreate the satisfying mechanical sensation enthusiasts expect from a proper manual shift.

Even more intriguing is a separate Ferrari patent that shows the system integrating directly with the company’s existing dual-clutch transmission architecture—the same technology already found in the 12Cilindri. That suggests Ferrari may have developed a modular solution capable of delivering a manual driving experience without abandoning the speed and efficiency of its proven gearbox.

In other words, this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s Ferrari using modern electronics to recreate one of the most beloved aspects of classic sports cars while preserving the performance expected from a contemporary supercar.

Current speculation points toward a limited-production model possibly wearing the 12Cilindri MM badge and being offered in both Coupe and Aperta forms. If true, it would instantly become one of the most desirable Ferraris of the modern era—not because it’s the fastest or the most technologically advanced, but because it offers something increasingly rare: driver involvement.

And that’s what makes this potential reveal so compelling.

The supercar industry has spent the last two decades chasing milliseconds through automation, electrification, and software. Yet some of the world’s most passionate collectors continue to value the simple act of pressing a clutch pedal and guiding a shift lever through the gates. Ferrari appears ready to acknowledge that emotion can be just as important as acceleration figures.

If July 4 indeed marks the return of a manual V12 Ferrari, it won’t just be the revival of a transmission. It’ll be the revival of an experience—one that many enthusiasts feared had disappeared forever.

Source: Ferrari

Auctions

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS “Evo 3.6” is for sale

For decades, the Dino lived in Ferrari’s shadow.

Created at the insistence of Enzo Ferrari himself and named in honor of his late son Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, the sub-brand was never intended to be a bargain-bin alternative to Maranello’s finest. Yet history has a way of rewriting narratives. While the Dino 206 GT and later 246 GT and GTS rolled out of Ferrari’s factory and shared much of the company’s engineering DNA, the absence of the famous prancing horse on the nose left many collectors treating them as second-tier Ferraris for years.

Not anymore.

A heavily reimagined 1972 Dino 246 GTS currently crossing the auction block in the United States is attracting the kind of money typically reserved for the marque’s most celebrated classics. With bidding already sailing past $800,000 and the auction still open, this once-overlooked sports car is proving that the Dino name has finally earned its place among Ferrari royalty.

Then again, this isn’t your average Dino.

The car underwent a comprehensive restoration and transformation by British specialists Moto Technique between 2017 and 2018. While the original 246 GTS relied on a charismatic 2.4-liter V-6 mounted behind the driver, Moto Technique decided nostalgia wasn’t enough. In its place sits a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Tipo 105C V-8 equipped with individual throttle bodies, revised cylinder heads, and a bespoke MoTec engine-management system.

The result is approximately 400 horsepower—nearly double the output of the original car.

Power is routed to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, preserving the mechanical interaction that makes classic Italian sports cars so addictive. Supporting upgrades include a larger aluminum radiator, coil-over suspension, and anti-roll bars front and rear, all intended to ensure the chassis can keep pace with its vastly increased performance.

The visual changes are just as dramatic, although they’re handled with enough restraint to avoid upsetting purists entirely.

During the restoration, the body was stripped to bare metal before being refinished in deep black paint. New plexiglass headlamp covers sharpen the Dino’s already gorgeous front-end design, while larger 17-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires bring modern grip levels to a shape penned more than half a century ago. Behind those wheels sit brakes sourced from a Ferrari 360 Modena—a clear sign that Moto Technique expected this Dino to do more than simply pose for photographs.

Inside, the transformation continues.

Daytona-style seats trimmed in red and black leather create a cabin that’s equal parts classic Ferrari and bespoke grand tourer. Matching red carpeting brightens the interior, while a gated shifter preserves the tactile charm enthusiasts expect from an Italian exotic. There’s even a modern audio system with iPod connectivity, a subtle reminder that this Dino was built to be driven rather than preserved as a museum piece.

Since the restoration’s completion, the car has covered just 13,679 kilometers, suggesting it has been enjoyed enough to stay healthy while remaining remarkably fresh.

The irony is impossible to ignore. A model once dismissed as “not a real Ferrari” is now commanding supercar money thanks to a build that boldly abandons originality in favor of performance. Yet perhaps that’s exactly why bidders are lining up. The Dino was always celebrated for its beauty and balance. This example simply asks the question: what if Ferrari had kept developing it?

