It's the very last Ferrari with a manual gearbox, signed by its former President

When this Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano rolled off the Maranello production line in 2012, there was no hint that it had just closed a fundamental chapter in the history of the Prancing Horse. No press release, no official video, not even an internal mention: the car simply leaves the factory, in an almost solemn silence. And yet, chassis number 187007 represents the last Ferrari equipped with a manual gearbox.

The end of an era

Ferrari has never been a nostalgic brand. While its models evoke Italian tradition, its philosophy always looks forward, towards performance and technology. Since the arrival of F1-inspired automated gearboxes on the F355 in 1997, the fate of manual gearboxes had been sealed. The 550 Maranello was 100 % manual. The 575M was much less so: only 246 examples with manual gearboxes, plus 43 575 Superamericas. Then came the 599 GTB Fiorano, the last bastion of manual gearbox pleasure: barely 30 manual examples left Maranello.

The market had made up its mind: customers wanted the speed and precision of robotized gearboxes. Even the Ferrari California, offered with a manual option, found only three buyers for this "anachronistic" choice.

A unique car, a visionary owner

This latest example of the 599 GTB, delivered to a VIP client in Hong Kong, is no ordinary Ferrari. It is signed by Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari's legendary president, who autographed it on the doorstep when it was hand-delivered in Maranello. On the rear deck, an official plaque recalls the model's importance: "THE FINAL 599 GTB MANUAL."

The owner knew exactly what he was buying. This 599 GTB was configured with impeccable taste: Canna di Fucile color, Cuoio interior, contrasted by charcoal leather accents and quilted Alcantara on the roof and rear deck. Everywhere, carbon emphasizes sportiness: dashboard, door panels, sills, steering wheel... Nothing has been left to chance.

The HGTE package: the 599 for purists

This 599 GTB comes with the highly sought-after HGTE (Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione) package, a sharpened version that tightens the links between the GT and its radical siblings, the 599XX and 599 GTO. The program includes a 10 mm lower ride height, firmer springs, reinforced rear anti-roll bar, sharpened exhaust, lightened wheels and a specially calibrated gearbox for more incisive shifts. Under the hood, the naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 delivers 620 hp and 608 Nm of torque, a symphony that has now disappeared.

A discreet life, between Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom

After delivery, the Ferrari was briefly based in Hong Kong before being shipped to Japan, where its owner kept it for over 13 years. Carefully used, it took part in the 2016 Ferrari Cavalcade International, an exclusive rally featuring over 70 Ferraris on the roads around Kyoto.

In 2025, it changed hands for the first time, returning to the UK after a complete overhaul at H.R. Owen South London. Its odometer read just 6,600 km, an almost symbolic mileage for such an emblematic model. Thirteen years after leaving the factory, this Ferrari has become a totem for car collectors. It embodies the precise moment when Maranello turned the page from the pure manual gearbox to the speed of an automatic. It is also a reminder of why manual gearboxes are making a comeback on models like the Pagani Utopia.

The last manual Ferrari, signed by Montezemolo himself, it represents the end of a line. Offered a few days ago at auction by RM Sotheby's, this 599 GTB HGTE was estimated at between £750,000 and £850,000.