The Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina is one of those special one-off cars that have never slipped under the radar ever since their creation. Sure, it’s based on Ferrari Enzo underpinnings, but it’s really so much more than that, which is why the fact that we got to see it all disassembled is such a treat. And since there’s only one in the world, you’ll most likely never see it, let alone with its engine out and its underpinnings all exposed.

Its body is completely made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and its shape is a modern interpretation (and an homage) to classics such as the 1967 330 P4, the 1971 512 S or the 1993 333 SP. It has been said that the new De Tomaso P72 also follows pretty much the same design direction - we’ll let you decide if that’s the case by checking out our visual comparison of the P4/5 and P72

But the P4/5’s body is not just cosmetically better than the Enzo’s - its creators say it has better aero properties than it (less drag, more downforce, so it’s more stable at high speeds) and not only that, but it’s also quieter when driven very quickly. Apparently, there is no wind noise even at speeds as high as 160 mph (260 km/h).

Its front and rear clamshells were also taken off the car and we’re pretty sure you’ve never seen the P4/5 quite like this - you can really see its (front and rear) race car-like pushrod suspension, and just the overall lightweight philosophy behind it; it is some 595 pounds (270 kilograms) lighter than the Enzo on which it’s based.

The engine was taken out in order to be stripped down and cleaned and apparently the valves and the pistons needed to be cleaned as well. James Glickenhaus, the man behind the car and the person who uploaded the videos, says this is due to it having been run on standard pump gas. Once it’s all put back together, the 6.0-liter V-12 should make slightly more power than it did in the Enzo - 660 horsepower (669 PS) at 7,800 rpm, very close to the V-12’s 8,200 rpm redline.

Since it is considerably lighter, slightly more powerful than the donor vehicle and it also has better aero, you’d expect it to be faster too. And it is.

Still not convinced the Ferrari P4/5 is a special car? You can check out this older video that features an interview with Mr. Glickenhaus who details why and how the car ended up being made. It’s a really special project that could much more easily never have happened, but we’re thankful for the fact that it did - the P4/5 not only improves on the Enzo from a mechanical standpoint, but its new design is, by most accounts, considerably better than the Ferrari on which it’s based.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2008 Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina