The Most Underrated Modern Ferrari
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com, Ital Design - https://www.italdesign.it/ & Jeremy Hicks
When discussing modern collectible Ferraris, the same models often come up: the F12tdf, 430 Scuderia, and 458 Speciale, to name a few. However, sitting quietly in the background and overlooked by many collectors is the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, a car that might just be one of the most underrated modern Ferraris on the market today.
The 612 Scaglietti was Ferrari’s flagship grand tourer from 2004 to 2010. It’s a naturally aspirated V12 with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, paired with timeless Pininfarina styling. It’s big, comfortable, and capable of effortlessly covering long distances at speed.
Here’s what makes it special: Ferrari built a very limited number of 6-speed manual 612 examples, and as collectors continue to chase analog experiences, these manuals are becoming some of the most sought-after modern Ferraris.
For a long time, the 612 was not widely appreciated or lusted-after. It didn’t have the sharp-edged focus of a mid-engine Ferrari, and its size kept it off most enthusiasts’ radar. Prices stagnated for years. But that’s changing. As gated shifters have become unicorn-level rare across all Ferrari models, the 612 is finally getting the respect it deserves.
Low-mileage, gated 612s are beginning to surface at higher prices, sometimes well north of $200,000, and demand is quietly picking up. Even the F1 transmission cars, which were previously seen as “inexpensive” Ferraris, are now gaining traction with buyers who want a V12 grand tourer while prices are still within reach.
The 612 is not a lightweight canyon carver, it was never meant to be. It’s a driver’s car in the truest GT sense; balanced, naturally aspirated, and connected. It’s a Ferrari that is built for long drives where the experience matters more than the speedometer. Its Tipo F133F V12 does not disappoint, however, in neither power or its symphonic exhaust note.
What’s often missed is how engaging a manual 612 can be, especially compared to the faster but more isolated grand tourers that followed.
Market Snapshot:
• Ferrari 612 6-Speed: Showing 10-15% year-over-year growth in private sales.
• Porsche 997.1 GT3: Market is thinning for clean, no-stories cars. Prices holding steady despite softening elsewhere.
• Mercedes 190E 2.3-16: Quiet demand increase for collector-grade examples with the Evolution II leading the pack. Cost of admission still remains under $30,000 for a well sorted Cosworth, a significant delta between its other Bavarian competition, the BMW E30 M3.
🏁 Auction Watch:
A selection of recent Ferrari 612 Scaglietti auction results. We can see that well sorted F1 gearbox examples can still be had for under $100,000:
28k-Mile 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
10k-Mile 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
A factory gated example achieved an exceptional result of $240,000 at the 2024 RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey:
The question becomes whether or not an aftermarket conversion, costing north of $50,000, is the most practical and straightforward ownership path to gated manual Nirvana.
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