A Grand Tourer with a Classical Heart
The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is often regarded as one of the last truly classical Ferraris. Named in honour of the legendary designer and coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti, and continuing the tradition of the powerful and graceful 2+2 Gran Turismo, the 612 carried forward a heritage that stretches back to the earliest days of the marque. Its elegant bodywork, created by Pininfarina under the direction of Ken Okuyama and Frank Stephenson, featured sweeping lines inspired by cars such as the one-off 375 MM Speciale. Beneath its aluminium exterior lay a 5.7 litre naturally aspirated V12, unveiled at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Production continued until 2011, with around 3,025 examples leaving Maranello. Only a very small number, reportedly 199 cars, were fitted with a manual gearbox, making them rare jewels within an already exclusive production run. From its launch, the 612 offered buyers a wide array of personalisation possibilities. Two tone paint schemes, bespoke colours and a wide selection of interior configurations meant that owners could shape their grand tourer to a remarkable degree. What many may not know is that the life of the 612 Scaglietti was also marked by numerous special editions and even a bespoke one off. In this long read, we explore each of these variants in detail and give the 612 Scaglietti the attention it richly deserves, for this is a car that seems to grow more beautiful with every passing year.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti HGTS and HGTC
Two years after its debut, Ferrari introduced the HGTS and HGTC handling packages. These options significantly sharpened the character of the car, which in standard form was skewed more towards comfort. Both versions provided a sportier driving experience thanks to their freer breathing sports exhaust, distinctive nineteen inch ball polished modular wheels combined with more performance oriented tyres, colour matched brake calipers and revised control software for both the suspension system and the F1 gearbox, the latter offering noticeably quicker shift times. The HGTC package distinguished itself by featuring carbon ceramic brakes, giving it an additional performance advantage.
The Bicolore Factory Showcars
To demonstrate the breadth of its personalisation capabilities, Ferrari created a series of five two tone Bicolore showcars that appeared at major automotive events throughout the world. These cars were shown at Pebble Beach, Detroit, Cavallino, New York and Los Angeles and showcased how versatile the 612 platform could be when treated as a canvas for bespoke paintwork and tailored interior combinations.
One of the most striking examples was the Bicolore Detroit, unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006. It wore a beautifully executed combination of Rubino Micalizzato over Nero Daytona, a rich, deep metallic red flowing gracefully into a dark lower body. The interior was equally impressive, finished in a refined blend of chocolate brown and beige leather that emphasised its grand touring nature. Typical for the American market, this car also featured chromed wheels. The other showcars followed the same philosophy, each differing in colours and interior treatments, although some, particularly those created for Cavallino, Los Angeles and New York, remain less extensively documented in public sources.
612 Kappa: The Kalikow One Off
Among all the 612 variants, the most exceptional is the Kappa, a true one off commissioned by notable Ferrari collector Peter Kalikow. Pininfarina approached Kalikow with the proposal to create a unique 612, and he embraced the idea enthusiastically. His brief focused on bringing the design closer to Ken Okuyama’s original concept for the model. The car was built by Pininfarina with only limited involvement from Maranello, resulting in a 612 that felt like a distilled expression of the original stylistic vision.
Several unique elements immediately set the Kappa apart. It featured a redesigned chromed grille and a purposeful bonnet scoop. Its most innovative element was a two-piece electrochromic glass roof that allowed the driver to adjust the amount of light entering the cabin by selecting different levels of tint at the press of a button. Additional changes included reprofiled side vents behind the front wheels and a reworked rear section with higher mounted taillights, reminiscent of the Ferrari Enzo and F430. The prancing horse on the tailgate was replaced by Pininfarina’s crossed flags, giving the car a signature touch. Mechanically the Kappa remained identical to the standard 612, but its interior was entirely bespoke, finished in a beautifully warm light cognac leather that contrasted elegantly with the deep blue exterior.
612 Scaglietti HGTC Cornes 30th Anniversary
In June 2006, Ferrari paid tribute to its long-standing Japanese distributor Cornes & Co. by creating a special edition based on the HGTC equipped 612. The Cornes 30th Anniversary Edition was limited to just twenty examples.
