Ferrari P80/C – one-off special, four years to develop

Ferrari P80/C – one-off special, four years to develop

Ferrari has unveiled the P80/C, a one-off creation commissioned by an unnamed collector. The price tag of the special build hasn’t been revealed, but based on the work – and time – that has gone into it, it sounds like some serious money has been spent.

Four years in the making, it’s based on a 488 GT3, but heavily-reworked. The design brief was to come up with a modern sports prototype, inspired by the likes of the automaker’s 330 P3/P4 and Dino 206 S from the ’60’s.

Very much a track-focused offering, the car allowed Flavio Manzoni and the Ferrari Styling Centre to adopt an unrestricted approach in how it could be developed, allowing plenty of research – both in terms of design and engineering – to be carried out.The company says that every element of performance and aerodynamics was meticulously analysed, making it very different than previous Ferrari one-offs.

Ferrari P80/C – one-off special, four years to develop

Without the impediment of regulations and the need for homologation, the design goes to town, eschewing things like traditionally-styled headlights, which on this one has been reduced to simple slits that recall the air intakes in the grille of the 330 P3/P4. The same approach is taken at the back, the tail lights – again shaped like air vents – incorporated in the rear spoiler.

With a 50 mm longer wheelbase that the 488 GTB, the P80/C features a cockpit with a more cab-forward emphasis. The rear end has been totally redone, and design elements include a catamaran-style presentation with almost no rear bodywork, save a simple grille to help take heat away from the engine bay, essentially allowing the car’s running gear to be paraded.

Also to be found is a very prominent rear spoiler and a concave engine cover with aluminium louvres. The P80/C is made entirely from carbon-fibre, which the company says has been left bare wherever the parts have a purely technical function. The bodywork is finished in a unique bright red shade called Rosso Vero, the name of which was chosen by the client.

The car can be set up for presentation in two styles – on track, it runs on 18-inch single-nut wheels and wears the massive rear wing, while its showcase form removes much of the aerodynamic elements and changes the wheels to 21-inch units.

There’s no mention of technical specifications, but with all that has been done, it’d be a surprise if the GT3’s 3.9 litre twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual clutch transmission was carried over wholesale and left untouched.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

 

Add a comment

required

required