When the Ferrari nomenclature department (they don't exist I am sure, I just love that word and the thought of a well-dressed Italian man with that plaque on his desk) in Maranello came up with the name for the 458 Speciale, I think his day was done by 9:10am. Ciao.
The 458 Speciale is rather a poster child that embodies the thesis and passion here at CHROME TEMPLE, especially our CTi Mach 1 Fund, as it truly is a "book end" to an illustrious line of mid engine V8 Ferrari's (any V8 Ferrari for that matter). I'll spare some of the stats that Google can readily spool up for those already not well versed and focus more on why we at CT so love the Speciale.
Here's a few box ticks for us;
Despite a successor model baring the name "F8 Tributo", this is the last naturally aspirated V8 Ferrari (458) as emissions legislation saw the need for forced induction and hybridisation which whilst delivered performance, erased too much of the emotion so important to the marque.
Only 2500 Speciale's were thought to be produced, and 499 Aperta's (spiders/convertibles) with less than 10% being RHD and around 10-15% of those finding their way to Australia. Whilst already scarce, many 458 Speciale's ended up undertaking their true purpose as track weapons with subsequent damage and deterioration whittling back the truly preserved examples.
With less than 2,000k's on the clock and an impeccable factory dealership service pampering, our example must be amongst the best here and abroad.
The yardstick of cool or desirable has changed shape entirely in the past decade, thanks largely to the knowledge that an electric grocery-getter can obliterate 99% of our former hero's performance on paper. A transition from hard core stats like 0-100kmh, horsepower, torque and so-forth has given way to less measurable and more personal gauges like the hairs on the back of your neck...
All this and we haven't touched on how it is to drive and the sheer music that the 4.5l V8 produces when given some right foot encouragement. If you're lucky enough to have experienced it, it really can be summed up as special.