To many car enthusiasts, Ferraris are perfect the moment they leave the factory. They are the epitome of aggression, speed, performance, and precision. There are forums and teams and groups all over the world who get together to talk about Ferraris like they’re sacred entities. Many people believe that any change to a Ferrari—at all—is sacrilege. Many of these cars are limited editions, too, which means they only came out in very small numbers—and with the name “Ferrari” attached to them, there should be no reason to mess with perfection.
Updated March 2022: If you're a fan of Ferraris and modified cars, you're in for a treat! We've updated this article with more info about these very special, modified versions of Maranello's finest.
But there are others, in a separate camp, who don’t agree with this notion that all Ferraris are created equal (and perfect). Companies like Novitec Rosso, Liberty Walk, and Mansory live to modify and tune cars to their customers’ desired specifications. They’ll take any Ferrari they can to try to make it better than the original. So the question begs to be asked: can you make a Ferrari better than an original? We believe that the answer is a resounding yes. Sure, you can also turn a classic car into an over-aggrandized dud. But when you have master tuners at your disposal, the odds are in your favor that you’re going to get back a one-of-a-kind masterpiece—something that exceeds even the perfection that exudes from the designers at Ferrari and Pinanfarina (who design many of the Ferrari models). Here are 20 modified Ferraris that will blow your mind.
18 E2M Ferrari 458 Italia
The Ferrari 458 was a big deal for Ferrari when it first came out in 2009. It replaced the F430 and was considered a return to true form and dominance in the luxury sports car industry for the Italian design house. It was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show to critical acclaim—a beautiful mid-engined sports car sporting a 4.5-liter “Ferrari/Maserati” F136 V8 engine coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch Getrag transmission. The engine featured direct fuel injection, which was a first for its mid-engined road cars. It also gave the car 562 hp and a top speed of 210 mph and a 0-62 mph acceleration of 2.9 to 3.0 seconds.
Then the customizing specialists Evolution 2 Motorsport (E2M) came out with their own version of the 458 Italia with an awesome, icy blue color scheme. This 458 was derived from the Challenge Trofeo Sportivo racing upgrade, built with a carbon fiber air box and custom-made 21-inch wheels. The other biggest alteration to this car was the ECU reflash, which pushes the horsepower from 562 to 602. With the upgrade, the car cost the designers $239,340. Eventually the 458 would be replaced by the Ferrari 488 in 2015.
17 Centro Stile Ferrari SP12 EC
This car is quite a monster. It was customized by Centro Stile and Pininfarina and is based off the awesome 458 Italia. It was built especially for guitar god and 11-time Grammy winning musician Eric Clapton, which is what the “EC” in the name stands for. Clapton is a well-known lover of Ferraris, as was shown when he placed a picture of his silver 365 GT4 BB on the inside cover of his album, Slowhand. This SP12 EC is a tribute to the Berlinetta Boxers of old (the 365 and 512). It doesn’t have a V12 engine, but it has all the other fixings of the old style boxers.
The car also cost a whopping $4.7 million to build in 2012, and is probably worth more than that today. The car is much more retro than a traditional 458, but it’s also arguably prettier than the standard model. The car was customized completely to the taste of Mr. Clapton. It has vented C-pillars with large openings that are used to sufficiently cool down the 4.5-liter V8 engine. It has 165 kW more power and 90 Nm more torque than a standard 5.0-liter V12, too. To top it off, the red and black color scheme make it look like a dream.
16 Novitec Rosso Ferrari FF
The Ferrari FF (meaning “Ferrari Four”) is a four-seater and four-wheel drive grand tourer presented by Ferrari in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. It followed as the successor to the 612 Scaglietti grand tourer, and was Ferrari’s first four-wheel drive model. Even with its “shooting-brake” body style (combining a sporting hatchback and estate body), it still has a top speed of 208 mph and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Ferrari claimed that, upon its release, it was the world’s fastest four-seater car available to the public. It also costs $300,000.
