FERRARI BUILD ONE-OFF SP12 EC FOR ERIC CLAPTON

Based on the multi award-winning Ferrari 458 Italia, Clapton's unique Ferrari SP12 EC has styling cues from the 512 BB (Berlinetta Boxer), one of the Italian marque's iconic supercars, and reportedly Clapton's favourite Ferrari of all time, despite almost killing himself in one in the late 1970s.

The name is an amalgamation of Ferrari's Special Projects division, car #12, (hence 'SP12'), while the 'EC' comes from Clapton's own initials. Clapton had the car appropriately registered, too, wearing 'SP12 EPC' (EPC are Clapton's full initials) while on display in the HR Owen Ferrari dealership in London.

Designed by the Centro Stile Ferrari in collaboration with Pininfarina and Ferrari's engineers, the SP12 EC was created specifically at Clapton's request, with work starting on the customisation in late March. Clapton is not the first to employ the bespoke build service, with other select - and well-heeled - customers also employing the Centro Stile Ferrari to create cars to their personal vision.

In addition to rebodying the 458 Italia in the style of a 512 BB, Clapton was alleged to have wanted a V12 engine fitted, along with other driveline changes, but Ferrari refused, so mechanically, the one-off creation carries the 458's stock 5.4 litre V8 7-speed dual-clutch and transmission. It's no slouch though, able to do the 0-100kp sprint in around 3.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of just over 320 kph.

The price to have your own Ferrari? The actual dollar figure hasn't been officially released, but reports suggest that Clapton paid around AU$4.6 million for his car. A longtime admirer of the Modena marque, Clapton has owned many significant examples from Ferrari SpA's back catalogue over the years (250 GT Berlinetta, 275 GTB, etc.), but the SP12 EC represents a new admiration for Ferrari's current offerings, albeit with more than a splash of 'retro' added!

For Eric Clapton, following the project through from what was, essentially, a blank canvas, was "one of the most satisfying things I've ever done." Unique and irreproducible, like the final car.

The unique Ferrari SP12 EC and passions of the man behind its inspiration are explored in the latest issue of The Ferrari Magazine, which is available from www.ferraristore.com or from the Apple Store as an iPad App.