Ferrari unveils a surprise one-off supercar, which nostalgically nods to 70s and 90s car design

Ferrari have pulled another rabbit from the hat with the surprise release of the new SP38. The SP denotes Special Project and is indicative of how the Maranello-based manufacturer spends its time when its not building its acclaimed range of sports car. Such special projects are the reserve of the company’s One-Off division, built to order with close collaboration with a dedicated – and hugely wealthy – customer to create something that’s genuinely unique.

The new Ferrari SP38 takes inspiration from the F40 model

The SP38 is certainly that. Ferraristi will recognise the basic proportions of the company’s current mid-engined flagship, the 488 GTB, which forms the chassis and the drivetrain. On top of that, the bodywork is all-new and defiantly different. Taking prime inspiration from the legendary F40 model, there are hints of other earlier models, including the snubby GT4 of the 1970s. Imagine the amount of time and effort Ferrari’s team of designers, engineers and aerodynamicists put into every ‘regular’ model and then distill that down into a single car, with every facet of the design needing to match the same performance and safety requirements, despite being entirely new. The interior – not released for general consumption – also benefits from a very personal touch.

The SP38 is intended for both road and track, but will most likely find itself an impressive investment, joining a unique club of single-edition Ferrari road cars that goes back to the earliest days of the marque. In the past decade, the company has upped its game with its One-Off programme, and projects like the SP38 are both a way of bringing loyal customers right into the heart of the brand while adding another chapter to Ferrari’s ever expanding design history.