The design house at Novitec Rosso has always done a phenomenal job modifying all sorts of cars (and more than a few Ferraris, as you’ll see). This FF was no exception—it was painted in an attention-grabbing highlighter yellow color, was given a complete aerodynamic tuning (which you can maybe tell by the picture), and was given new carbon fiber to make it stand out even more. All of this tuning and modding cost an estimated $295,000. So if you have that kind of scratch, you too could walk away with a beautiful Ferrari customized by the experts at Novitec Rosso.
15 West Coast Customs Ferrari California
The Ferrari California was produced between 2008 and 2017 as a hard top convertible, originally powered by a front-mid mounted, naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V8 engine. The car’s nameplate was used to revive the late ‘50s Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California and the ‘60s 365 California. A second generation California was unveiled in 2014, called the California T, this one powered by a new twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 that bumped its horsepower from 453 to 552. The second-gen model also had new sheet metal, a new interior, and a revised chassis.
The California came with many new design innovations from Ferrari. It was the first front-engined Ferrari with a V8, the first to feature a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the first with a folding metal roof, the first with multi-link rear suspension, and the first with GDI (gasoline direct injection). This particular red California was owned by hip-hop star Tyga, who teamed up with Asanti Wheels and West Coast Customs to give his car a new look. Most of the changes to the car were cosmetic, as it was given a new matte red paint job and black, emphasized rims. It’s an aggressive look and one that surely paid off.
14 Platinum Leather Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 was the successor to the Ferrari 360, and the predecessor to the Ferrari 458. It was unveiled in 2004 and was produced until 2009. The car was designed by Pininfarina, with its body styling revised from the 360 to improve its aero-dynamism. Downforce on the car was greatly enhanced, even though the drag coefficient stayed the same. The F430 also uses many of Ferraris signature motifs on its interior design, including Enzo’s taillights and engine cover vents, and the car’s name being etched on the driver’s side mirror. The large oval openings in the front bumper are also reminiscent of Ferrari racing cars from the ‘60s.
Jayceon Terrell Taylor, better known as The Game, bought an F430 for $200,000 in France and decided to do something drastic with it. He wrapped the whole thing in platinum leather—an idea that might sound ludicrous, but actually gives the car a great, unique look. He also posted a picture of the new car on his Instagram, stating: “Just spent all my show money (200K) on a leather Ferrari 430…Cash!!! Maybe I’ll regret it tomorrow… Maybe I won’t!!!”
13 Novitec Rosso Ferrari F12berlinetta
The Ferrari F12berlinetta was a very popular car produced between 2012 and 2017 after debuting at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. It replaced the 599 series grand tourers and ran on a 6.3-liter Ferrari V12 engine, for which it won the International Engine of the Year Awards in 2013 in the Best Performance category and Best Engine over 4.0 liters. It was also named the “Supercar of the Year” by Top Gear magazine. This car starts at $319,995, and with its V12 engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission it is the fourth most powerful Ferrari on the road, beaten only by the LaFerrari, the F12tdf, and the 812 Superfast. It has a top speed of 211 mph and a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.1 seconds.
Novitec Rosso got their hands on the F12b and did some crazy things to it. First, they improved the aerodynamics with a whole new design that gives the car a more aggressive appearance. Motor performance was enhanced through upgraded engine management software and high quality exhaust systems. And driving performance was enhanced with new suspension components tailor made to combine the wheels and tires for an unforgettable experience, providing maximum contact with the road.
12 Afzal Kahn Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano F1
The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is a grand tourer produced between 2006 and 2012, as the brand’s front-engined, two-seat flagship model. It replaced the 575M Maranello and was eventually replaced in 2013 by the F12berlinetta. The car, like many others on this list, was originally styled by Pininfarina, under the direction of Ferrari’s Frank Stephenson. Its bodywork features optimized aerodynamics and distinct sail panels that flanked the rear window, in order to maximize air flow to the linear rear nolder. Ferrari named the car after its total engine displacement of 5999 cc, the Gran Turismo Berlinetta nature, and the Fiorano Circuit test track used. The car is powered by a 6.0-liter Tip F140 V12 engine with 612 horsepower, which made it the most powerful series production Ferrari on the road at the time.
Afzal Kahn took the 599 GTB and made it his own: he forwent the traditional red coloring and opted for a sleek, black exterior provided by Nero Daytona. The car was also given front and rear section ceramic brakes, wing shields, yellow brake calipers, and an upgraded F1 gearbox. Even though the original car only cost $140,000 (“only” being relative to the cost of other Ferraris), the upgrades will cost you a pretty penny more.
11 Gold-Plated Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
As if Afzal Kahn didn’t already do enough for the 599 GTB Fiorano he worked on, we’re given another, even more expensive, 599. This car has been frequently spotted in London, and it’s owned by a wealthy and high-profile individual from Dubai. The Ferrari is plated in 24k gold—we can only imagine what that adds to the base price of the car. Whatever it does, there’s no doubting that this particular Ferrari will turn the heads of even the most car-despising person on the street, as it literally reflects the sunlight. It was also given a new splitter, new carbon fiber inlets and scoops, a new diffuser, and new wheels.
The engine of the already extremely powerful 599 GTB Fiorano was also given an upgrade that saw its horsepower jump from 612 to 673. So that means it could go even faster than its impressive times, which saw 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. The successor to the 599 GTB Fiorano, the 599 GTO, was unveiled in 2010 as Ferrari’s fastest ever road car, able to lap the Fiorano test circuit in just 1 minute and 24 seconds, a full second faster than the previous record holder, the Ferrari Enzo Ferrari.
10 Edo Competition Ferrari Enzo ZXX
The Ferrari FXX is a high-performance race car (street illegal) that was based on the street-legal Ferrari Enzo. Production for this beast of a car ran from 2005 to 2007, with only 38 of them produced. The original FXX had a 6.3-liter V12 engine based on the Enzo, but with increased output of 809 horsepower that enabled it 0-60 mph acceleration of 2.77 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph.
This car particular has somewhat of a tragic history, one that is well-known amongst Ferrari enthusiasts. It is considered the “world’s only street-legal Ferrari FXX.” In 2011, the $1.5 million car skidded over a patch of gravel and went careening into the Atlantic Ocean. AR Auto owner Zahir Rana fished the car out of the lake and refused to give up on his pride and joy, so he flew it back to Germany, where Edo Competition worked on it. The competition-tuned car already had 180 hp more than a traditional FXX, but this one was given 110 horsepower more. It was also stocked with Edo Compeition wheels and a bright yellow paint job. The ZXX became the fastest Enzo ever, with 950 horsepower and a top speed of 245 mph. But it also cost $3.8 million to get it to that level.
9 Novitec Rosso Ferrari 488 GTB
The Ferrari 488 GTB was the successor to the much-loved 458. It’s a mid-engined car produced between 2015 to the present, and it was given major exterior and performance enhancements over the 458. It’s powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that is smaller in displacement and higher in output (661 bhp) than the 458’s naturally aspirated engine. It was named the “Supercar of the Year 2015” by Top Gear magazine, and was Motor Trend’s 2017 “Best Driver’s Car.”
Then German tuners Novitec got a hold of it and pushed the boundaries even further. They decided 661 hp just simply wasn’t enough, so they increased its output to 770 hp via a reprogrammed injection and ignition system, modified boost pressure control, and a pair of “plug and play” control modules inserted into the V8’s ECU. The end result is a car with more power than an F12. It was also installed with performance exhaust and electronic sound management. The original 488 GTB goes from 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, this one does it in 2.8 seconds; the old car’s top speed is 205 mph, this one’s is 212. Finally, it was given a wider body (14 cm wider at the rear, a wider front, and larger wheels and wheel-arch liners) thanks to an “N-Largo” body kit.
8 xXx Performance Ferrari 488 GTB
If you thought the last 488 GTB was insane, wait ‘til you hear about this one. This Ferrari was modified and tuned by German aftermarket company xXx Performance (careful if you’re Googling that one). They’ve given the car a whole new aero kit, new wheels, some suspension modifications, and the biggest change, the engine, designed to help it compete with the likes of the Lamborghini Huracan and McLaren 650S. First, the company added carbon fiber components to the front spoiler, side skirts, and rear diffuser. They modified the exterior mirrors and air vents, and then added the shaded lamplights to the car’s taillights, and popped on Vossen VPS-315T wheels, measuring at 21” x 19” in the front and 21” x 12.5” in the back.
