A man ordered a unique body on his Ferrari 360... the car is going to auction and is worth half what it was 3 years ago

In the late 2000s, a car enthusiast decided to go far beyond simple customization. Instead of ordering a Ferrari classic, he asked a Swiss coachbuilder to transform a Ferrari 360 Modena into a totally unique car. The result, spectacular and radical, is called the Sbarro Alcador GTB.

More than fifteen years later, this astonishing automotive project has resurfaced at auction... but its estimated value tells a rather surprising story.

A Ferrari 360 transformed into a prototype

It all began with Ludwig Binder, a passionate Ferrari customer who contacted the Swiss workshop Sbarro, founded in 1971 and renowned for its experimental and sometimes very daring creations. His request was simple but ambitious: to create a unique supercar using the base of a Ferrari 360 Modena.

Sbarro accepted the challenge and unveiled the result at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Named Alcador GTB, the car takes its name from Binder's three daughters: Aline, Catherine and Dorine.

The transformation is spectacular. The Ferrari's original bodywork disappears completely in favor of an entirely new design. The front features a highly sculpted face, almost devoid of a grille, with only fine air vents. The hood forms a huge clamshell, while the extremely narrow cockpit and glass surface are reminiscent of certain Ferrari racing prototypes from the 1960s, notably the 330 P4. In profile, the side air intakes are particularly pronounced, reinforcing the car's radical appearance.

Ferrari DNA still present

Despite this exterior transformation, the car retains much of its technical base. Beneath the bodywork, the Ferrari 360 Modena's 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated V8 continues to be used in conjunction with the electro-hydraulic F1 gearbox.

The interior also blends original Ferrari elements with specific touches. The steering wheel, analog meters and central tunnel from the 360 are all present, but the dashboard has been redesigned and oriented towards the driver. The interior also features custom upholstery in blue suede and light leather. As a result, the car offered Ferrari-like performance in a totally new style.

A highly confidential series

The Alcador GTB is not an isolated project. In fact, it is one of a small series of four Alcador cars built by Sbarro.

The first model was an Alcador Roadster that appeared in the 1990s. Subsequently, several variants were created on different Ferrari bases, including a Testarossa-based model presented at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, as well as an Alcador GTC unveiled much later in 2018. But the version based on the Ferrari 360 Modena F1, presented at Geneva 2009, remains one of the most spectacular.

A well-documented story

The example offered at auction today has a clear history. Ludwig Binder kept it for over a decade before selling it in 2020 to a German collector.

The car changed hands again in 2023, when Fritz Neuser added it to his collection. Originally, the car was painted blue, as on its official presentation.

It has, however, been repainted red over the years. Today, it is registered in Germany, with the date of first registration corresponding to that of the donor Ferrari, i.e. 2001, and registered as a Sbarro Alcador GTB. According to the auction house Artcurial, the car is in excellent condition and retains its specific white and blue interior.

A sharp drop in value

What makes this sale particularly interesting is the evolution of the car's value.

In 2022, the Alcador GTB was offered for sale in Germany with a list price of around €395,000, almost seven times the value of a standard Ferrari 360 Modena. Today, for this auction organized by Artcurial, the estimate is much lower: between €180,000 and €260,000, and it sold for... €138,460!

In other words, the car is worth almost three times less than it was three years ago, despite its unique status.

It's hard to say whether the Sbarro Alcador GTB is a forgotten masterpiece or an automotive curiosity a little too radical for the market. In any case, its atypical design and singular history make it a unique piece, blending Ferrari engineering with the imagination of an independent coachbuilder.