The car was designed by “purveyor to the Factory”, Pininfarina and was made available first as a car with manual transmission (456 GT). The total production number was 1,534 units with 436 hp provided by the 5,5 litres 12 cyl. engine. 402 cars with automatic transmission (456 GTA) joined from 1996.
In 1998 design and engine were slightly improved and sold as 456 M, the M stands for Modificato. 723 units of the GT and 631 GTA have been produced before the introduction of the 612 started.
The 456 was a radical change in design compared to the 412 and the final Ferrari to date that was equipped with pop-up headlights.
The “special cars” have been a small series of so called “Bicolore” cars featuring a roof in differing colour. The Sultan of Brunei ordered several special editions from Pininfarina, 456’s as notchback, Cabriolet and four door hatchback. Straman converted three cars to a Cabriolet and the most ambitious conversion was made by Sbarro when he built his “Autobau”.
A small Slide Show is available.