This Strange Ferrari Prototype Could Be Worth More Than Your House

Several other prototypes of the remarkable LaFerrari have been sold in recent years

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/                                    

For many enthusiasts, the LaFerrari stands as the pinnacle of the so-called Holy Trinity of hypercars. With some examples selling for well over $4 million, that reputation comes with a steep price tag. But what if you’re drawn to the history and engineering of the LaFerrari without the need to own a finished example?

Read: A LaFerrari Prototype Is Perfect For The Avid Collector

One of the original prototypes used in the model’s development might be a compelling alternative, like this early test mule known as the F150 Muletto M4.

Originally built as a Ferrari 458 Italia, this prototype features a heavily modified aluminum chassis designed to accommodate the 6.3-liter V12 that would eventually power the production LaFerrari. That engine alone produced 789 horsepower, a major leap from the 458’s 562-hp V8.

A Frankenstein Exterior

Given that this was used as a test mule, most of the original 458 body panels have been replaced by ugly add-ons, including a different front end and hood. It’s a similar story at the rear, where only the taillights and vents are from the 458. While the exterior looks bizarre, the interior is mostly a standard 458 Italia, not including a supplementary battery in the passenger footwell.

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is handling the sale and estimates the prototype will fetch between $900,000 and $1.2 million. That’s no small sum, especially for a car that can never be registered for road use. Still, compared to the cost of a finished LaFerrari, it offers a rare opportunity to own a direct piece of the car’s development story.

Several LaFerrari prototypes have been sold over the years, and this very car was sold by Mecum Auctions three years ago. At the time, it fetched $715,000, which sounds like a relative bargain, particularly if it now trades hands for upwards of $1.2 million.

If you’ve ever wanted to own a rough-draft version of greatness, the kind of car that helped shape one of Ferrari’s most celebrated hypercars but never got to bask in the spotlight, this might be your moment. Head on over to the listing here and place your best bid before someone else does.

RM Sotheby’s