Under the hood, the drivetrain changes to the 488 GTB’s 3.9-liter turbocharged V8 are enormous. The Stage 1 kit improves the car’s output from 660 hp and 560 pound-feet of torque to 750 hp and 612 pound-feet of torque. The Stage 2 kit produces as much as 850 hp, and the Stage 3 produces over 986 hp. Though their performance numbers weren’t released, experts speculate that with the Stage 3 kit, this car could reach 0-60 mph in 2 seconds and reach a top speed of 220 mph.
7 Prior Design Ferrari 458 Italia
Prior Design, another German aftermarket company, created two killer kits for the Ferrari 458 Italia—an aerodynamic kit and a widebody kit. We’ll talk here about the widebody kit, which looks absolutely stunning. First, the car was made from high quality FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), using a blend of epoxy and flex resin to give the car awesome strength, durability, and a light weight. Now remember that the 458 set lap times on the Fiorano track that no other Ferrari (even the Ferrari Enzo, which was the best at the time) could beat.
Prior Design added a whole new bumper and aerodynamic flap to the sides, increasing the 458’s downforce and efficiency. The thunderous downforce that this car can take in corners means that it’s been created a bit like a race car, thanks to its new flaps and splitters. The side skirts have nicely formed wings on them and a big diffuser in the back. The engine was upgraded, giving the car 615 hp (a 45 hp jump from the stock model), thanks to the installation of an all new custom exhaust and software system optimization. And finally, it was given the white body color and red wheels to give it an ultimately aggressive look.
6 Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Italia
As you can tell, many aftermarket companies and tuners love to work on the Ferrari 458 Italia. If that’s not proof of the car’s magnificence, we’re not sure what is—this is the car that brought mainstream supercar attention back to the Italian masters at Ferrari. Miura-san of Liberty Works loves to work on Lamborghinis and Ferraris, which is shown by his multitude of limited-edition “work” kits. When this matte black 458 Italia was shown at the back of Miura’s garage in 2013, it literally shocked the world as it was something no one had ever attempted with a base 458 before. People call it a JDM approach to Italian exotica.
The aerodynamics package made the car wider and lower to the ground. It was given tucked-in fenders and a restyled front bumper to enhance the grille and introduce a much bigger central opening, plus a pair of brake cooling ducts, all of which is melded to a protruding lip spoiler. The rear has the same radius overfenders matched with a bumper finisher and widened lines. It was then given a ducktail spoiler, which is JDM to the core. Then the car was fitted with special Liberty Walks springs to allow the 458 to sit lower than any other 458 before it.
5 Novitec Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia
Rounding out our list of Ferrari 458s that have been modified to blow your mind is this classic, much-more-subtle 458 designed by Novitec Rosso. While the writers at Speedhunters have asked the question: shuld you even try to update perfection? – when referring to the 458, Novitec went off and tried it. The 458 was designed by one of the greatest design houses in the world: Pininfarina. The company provides a masterclass of steel, alloy, and carbon fiber when they designed this car.
This car was customized via Ferrari’s “Carrozzeri Scaglietti” program, using a rare satin red paint option called Rosso Fuoco Opaco to adorn the exterior, making it one of only three 458s in the world with this particular color. Then Novitec Rosso added some subtle carbon fiber aero additions, including a front lip spoiler, bumper flaps, ventilation louvers, and a side skirt. Using Novitec springs, the car was dropped just over 30mm onto VPS-3151 lightweight Precision Series wheels, manufactured by Vossen and measuring 21” x 9” in the front, and wrapped in 255/30R21 Pirelli rubber. The rear wheels are 22” x 12.5”. Novitec also added a diffuser apron, fog light covers, and stainless exhaust system, making it 46 pounds lighter than the factory version.
4 Mansory 599 GTB Fiorano
The German tuners Mansory took this magnificent Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano to the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, to show off. And it’s safe to say that the car, which they named Stallone, stunned audiences. The package increased the drivetrain with an engine that produced 720 hp (an increase of 98 hp), and included a number of weight-saving upgrades to increase performance. Thanks to a TeamSpeed forum, where a member and car enthusiast made suggestions on what he thought would complete the car, Mansory obliged. They gave the car a matte red paint job, updated the interior, added a few extra engine and software upgrades to create this one-off edition of the Stallone.
