Affordability and Ferrari are two things rarely said in the same sentence. Really, when you think of Ferrari, you think of the opposite. You think of luxurious performance cars with big price tags. And there's a good reason for that, since the cheapest Ferrari on sale currently, the Ferrari Roma, starts at $222,620. The word 'cheapest' should really be used loosely here, then.
Don't give up hope just yet, though, as there are options out there if you're looking to get your hands on something badged with the iconic Prancing Horse but have a tighter budget. In fact, for around the same price as your average hot hatch, you could be behind the wheel of a Ferrari 456. Now admittedly, it won't be as practical, nor will it be as cheap to run or maintain. But what it will be, though, is a Ferrari. And one with a big V12, too.
With that being said, let's take a detailed look at why the Ferrari 456 is now a V12 bargain.
The History Behind the Ferrari 456
The history of Ferrari developing four-seater V12 grand tourers dates back to 1948 with the 166 Inter. The 116 Inter was based on the racing models, the 166 MM Barchetta, with a lower-powered version of its 2.0 V12 used. These were produced in extremely low numbers, though, with a total of just 29 cars in three years.
The first four-seater GT to be produced in higher numbers came in 1960, named the 250 GT/E. The car came with a 3.0 liter V12 — though the last 50 to be developed came with a 4.0 liter borrowed from the 330 America — while its bodywork was handled by Pininfarina, the company responsible for some iconic cars, meaning it looked fantastic. The car stayed in production for a total of three years, with 957 developed during that time.
Fast forward to 1992, and Ferrari had a string of four-seater cars under its belt, both front-engined GTs and smaller, mid-engined cars like the Dino or the Mondial. Really, then, with the 456, Ferrari continued the approach to GTs it had established decades prior: luxuriousness, sleek looks, and a big, powerful engine.
A Detailed Look At The Ferrari 456
When the 456 launched in 1992, it was the first front-engined car Ferrari had produced since 1985 and the 412. The engine — which was developed new for the 456 — was a naturally aspirated, dry-sumped V12 with a 5.5 liter displacement. This gave the 456 442 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque.
So the 456 could really move. It could hit sixty from a standstill in 4.8 seconds and go on to reach 192 mph, which, according to Drivetribe, made it the fastest four-seater car in the world at the time. The engine, then, was very much the 456's talking point — in fact, the 456 part in its name is in reference to the cubic centimeter size of its cylinders. The engine was available only with a six-speed gated manual, though in 1996, a four-speed manual was available with the 456 GTA — the 'A' part stood for, you guessed it, automatic.
New, the Ferrari 456 cost $224,585, which is a whopping $458,324 dollars in today's money. So it really wasn't cheap. Its large price tag meant it was the most expensive Ferrari you could buy at the time. According to Classic and Sports Car, though, this was still around $40,000 cheaper than its competition in the Bentley Continental R and the Aston Martin Vantage.
And while Ferraris of the '90s are typically associated with bold, look-at-me styling — like with the 512 TR or the F355 — the 456 was quite the opposite. Styling was handled by Pietro Camardella of Pininfarina, and the result was subtle and refined. It gave off a sense of sophistication that was a far cry from the company's poster-worthy supercars.
Two different variants of the 456 were developed throughout its 11-year production run, with the 456 M replacing the GT model in 1998. According to Drivetribe, the changes weren't enormous, with things like a larger grill — so to help feed more air to the 456's big V12 — as well as newer seats and a rearranged dash added.
How Much You Can Pick Up A Ferrari 456 For Today?
Despite the 456's hefty price tag when new, you can now pick one up for a reasonable amount. For as little as $47,000 dollars you could be behind the wheel of one. And remember, this is a V12 Ferrari. Admittedly, this will be one with higher mileage. But according to Classic and Sports Car, this shouldn't be an issue, as the 456's V12 is renowned for being strong and reliable, capable of clocking up in excess of 100,000 miles without a rebuild. Just make sure you look for one that's been regularly serviced and well maintained.
For a mint-condition 456 with lower mileage, you're looking at around $90,000, which is still a fraction of the car's original list pricing. So, what the 456 represents is a good entry into the world of Ferraris, one that's luxurious, powerful, and doesn't have to cost you a fortune.