Music and Motors: Eric Clapton

Music and Motors is back after a short break and is focusing on the great Eric Clapton, particularly his one-off Ferrari SP12 EC.

The guitarist is a well-known petrolhead and has famously owned a number of Ferraris over the year, likening the engines from the Prancing Horse to music – and he’d know.

“I have loved motor races since I was a child, but there’s only one car manufacturer I’ve been following ever since: Ferrari,” Clapton told Ferrari’s official website back in 2009. “I love the sound of Ferraris and, as a musician, I can confirm that these engines deliver true music. I must say that I have a weakness for the 12-cylinders’ music.”

One Ferrari in particular, the 512 BB, provided inspiration for a rather remarkable one-off from the brand a few years ago. Well, by one I actually mean three, because Clapton has reportedly owned three 512 BBs over the years.

Nowadays if you have enough money and a good enough relationship with the boys in Maranello, Ferrari will build you a unique creation. Back in 2012 it was still a relatively new phenomenon, but that didn’t stop Clapton. He wanted a modern-day 512 BB, so Ferrari set about converting a 458 Italia into a 21st century version of the ‘Boxer’ – the SP12 EC.

Despite the underpinnings of one of Ferrari’s ‘regular’ models, the SP12 EC was very much a ‘blank canvas’ according to Ferrari. The carmaker’s ‘Centro Stile Ferrari’ design office got to work with the engineers and famous styling house Pininfarina.

Under the bonnet remained the 458’s same naturally aspirated 562 bhp V8 rather than a horizontally opposed 12-cylinder like the original BB. Outside though was a different story, with the flowing curves of the 458 replaced with retro lines of the old BB. The two-tone paint job of early-run 512s was also replicated on the car.

Clapton was involved in the design process throughout and called it “one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done.”

The car made its public debut at the 2013 Goodwood Fesitval of Speed, joining Ferrari’s official presence at the event and taking part in the Michelin Supercar run alongside other high-performance rarities.

Outside events like that, you probably won’t get many chances to see the SP12 EC – only one was ever built, for Mr. Clapton. Even if there was a production run, the alleged list price of £3 million would price out those of us that haven’t sold over 100 million records.