Up-Close with the Ferrari 412 Superfast, a One-of-a-Kind Grand Tourer Reborn

Photo credit: Otsuka Maxwell Design
Officina Moto D’Epoca, a San Diego shop also known as OMD or Otsuka Maxwell Design, transformed a 1987 Ferrari 412 into a one-of-a-kind vehicle. An American collector commissioned the project and invested his heart and pocketbook in it; a cool $1.8 million and 5,000+ hours later, the beast was created. Over 500 handcrafted elements were included into the vehicle, combining the classic lines of the Ferrari with the raw power of a contemporary supercar.

Power comes from the 6.5-liter V12 engine found in the Ferrari 812 Superfast, but it’s been modified to provide the goods. The engine has been converted to port injection, and it now has 12 individual throttle bodies, a carbon fiber airbox and plenum, and some truly bespoke valve covers inspired by 1980s and 1990s Formula One vehicles. To top it all off, the builders installed a high-performance Motec ECU that runs on a combination of E85 and premium fuel. They also installed bespoke headers, which really make the engine sing. On the dyno, the engine produced more than 700 horsepower at the wheels, and if losses are taken into account, that puts us at roughly 800 horsepower at the crank and a pretty amazing 500 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm.

Ferrari never offered the 812 with a manual gearbox, therefore the team at OMD accomplished the impossible by adapting a 6-speed manual transaxle from a Ferrari 599 that had been converted from automatic to manual. And what a manual it is, with a conventional shifter and a knob carved from a stunning piece of 1987 Bastogne walnut.

The exterior changes may not appear drastic at first glance, but they add a touch of edge to the original design without affecting the car’s overall appearance. It’s been painted in a two-tone Superfast Gold over black scheme, and the bumpers are now closer to the body. The fenders have slight metal flares, and the fixed headlights are a little shorter than before, similar to the Mondial or F40. The 812’s taillights and some sleek body-mounted mirrors inspired by a Chevrolet Camaro can be found in the back. To top it all off, there’s a really custom-looking aluminum rear spoiler that truly catches your eye. The 18-inch Brixton Forged wheels hide some very carefully sourced carbon-ceramic brakes from a Ferrari F430, which are supplemented by an FF pedal booster for a super-smooth pedal feel.

Chassis improvements were required to allow this Ferrari to handle like a dream, and the good news is that the original frame rails and glass are intact. Instead, the crew installed some highly advanced A-arms, a new steering rack with low-speed help, and some seriously impressive Bosch Motorsport ABS. There’s a larger radiator and a new air-conditioning system to keep things cool on long drives. Finally, they installed a variable speed Toyota windshield wiper motor.

Inside, the level of opulence is off the charts. The seat backs are composed of carbon fiber with electrical adjustability, and they’re upholstered in a seriously soft combination of Alcantara, Mongolian Cashmere, and the type of leather found in a luxury car. The door cards match the seats, and the carpet came from Rolls-Royce sources. Even the steering wheel is a real treat, wrapped in Alcantara in the classic Ferrari design. For good measure, they included a current Excelon infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, some very unique custom switches with choices for wet mode, traction control disable, and launch control, as well as a very fine digital instrument cluster with clear readouts.
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