"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
05/23/2020 at 19:00 • Filed to: None
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"Nauraushaun" (nauraushaun12)
05/23/2020 at 19:00 • Filed to: None | 9
| 11 |
Ah, the 456. Like a 550, but curvier and softer to suit its more relaxed nature, even if it is still a big FR V12 bruiser. But not all 456 were created equal. Or, they were equal but some were later made more than equal. Let’s talk about those.
456 Targa
One built, based on an automatic car, for Shaquille O’Neal. Rear seats also removed to fit longer seat rails, because he big . Had a smoked-glass sort of hat thing installed in place of the regular roof. Looks a bit frumpy with it on, but excellent without it. Once sold on Ebay and appeared on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Not sure who converted it, a company in America I think. Definitely not considered factory .
Rare photo with roof on
456 Sedan
4 built including several for the Sultan of Brunei. Built by Pininfarina, so you might call this a somewhat factory conversion. I think it’s cool. It’s the closest you can get to a four-door Ferrari eve, unless you count Maserati (which you shouldn’t) or the one-off Ferrari Pinin that resides in California. I respect it for not going off the rails - it really is just a 4-door 456, nothing more.
456 Wagon
Called the 456 Venice, these were also built by Pininfarina. It seems the Sultan of Brunei ordered 7 but purchased 6, so one was sold to the UK. This is great news for us as it does get spotted around town a bit, and photos aren’t too hard to come by. It seems there’s a dark green one that shows up a bit too and may have escaped the evil clutches of the Sultan. I think these are cool too, they look to share the sedan’s doors and windows and are definitely a sporty, stubby sort of wagon - more VE than VY Commodore if you will.
!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!
3 created by Straman in the US, (who also created the twin-turbo 300ZX cabriolets, the factory cabriolets all being NA
). A bit of a pig with the roof on, but you don’t pay big money for a chopped up 456 to keep the roof on so I’ll give it a pass. Does remind me of a 355 Spyder, though with more seats.
456 GT Spyder
Apparently this is also given the Venice name but it’s hard to say. 2 built for the Sultan again by Pininfarina. Only 2 seats and I don’t think it actually had a roof. Which is curious since that makes it very similar to the 550 Barchetta, so unlike the other cars in this list it does not fill a niche that’s otherwise unfilled. They definitely took some artistic license with that rear, and probably also a set of 550 tail lights.
Green interior eh
And there we have it. Even if they’re a tad ugly at times, I love the idea of something weird and wonderful being created out of regular Ferraris, to fill a void that Ferrari won’t do themselves. In an age of SUVs and de-weird-ification of the car world, it would be great to see more of these projects from those with the means to commission them.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Nauraushaun
05/23/2020 at 19:09 |
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Good work. The Spyder is just plain fugly from the rear. It somehow looks like a FWD based kit car from the rear, which is not the goal I hope. If it is they accomplished it, to the chagrin of everyone else.
daender
> Nauraushaun
05/23/2020 at 19:42 |
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The rear of the Spyder looks to be inspired by the Fiat Barchetta...or maybe it’s the other way around?
pip bip - choose Corrour
> daender
05/23/2020 at 20:03 |
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about to post a pic of the Barchetta myself, that’s what it reminded me of
Tapas
> Nauraushaun
05/23/2020 at 21:03 |
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The sedan and wagon are handsome. Everything else is a pass.
Including the 456 coupe.
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Nauraushaun
> daender
05/23/2020 at 21:13 |
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I didn’t even think of that! Too right.
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Nauraushaun
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/23/2020 at 21:13 |
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Lol, not a goal indeed.
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Nauraushaun
> Tapas
05/23/2020 at 21:13 |
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The targa weeps
And what you’re saying about the coupe, it’s madness
QCGoose
> Nauraushaun
05/23/2020 at 21:49 |
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This is fantastic. The 456 is my favorite Ferrari 2+2, and I could read about it all the time, so seeing these rare variants again after years of forgetting about some of them is refreshing.
I'm surprised I never knew about Shaq's targa version, but that's just another interesting variant to add to the 456 roster.
415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Nauraushaun
05/23/2020 at 22:33 |
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wagon gibbb
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Tapas
> Nauraushaun
05/24/2020 at 00:17 |
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The 550 perfected the shape.
Whem I se e the car, theres just something about the B pillar that’s not quite right.
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Nauraushaun
> Tapas
05/24/2020 at 03:19 |
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Mmm it’s a bit humpy there to fit the seats and their headroom. Similar to what the 260Z 2+2 does compared to the 2-seater car.
The 550 is indeed handsome