Ferrari 456 GT

The Ferrari 456 GT begins with a choice that sets it apart from much of the 600-car catalogue: a naturally aspirated V12 paired with rear-wheel drive in a 2+2 seater fixed-head coupé. Only 90 of 600 cars use a V12 layout, and just 68 combine that engine configuration with RWD. That decision places the 456 GT in a distinctive corner of the collection, where the focus is not simply on outright numbers but on a particular balance of space, engine character and traditional grand touring intent.

Its comparative position shows the trade-off clearly. With 442 bhp, the 456 GT ranks 384th of 600 for power, placing it in the top 64% of the catalogue rather than among the highest-output machines. Its 5.5-litre V12 produces 550 Nm of torque, while the 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds ranks 483rd of 600. The numbers suggest a car shaped less around chasing the sharpest acceleration figures and more around delivering its performance through a naturally aspirated V12 formula. Its top speed of 302 km/h, ranked 266th of 600, shows the other side of that equation.

The 456 GT’s standout feature is its combination of a V12 and RWD with a practical 2+2 layout. Just 54 cars in the catalogue share the naturally aspirated V12 category, making this configuration a rare thread through the wider selection. At a used price of £55,000, it ranks 415th of 600, costing £124 per bhp, which places its appeal in a different space from cars built purely around maximum performance.

The production figure gives another perspective. The 456 GT had a production count of 1,548 cars, and among the 177 cars in the catalogue with known production figures, 105 are rarer. That makes it a car with a meaningful place in the collection without relying on scarcity as its defining quality.

For a garage built from 600 possibilities, the Ferrari 456 GT adds something specific: a V12 grand tourer from Italy that chooses refinement of proportion and layout over chasing every measurable advantage. It sits apart from cars that prioritise higher rankings in a single category, offering a different kind of presence through its combination of engine, drivetrain and body style. The Ferrari 456 GT belongs there.