A Ferrari with a V12 engine for sale for €50,000: what's the catch?

Who hasn't dreamed of owning a Ferrari with a V12 engine under the hood? What if we told you that this dream is now accessible for the price of a well optioned premium car? That's exactly what a recent advert on auction site Bring a Trailer suggests, where a Ferrari 456M GTA from the year 2000 was sold for... $55,000, or around 50,000 euros. So, golden deal or too good to be true?

A charming Italian GT

The Ferrari 456M GTA is perhaps not the best-known of Maranello's creations, but it has everything to appeal to lovers of elegant GT cars. Produced between 1998 and 2003, this "Modificata" version of the 456 features a majestic 5.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine developing 436 hp. The result is an impressive performance in a refined Pininfarina setting.

The model in question, in a rare Grigio Ingrid hue and cream interior, has just 48,000 km on the clock and has had two owners in the USA. Four-speed automatic gearbox, 17" wheels, retractable headlights: the styling is resolutely old-school, but continues to turn heads.

At this price, it's hard not to be tempted. Especially when you remember that this Ferrari cost over €210,000 new at the time (around €426,000 today, taking inflation into account). However, behind this apparent bargain lies a much more brutal reality.

The true price of passion

Buying a Ferrari for €50,000 is a bit like buying a run-down mansion: the purchase price is just the beginning. And this 456M GTA is the perfect illustration. The seller has had the transparency to include maintenance invoices, and they're enough to dampen the spirits.

A simple service at 30,000 miles (about 48,000 km) cost... $18,407. Yes, you read that right. This included work on the engine and rear suspension. Add to that another trip to the workshop for $8,169, just for an oil change, brake fluid and a rear shock absorber. And we're not even talking about an engine overhaul or rare parts replacement.

What to expect if you fall for it?

Unlike a Toyota or a Fiat, a Ferrari is unforgiving: every part, every intervention, every hour of labor is expensive, very expensive. And even if the entry price is attractive, annual maintenance can easily exceed a third of the purchase price. Not to mention finding a garage capable of working on a 20-year-old Ferrari V12.

Of course, the 456M GTA remains a car of passion. And for some, the magic of an atmospheric Ferrari V12, the timeless lines of Pininfarina, and the prestige of the Cavallino Rampante are worth a few sacrifices.

Verdict

Yes, today it's possible to get your hands on a Ferrari V12 for €50,000. And no, it's not a scam. But don't be fooled: the real catch is not in the sticker price, but in the accompanying invoices. The 456M GTA is a rare gem, but it will remind you at every service that nobility has a cost.