For most, owning a Ferrari is the pinnacle of automotive aspiration — the red badge of success, performance, and Italian artistry. But for a select few, a production-line Ferrari, even one that costs well over half a million dollars, simply won’t do. These discerning individuals are after something rarer: a Ferrari that doesn’t just bear their name on a plaque, but one that embodies their personality, vision, and legacy. Welcome to the exquisite, almost mythical realm of coachbuilt Ferraris.
A Return to the Art of Automotive Individuality
Coachbuilding, once a staple of early automotive manufacturing, is experiencing a renaissance, and Ferrari is leading the charge. In the pre-war era, marques like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and indeed Ferrari supplied rolling chassis to master craftsmen who would then build custom bodies by hand. Over time, mass production, safety regulations, and design homogeneity made such practices obsolete. But today, amid a climate of hyper-personalised luxury, coachbuilding is once again in vogue — not as a necessity, but as an indulgence for the ultra-wealthy.
Ferrari’s Special Projects division and its Icona series offer the most exclusive doorway into this world. Entry, however, isn’t for sale. Ferrari invites clients — typically long-time collectors or patrons of the brand — to collaborate with its top designers on cars that will never be duplicated. These are not “special editions” in the usual sense. They are singular automotive sculptures, each with its own story, soul, and silhouette.
Beyond Customisation: The Height of Bespoke
Unlike Ferrari’s Tailor Made programme, which offers extensive interior and exterior customisation on existing models, coachbuilding means creating a unique body on an existing chassis and powertrain — often inspired by classic designs from the marque’s racing past.
Take the Ferrari SP3JC, for instance. Commissioned by British collector John Collins, the one-off open-top V12 roadster is a visual homage to 1950s sports cars, blending modern engineering with retro proportions. Then there’s the P80/C, a track-only masterpiece built on the underpinnings of the 488 GT3. With swooping lines and a vast rear wing, it is unlike anything Ferrari has ever put on tarmac — a bespoke creation tailored for one man’s fantasy of what a race car should be.
These projects often take two to four years to complete, involving close collaboration between the client and Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s head of design, along with his hand-picked team at Centro Stile in Maranello. The process is part design symposium, part luxury ritual. Clients participate in everything from the conceptual sketches to the selection of materials, colours, and finishes — often drawing inspiration from architecture, fine art, or their own life stories.
From Concept to Carbon Fibre
Each coachbuilt Ferrari starts with a story — an idea, an emotion, a memory the client wants to see translated into automotive form. That story becomes a series of sketches, then digital renderings, then full-scale clay models. The design must not only meet the client’s vision but also Ferrari’s uncompromising standards for performance, aerodynamics, and brand integrity.
From there, a small team of artisans handcrafts the body using a blend of traditional methods and cutting-edge techniques. Carbon fibre panels are shaped, interiors upholstered with unique textiles, and paint colours are custom mixed — often exclusive to that single vehicle.
The result? A car that is as much a piece of functional art as it is a machine. One that, despite never being driven on public roads, may find its way into a private museum, parked alongside Picassos and Patek Philippes.
The Price of Perfection
Naturally, exclusivity comes at a price. Coachbuilt Ferraris are rumoured to start around AU\$4 million, and depending on complexity, can climb well beyond AU\$10 million. But for clients in this echelon, price is secondary. These aren’t just cars — they are heirlooms, statements of taste and identity, and in some cases, tax-efficient alternative assets.
Interestingly, many coachbuilt Ferraris never hit the secondary market. Owners hold onto them not as investments, but as emotional assets, often passing them down to the next generation. Those that do occasionally emerge at private sales or auctions tend to command astronomical figures, driven by their provenance and utter uniqueness.
The Future of Bespoke Mobility
As electrification and autonomy loom on the horizon, Ferrari is already considering how the bespoke experience will evolve. The next generation of coachbuilt Ferraris may incorporate sustainable materials, AI-assisted design, and electric powertrains — all while preserving the essence of what makes a Ferrari unmistakably a Ferrari.
For now, the appeal of a coachbuilt model lies not in innovation alone, but in the revival of craftsmanship — a counterpoint to an increasingly automated world. It is a love letter to individuality in an age of mass luxury.
Written By: Sarah Reid
Published: 26th May 2025