New one-off Ferrari SP38 unveiled

Ferrari has taken the wraps off its most recent custom creation, a road-legal one-off based on the 488 GTB, called SP38.

The Italian supercar maker says the dramatically-styled model shows design cues inspired by the F40 and 308 GTB and it has been drastically altered at the front and rear compared to the 488 GTB it is based on. The changes run only to parts that do not need to be re-homologated, for time and cost reasons.

The customer worked with Ferrari on the car from the beginning, collaborating on its design and their individual needs. Each project tends to take around 18 months on average, although this can vary widely depending on the project.

It’s part of a growing trend among high-end car makers, as the industry turns increasingly to bespoke operations and tailor-made products for ever more demanding customers. Rolls-Royce, for example, claims that every single one of its cars comes out of the factory with some bespoke element on it. A Ferrari spokesman could not confirm an equivalent figure for the brand, but said that these projects are “extremely important” for Ferrari.

New headlights have been fitted, and are as slim as possible for a more aggressive look, while the daytime running lights have been moved to the bumper lip.

At the side, the 488 GTB’s air intake is replaced by bodywork at the SP38’s shoulder, moved to next to the rear side window. Grey lower bodywork separates the aerodynamic additions closer to the ground from the red custom bodywork above it.

The rear is all but unrecognisable from the 488 GTB – a small fixed wing extends out from the rear flanks, while louvred bodywork covers what would usually be the car’s rear glass. New lights, air outlets and higher-set, larger exhausts dominate the rear fascia.

Under the skin, it is mechanically identical to the 488 GTB, with the same twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 likely making the same 670hp and 760Nm. Performance figures haven’t been revealed, but the 488 GTB’s 330kph top speed and 3.0sec 0-100kph time are likely closely matched.

The SP38 is the latest in a line of one-off, customer-commissioned Ferraris, the number of which is uncertain as many customers prefer not to have their cars publicised.

The 458 MM Speciale - another one-off, based on the 488’s 458 predecessor, bucked this trend, being both revealed by Ferrari and showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2016. Again, the owner’s identity was not disclosed.

The owner of the SP38 wished to remain anonymous, and Ferrari would not disclose whether the car was their first one-off. The owner chose for these images and snippets of information to be released through Ferrari.

The SP38’s first public outing will be at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, later this week. It’s not known if the owner will showcase the car beyond this.