Ferrari’s Latest One-Off; Virage or Mirage? This Rare Aston Martin Shooting Brake is for Sale

Intake: Ferrari’s latest creation from its Special Projects program has arrived. Meet the SP48 Unica, a glistening, red-orange metallic masterpiece based on the F8 Tributo but evolved to meet the very specific design brief of one of Ferrari’s long-standing clients. Designed by Ferrari’s Senior Vice President of Design Flavio Manzoni, the shapely mid-engine creation used additive manufacturing to create complex forms for the front grille—one of many steps taken to rework the front end to appear more arrow-shaped. In place of a rear windscreen (objects behind you are losing, right?), a large clamshell hood helps the SP48 Unica to appear formed from a single, large hunk of material. Ferrari says the reworked rear body adjusts the aerodynamic characteristics of the car. The cabin retains the same layout as that of the F8, but special material adjustments such as the iridescent reddish-orange fabric beneath the laser-perforated Alcantara leather seats and matte carbon fiber trim pieces make it clear that this isn’t just an off-the-shelf interior.

Exhaust: Look at the SP48 Unica from the right angle, and you might get whiffs of a Bugatti Chiron. Surely, the client behind this project would get a kick out of that. Although, there’s a strong possibility that he or she already has a Chiron in the stable as well. Heck, all told, the SP48 Unica might end up costing more than the Chiron’s $3M price tag.

Intake: The first factory-made Aston Martin Virage shooting brake is headed to auction. The car, which was displayed at the 1992 Geneva Motor Show, was claimed to be the world’s fastest wagon with a top speed of 152 mph thanks to its 330hp V-8 that was massaged by Callaway Engineering. Coachbuilders had created shooting brakes based on the DB5, DB6 and DBS before, but according to Bonhams, the Virage represents the first factory-backed effort from Aston. Sold new for £165,000 (equivalent to $370,000 today), this example originally left Newport Pagnell with an automatic transmission but was later converted to a manual. The current owner bought the car in 2005 and sent it straight to Aston Martin Works for an extensive and expensive overhaul. Rather than being driven as intended, however, the car was put on display and now needs recommissioning. It’s for sale as part of Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques à Monaco auction with no reserve and an estimate of €100,000-€200,000 ($105,000-$210,000).

Exhaust: We’re suckers for shooting brakes, and the fact that only five or six were built makes this Aston even more appealing. The Bonhams sale, which includes some plnety of delicious metal such as a few vintage Bugattis and a 959 Komfort, begins on May 13. Bidding is open now.