Judging by the auction results so far, plenty of collectors are willing to pay handsomely for the answer.

Source: Bring a Trailer

News

The $143 Million Mercedes That Rewrote Automotive History

For decades, the crown seemed untouchable.

The Ferrari 250 GTO wasn’t merely the world’s most expensive car—it was the benchmark against which every collector car was measured. Built in tiny numbers, blessed with racing pedigree, and wrapped in one of the most beautiful bodies ever shaped by human hands, the GTO occupied a mythical place in automotive history. Yet in a single evening, a silver Mercedes-Benz quietly shattered that hierarchy.

In May 2022, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé crossed the auction block for an astonishing $143 million, instantly becoming the most expensive car ever sold. The figure wasn’t just a new record—it was a seismic shift. The previous benchmark, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, changed hands for roughly €48 million in 2018. By comparison, the Mercedes achieved nearly three times that amount.

And perhaps the most remarkable thing about the sale is that the car had never even raced.

The Ultimate Mercedes Nobody Could Buy

To understand why collectors were willing to spend nine figures on a Mercedes, you have to understand what the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé represents.

Built during the golden age of motorsport, the 300 SLR combined Formula 1-derived engineering with one of the most striking bodies ever to emerge from Stuttgart. Underneath the sleek coupe bodywork was technology directly descended from Mercedes’ dominant racing efforts of the mid-1950s. It was a machine conceived to conquer endurance racing at the highest level.

Only two examples were ever built.

That fact alone places the Uhlenhaut Coupé in a category beyond almost every collectible automobile on earth. One example features a red interior and remains fully operational. The other, trimmed in blue, resides permanently within the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Rarity, however, is only part of the story.

The Race Car That Never Raced

The two coupés were originally intended for Mercedes’ assault on the 1956 World Sports Car Championship. But history intervened.

The cancellation of the grueling Carrera Panamericana removed one of the key events the car had been designed to contest. At the same time, Mercedes had already made the decision to withdraw from top-level sports car racing following the 1955 season.

The result was one of motorsport’s great what-ifs. A revolutionary racing machine was completed just as its reason for existing disappeared.

Rather than leave the cars gathering dust, Rudolf Uhlenhaut—Mercedes-Benz’s brilliant head of development and one of the engineering giants of the era—put one of the coupés into service as his personal company car. The image of Uhlenhaut commuting in what was effectively a road-going racing prototype has since become part of automotive folklore.

His association with the car became so strong that the model eventually adopted his name.

Who Bought the World’s Most Expensive Car?

The winning bid was placed by Swiss-based luxury car specialist Simon Kidston during the exclusive RM Sotheby’s auction held inside the Mercedes-Benz Museum.

Few believed Kidston was bidding for himself.

Almost immediately, speculation centered on Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe, the British billionaire and founder of chemical giant Ineos. Ratcliffe’s estimated fortune, along with his extensive ties to Mercedes, made him a logical candidate.

The businessman owns a stake in the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 operation and previously acquired the former Smart production facility in Hambach, France. While the true ownership of the car remains surrounded by discretion, Ratcliffe’s name continues to surface whenever the sale is discussed.

Then again, when a car costs $143 million, anonymity becomes one of its most valuable options.

A Victory for Stuttgart

Beyond the staggering headline figure, the sale carried symbolic significance.

For years, Ferrari dominated the upper reaches of the collector-car market. Maranello’s greatest machines were considered the ultimate trophies, with the 250 GTO standing as the undisputed king.

The Uhlenhaut Coupé changed that narrative overnight.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t simply sell a rare automobile; it reminded the collector world that Stuttgart’s history contains machines every bit as significant, desirable, and technologically groundbreaking as anything ever produced in Italy.

Whether the record will stand forever remains impossible to predict. Wealthy collectors have a habit of making the impossible seem inevitable. But surpassing $143 million would require an automobile of extraordinary rarity, historical importance, and provenance.

Cars meeting all three criteria can be counted on one hand.

For now, the most desirable automobile on the planet wears a three-pointed star, and somewhere in the world, a collector owns a piece of automotive history that may never be matched—let alone surpassed.

Source: RM Sotheby’s; Photos: James Lipman – Hagerty