2003 Ferrari 456M GTA

The 456 was Ferrari’s return to a line of four-seaters after a 2-year absence, following on the polarizing and outdated 400 and 412 models. Starting with a clean slate, the 456 sported a 5.5L V12 producing 436hp, and soft styling that established Pininfarina’s identity for the rest of the decade, away from the wedges of the 1970’s.

Released in 1992, on the 40th anniversary of the Belgian Garage Francorchamps, the 456 predated the 550 Maranello two-seater, and sported very similar mechanical underpinnings. Marketed as a a family man’s Ferrari, it also featured a rear hydropneumatic suspension, meant for high-speed touring, but not at the expense of comfort. A 6-speed manual (GT models) and a traditional hydraulic automatic transmission (GTA models) were offered, suiting demand for both driving styles.

In 1998, interior and exterior styling was revised in a ‘Modificata’ (M) version, while power levels were left unchanged. Dashboards and seats were upgraded, as were the front bumpers and bonnet.

This particular example was manufactured in May 2003 for the Japanese market, and delivered to its first owner in February 2004. A late model example, it has covered just under 7,000 original kilometres and it is in exceptional condition, getting a 5-star rating by the Japanese Auto Appraiser’s Association.

A quick note for our USA friends: this vehicle is not a North American specification, and cannot be legally imported to the United States until it is 25 years of age or older. For Canada, this limit is brought down to 15 years of age or older.