Most cars were finished in the immediately recognisable Blu Cornes, a refined deep blue that was echoed in the colour of the brake calipers and even the speedometer and rev counter. Many of these blue cars were paired with a luxurious cognac leather interior, a combination that suited the character of the 612 perfectly. In addition to the Blu Cornes examples, a very small number of cars left the factory in alternative exterior colours, including a dark red, a white example and a single yellow car, which gave this already rare edition an extra layer of exclusivity. The Cornes cars were richly equipped, featuring an exposed carbon fibre fuel filler cap, aluminium mesh grilles at the front and rear, an alcantara headliner and central tunnel, contrast stitching throughout the cabin and a variety of carbon fibre interior details. The dashboard and the rear compartment carried special Cornes 30th Anniversary badges, while the carbon fibre sill plates featured a body-coloured aluminium inlay engraved with the signature of Ferrari’s then chairman, Luca di Montezemolo.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti GP Berne Edition
The next notable special variant was the GP Berne Edition, created in honour of Ferrari’s historic connection with Switzerland. The model was revealed during the Montreux Grand Prix Revival, held on the site of the 1934 Swiss Grand Prix where Carlo Felice Trossi claimed victory in a Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3. The 2006 celebration highlighted Ferrari’s achievements in Switzerland, marking forty years since the establishment of the marque’s first Swiss importer and paying tribute to Ferrari’s win at the 1949 Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten, where Alberto Ascari triumphed in a 125 monoposto. Ferrari was commissioned to build nine specially configured examples of the 612 for the occasion.
The Berne Edition drew inspiration from the 375 MM in its sculpted side contours, which, together with the roof, were finished in a distinctive white that visually carved into the flanks of the car. This bright upper section and the white “scallops” along the sides contrasted with the lower body, painted in Grigio Silverstone, giving the 612 a very different character from the standard car. The headlamp housings and brake calipers were finished in Grigio Argento, adding a further layer of subtle contrast. Inside, the car was trimmed in a bold red leather and Alcantara combination, adding a dramatic flourish to this Swiss themed special.
Ferrari 612 Sessanta
In 2007, Ferrari introduced the Sessanta, a celebration of the company’s sixtieth anniversary as an automaker. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Sessanta was limited to sixty examples, each one finished in a two tone paint scheme. Buyers could choose between Nero combined with Grigio Scuro or Nero Daytona combined with Rubino Micalizzato, both combinations giving the car a sophisticated and commemorative appearance.
The Sessanta incorporated several distinctive features, including a three stage electrochromic panoramic roof that allowed the level of cabin light to be adjusted, dedicated forged aluminium wheels, black chrome exhaust outlets and a specially coloured grille. Inside, the car introduced the Manettino system to the 612 range. The cabin blended Terra Bruciata leather with Marrone carpets, while Grigio Scuro detailing added contrast across the dashboard, door panels and centre tunnel. A plaque on the F1 gearbox reminded the driver that they were sitting in the commemorative Sessanta edition.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Wallpaper Edition
Shortly before the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ferrari collaborated with Wallpaper magazine to create a single bespoke example of the 612 Scaglietti. The magazine’s team was given an unusually free hand to configure their dream specification, with virtually every colour, material and finish available to them. The result, perhaps surprisingly given the breadth of possibilities, was a deliberately restrained and understated car. It featured a two tone combination of black and dark blue paintwork, complemented by HGTS and HGTC style wheels and yellow brake calipers. Only one example of this edition was ever produced.
612 Scaglietti HGTS Russian Limited Edition
Another regional special was created for the Russian market, known as the 612 Scaglietti HGTS Russian Limited Edition. Only five examples were built, making it one of the rarest factory authorised versions of the model. Each was fitted with the HGT S pack and an F1 transmission and featured wheels similar to those of the Sessanta. The interior combined chocolate brown leather with extensive alcantara and carbon fibre details, producing a warm and luxurious environment. The exterior carried a subtle two-tone grey finish with matching grey wheels, and the cars were fitted with dedicated Russian Limited Edition plaques.
612 Scaglietti OTO
In 2008, Ferrari introduced the OTO programme, an abbreviation of One To One, which offered customers an unprecedented level of personalisation for their 612. Alongside the extensive configurability, OTO cars benefitted from meaningful mechanical updates that refined the model further. The F1 transmission was made quicker and smoother through the adoption of a new dual plate clutch, the electrochromic glass roof became standard equipment and the steering wheel featured the Manettino selector for the first time on a 612. The exterior was distinguished by twenty inch BBS Challenge wheels and chromed door mirrors which subtly enhanced the car’s visual presence.
A Graceful Farewell
Production of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti concluded in 2011, coinciding with the passing of its namesake, Sergio Scaglietti. Elegant, understated and deeply rooted in Ferrari tradition, the 612 stands today as a fitting tribute to the man whose craftsmanship shaped so many of the marque’s greatest road and racing cars. Like a fine wine, it continues to mature with time, steadily revealing more of its character and ensuring its place as one of the most graceful grand tourers ever to emerge from Maranello.
