Ferrari 412 picks up a teak cargo bed

Wed, 28 May 2014

While marques like Porsche and Lamborghini having already branched out into SUVs, with Bentley and Maserati soon to follow, Ferrari remains one of the few high-end automakers that refuses, for better or worse, to follow suit. But the boys in Maranello never said anything about a pickup.

That's precisely what we have here, although as you might have guessed, this was not (unlike the similar treatment BMW applied to the previous M3) a factory-authorized conversion. Instead it was undertaken by the London Motor Group, parent company to the London Motor Museum and London Supercar Workshop. It's based on a late-80s Ferrari 412, the 2+2 coupe that preceded the 456 GT, which in turn was replaced by the 612 Scaglietti and then the FF, itself Ferrari's first hatchback. In other words, it comes from a line that was ripe to mark a first in terms of Ferrari body-styles.

The one-off retains the 4.9-liter V12 and just about everything forward of the cabin. But behind it's got a three-foot pickup bed lined in teak. The London outfit also gave it a twin-barrel hood scoop, variable exhaust and a custom Bang & Olufsen sound system to round it out. The vehicle is set to feature on the History Channel's Ultimate Wheels, alongside a VW camper, Ford Mustang, Group B-inspired Audi and a unique Bristol.

WORLD'S MOST EXCLUSIVE PICK-UP TRUCK BUILT BY LONDON SUPERCAR WORKSHOP

- World's first Ferrari 412 pick-up conversion
- Dubbed world's most exclusive pick-up truck and presented to builders on one of the world's most exclusive streets – The Bishops Avenue
- Star car of new History Channel series 'Ultimate Wheels'

Hayes, London, England, 23 May 2014 – History Channel's newest television show, Ultimate Wheels, is set in the London Motor Museum and sister operation, London Supercar Workshop, and follows owner and founder, Elo, on his quest to transform great cars into 'Ultimate Wheels'.

A highlight of the UK's most colourful new car show is a creation dreamt up by Elo in light of the booming London housing market and its appetite for increasingly decadent home conversions – the ultimate builder's workhorse – a Ferrari pick-up truck.

To realise Elo's vision, he and his mechanic buddy Will Trickett set about converting a 1989 Ferrari 412 into a perfect workhorse for the high-end tradesman.

They start by taking an angle-grinder to the Italian collectable, removing 300mm of the roof and shifting everything forward to create a 3ft load bed at the back. Taking inspiration from luxury yachts, teak wood is used to panel the rear bed after jacking up the rear suspension for extra load-carrying capability.

A real Jekyll and Hyde conversion, the Ferrari is adorned with a shotgun scoop bonnet and bespoke exhaust system resulting in a dual-personality of high performance hot-rod and practical workhorse. The shotgun scoop moves up and down and the unique exhaust has a valve system whereby the driver can decide at the flick of a switch whether to have the exhaust growl fiercely or produce a more refined sound for London's leafier avenues.

The pick-up is finished with a bespoke sound system (ideal for playing Italian opera) and a beautiful Ferrari rosso red paint job.

Elo commented: "This is one of my favourite cars of the TV series – something truly unique and even experienced Ferrari technicians like what we've done. The rest of the series sees us work on a VW camper, a Ford Mustang, a Group B rally-inspired Audi, a unique Bristol and many more amazing conversions."

Elo and his London Motor Museum collection are at the heart of the TV series 'Ultimate Wheels', now showing Thursdays at 9pm on History Channel.

By Noah Joseph