The new Stallone’s interior was covered in Alcantara (taken from the 599 GTO), while adding special shark wings on both sides of the car (taken from the 599XX). Then the car received a new rear and integrated diffuser with new side skirts. The V12 engine was then tweaked by adding a new exhaust system, improved cats, and a remap of the ECU. The finished product was this awesome car, with an increased speed and power output, which Ferrari customers worldwide rejoiced about before watching the car be driven off into the sunset.
3 ProDrive Ferrari 550 GTS GT1 Maranello
The Ferrari 550 Maranello was a front-engined V12 grand tourer that was produced between 1996 and 2001. The car marked Ferrari’s return to a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout after 23 years, since the 365 GTB/4 Daytona had been replaced by the mid-engined Berlinetta Boxer. This car’s 5.5-liter, naturally aspirated V12 engine produced 478 horsepower, could reach 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, and had a top speed of 199 mph. ProDrive made the car better by turning it into a race car. In 2001, the private Swiss company built a fleet of these track-ready 550 Maranellos to compete in races across Europe, emphasizing endurance racing.
The car saw victories at the Spa 24 Hour and the GT1 class in Le Mans. Its engine was enlarged to 6.0-liter, giving it 600 hp, widened carbon fiber body panels, and a sequential Xtrac transmission. ProDrive built Subaru’s WRC Impreza, so they know a thing or two about building cars. The Le Mans-eligible version of the Ferrari 550 was “no a Ferrari-sanctioned product,” according to Ferrari spokesman Jeff Ehoodin. At Le Mans, it was one of the fastest cars on the road—just as fast as many prototype racers—but eventually succumbed to engine failure after 174 laps.
2 VOS Ferrari 488 GTB
The Ferrari 488 GTB is already super fast, given its twin-turbo, 661 bhp V8 engine. For some, however, that kind of power is just not enough. Here we’re referring to Vision of Speed (VOS), a performance company that wanted a 488 to have a top speed higher than 205 mph, and a 0-62 mph time lower than 3.0 seconds (which is what the stock 488 GTB can do). So VOS went all in, giving the car an extra 230 hp, bringing the total power of this car up to around 900 hp. The torque climbed from 561 to 671 pound-feet.
The end result was a car that could reach 217 mph-plus, according to VOS (which is the top speed of Ferrari’s most powerful car, LaFerrari). The power comes from a new stainless steel exhaust system, an upgraded air filter, and tons of ECU tweaks. Those changes there cost £12,000, which is surprisingly inexpensive. The 900 hp comes from the Stage 3 kit here, while the Stage 1 brings the horsepower to 750, and stage 2 brings it to 830. The car is also available from VOS with a visual makeover, including snazzy spoilers and skirts, all crafted from carbon fiber, as well as a new fixed rear wing and 21” wheels.
1 Liberty Walk Ferrari F40
Rounding out the list is this stunning Ferrari F40, tuned and redesigned by Wataru Kato at Liberty Walk. The Ferrari F40 was a mid-engined sports car built from 1987 to 1992, both as a road-ready and a race car version of the car. It was the last Ferrari personally approved by Enzo Ferrari, and was designed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary. It was, at the time, Ferrari’s most expensive and powerful car for sale, with a suggested retail price of $400,000 in 1987 ($860,000 today), though some buyers have spent as much as $3.6 million, and another was sold by Formula One driver Nigel Mansell in 1990 for £1 million.
Kato designed this stunning white F40 with a paint job so thin that you could see the bodywork beneath it. Though its 2.9-liter turbocharged V8 remained unchanged, the brakes, springs, and pretty much everything else inside and out were extensively modified by Liberty Walk. There were only 1,315 of these cars ever produced, and many people don’t approve of any changes because the car was already considered perfect. Tell that to Liberty Walk, though. We think that after you take a look at this car, you’ll see that not all change is a bad thing.
Sources: Moneyinc.com, Speedhunters.com, Topgear.com, Roadandtrack.com, cnet.com, topspeed.com, fastcar.co.uk, wikipedia.org