Although Ferrari is now mostly famous for its mid-engined sports cars, Maranello built front-engined vehicles only until 1966, when the Lamborghini Miura and its mid-ship layout changed the supercar industry. But, even though it shifted to mid-engine designs, Ferrari continued to build front-engine cars and the current lineup includes three such examples as of 2017: the F12berlinetta, GTC4Lusso, and the California. A spiritual successor to the iconic 250 series (built between 1953 and 1964), the F12berlinetta has already spawned the F12tdf, a limited-edition tribute to the legendary Tour de France, an automobile race that Maranello dominated from 1956 through 1964. Come 2017 and Ferrari launched the SP 275 RW Competizione, a radically redesigned F12 that pays homage to the 275 GTB.

Built as a one-off and designed by Ferrari’s Styling Center with help from Pininfarina, the SP 275 RW Competizione brings together the modern stance of the F12berlinetta and the iconic styling cues of the 275 GTB. Introduced in 1964, the 275 GTB replaced the famous 250 GTO on both the road and the race track. Produced until 1968 in 970 units, the 275 series run also included the race-spec 275 GTB/C, the 275 GTS convertible, and the four-cam 275 GTB/4 and GTB/4 NART. All versions were powered by the iconic 3.3-liter V-12 "Colombo" engine which, in some models, produced in excess of 300 horsepower.

Although not as famous and valuable as the rarer 250 GTO nowadays, the 275 GTB is among the most recognizable and sought-after Ferraris. All told, it's not surprising that Maranello went as far as to redesign the F12berlinetta in order to include the styling cues that made the 275 GTB a legendary grand tourer.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione.

2017 Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione

Specifications
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  • Model: 2017 Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione
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What makes the Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione special

Although based on the familiar F12berlinetta, the SP 275 RW Competizione appears to be a brand-new model due to the heavily redesigned body. Essentially a modern interpretation of classic Ferrari 275 GTB, the PS 275 RW is highlighted by curvaceous surfaces in the front and rear and smoother side panels. Up front, the wide grille has been rounded out to mimic that of the 275 GTB, while the apron no longer features the trapezoidal intakes at the corners. Instead, Ferrari fitted two splitter-like elements that replicate the split chrome bumper of the original car. The nose has also been reworked, while the engine hood is simpler and devoid of the standard F12's vents.

The profile also sports a number of new features, starting with the four louvers on the front fenders. These are reminiscent of the 275 GTB, but they were given a modern touch in order to better integrate with the F12's design. The rear fenders also received three louvers each, while the quarter window was replaced by a triple louver vent, both elements paying tribute to the 275 GTB. In addition, the swoopy character line of the front fenders and the deep dents in the doors were removed for a smoother, classic appearance. The side view is rounded out by a new set of double-five spoke wheels. Although these have nothing in common with the 275 GTB's wire rims, the two-tone finish works well with yellow paint and the black trim.

Around back, the SP 275 RW sports a ducktail-like spoiler that extends toward the bumper, making the taillights look as if they were pushed further into the bodywork. This feature, together with the louvers in the bumper and the milled aluminum fuel filler cap recall the race-spec 275 GTB that won the GT category in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Below, Ferrari added a larger, more pronounced diffuser that stretches the entire width of the car, deleting the T-shaped lower fascia of the standard F12berlinetta. Finally, the yellow paint scheme of the car is also a tribute to the Le Mans-winning 275 GTB, echoing the Ecurie Francorchamps team livery.

Ferrari had nothing to say about the car's interior and there are no photos to run by, but the cabin seems to be finished in black with yellow highlights. A closer look at what we can see through the windows shows that yellow accents are present on the dashboard (around the instrument cluster area), on the steering wheel, and the seats. The car also appears to have some carbon-fiber trim, including the upper section of the steering wheel, the shift paddles, and A/C nozzles. Ferrari likely added bespoke floor mats and a few custom touches to the instrument cluster too, but we won't know more about that until the official photos surface.

More good news comes from under the hood, where the standard 6.3-liter V-12 was replaced with the more powerful version created for the limited-edition F12tdf. Specifically, the naturally aspirated unit cranks out 769 horsepower and 519 pound-feet of torque, a 39-horsepower and nine-pound-foot increase over the standard model. The engine also uses race-inspired mechanical tappets and variable-geometry intake trumpets borrowed from the brand’s Formula One cars and mates to a bespoke version of the F12's dual-clutch transmission with 30-percent faster upshifts and 40-percent quicker downshifts. The F12tdf also uses a four-wheel steering system for sharper turn-in and increased stability.

There's no word on the performance of this unique Ferrari, but we do know that the F12tdf needs 2.9 seconds to hit 62 mph, which makes it two tenths quicker than the F12berlinetta. Pricing information is also a mystery, but it doesn't really matter given that this is a custom-made one-off. However, if I were to take a guess, I'd say that the happy customers paid in excess of $1 million. For reference, the F12berlinetta retails from around $325,000.