| Much of the development work for these exquisite machines was undertaken by Italtecnica between 1995 and ’96, a company who will be familiar to Ferraristi for their more recent work on 550 Maranello GT racers. All left the Ferrari factory as standard 456 GT's and GTA's before being converted by Pininfarina, but exact details are sketchy with only a couple of examples having left the Sultan's personal collection. Chassis 103190 was a five door 456 GTA Shooting Break finished in Forest Green Metallic over a pale green leather interior. With a wheelbase stretched by 200mm, new bodywork from the windscreen back, new seats and custom switchgear, 103190 was completed in right-hand drive like nearly all the Sultan's cars. Pininfarina also completed red, yellow and grey Shooting Break's. Chassis 104023 was a two seat Cabriolet also finished in Forest Green Metallic over pale green, its electrically operated hood folding flush beneath a body coloured panel. However, a bulky tail treatment with a gently sloping trunk and four individual rear lights compromised a nice concept. At least two other right-hand drive Cabriolet's were completed in silver and red while several four door Berlina's were also built. We are currently putting a definitive chassis index together and hope to publish the findings before too long. |
