2023 Ferrari SP-8

The Ferrari SP-8 was unveiled in Maranello on 24 October 2023 as a single-client Special Projects commission.

History and purpose

The Ferrari SP-8 was unveiled in Maranello on 24 October 2023 as a single-client Special Projects commission. Ferrari describes an F8 Spider foundation, retaining its layout, chassis and engine while creating a permanently roofless roadster. The client came from Taiwan, and the manufacturer connects the number eight both to the engine and to its auspicious cultural meaning. The resulting car has a precise historical place: it is an original commissioned design, rather than a general accessory package for the F8 Spider. Its first announced public appearances were at the 2023 Finali Mondiali in Mugello and subsequently at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.

Design and engineering

Removing the retractable roof created the opportunity to redraw the rear body, but it also changed the aerodynamic problem. Ferrari documents computational fluid dynamics, wind-tunnel work and track testing aimed at controlling airflow and acoustic comfort around the open cabin. The front has a full-width cast-aluminium grille made using a single three-dimensional printed mould. Its vertical elements spread toward the sides to direct air toward the radiators. In the photograph, the dark front section contrasts with the lighter rear body, making the intersection of materials and volumes easy to follow. The five-spoke wheels have a sculptural directional appearance, rather than simply repeating the donor car’s wheel design.

Identifying the original configuration

The primary identity anchor is the manufacturer’s named SP-8 commission and its 2023 unveiling record. The photographed body matches the distinctive roofless cockpit, divided finish and full-width grille. Ferrari explains that the headlights, windscreen, tailpipes and rear-light treatment received specific attention; the Roma supplies the rear-light starting point, with particular lenses. These details should be considered together when identifying the car in later photographs. An open F8 Spider with a custom colour does not establish the same identity. The programme count refers to the one completed commission, while design bucks and the much larger donor-car population belong to separate categories of object.

Collector context and preservation

The SP-8 rewards a collection archive that follows the whole design, rather than treating its roof removal as the only important change. Record the relationship between exposed carbon-fibre sections, painted surfaces, grille elements and the distinctive wheels. Ferrari also documents a modified central console, gearbox controls and specific cabin fabrics, so interior photographs can expand the exterior record meaningfully. The supplied image was taken at the 2024 Hampton Court Concours, according to its creator, and therefore records a later appearance of the 2023 programme. Comparing it with the SC40 shows how Special Projects can develop very different bodies from an established mechanical foundation without merging the identities of their donor models.

Reading the evidence for this profile

The original source links below identify the programme and the historical statements used in this article. The photograph has its own creator and licence record, separate from the manufacturer’s vehicle history. Keep both when transferring this profile into a collection catalogue. A manufacturing tally describes how many cars belong to a defined original programme; it does not measure how many survive, how many are publicly visible, or how many retain all their original components. Those individual questions require dated chassis and restoration evidence. The reference year likewise describes the programme’s introduction or named historic configuration, while the supplied caption states the photographed setting and any established individual identity. This lets future research expand the car’s history without blurring the scope of the record already assembled here.

Specifications and verified rarity

Frequently asked questions

What is the SP-8?

A unique roofless Ferrari commission based on F8 Spider architecture, unveiled in 2023; its one-car scope is the original SP-8 project.

What engine and transmission does it use?

Mid-rear 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8. F8 Spider seven-speed dual-clutch donor architecture. These entries describe the documented vehicle or explicitly named donor architecture. They should be read alongside the body and programme scope, rather than transferred to every Ferrari carrying a similar badge.

Why is 2023 the reference year?

The title follows the documented introduction, public presentation or custodial model-year record explained in the history section. An individual delivery can occur later. Original workbook titles remain identity aliases when research corrects their year.

How should an individual example be identified?

Start with its chassis record and original configuration, then compare dated photographs, factory or commission paperwork and the service history. Model-level specifications explain the design, while the individual file establishes the identity and condition of the particular car.

What rarity or archive scope is verified?

Complete original SP-8 commission: one bespoke vehicle unveiled in 2023. This count excludes design bucks and the wider F8 Spider donor programme.

Who took the supplied photograph?

Calreyn88 via Wikimedia Commons, under CC BY-SA 4.0. The original file and licence links accompany the image. Retain that credit when the photograph is uploaded, exported or reused.

Related Ferrari profiles

• 2024 Ferrari F80
• 2025 Ferrari SC40

Sources and photo credits

• Original manufacturer, commission or custodial record
• Ferrari: documented platform architecture

Photograph: Calreyn88 via Wikimedia Commons original file, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source-provided photograph supplied without local cropping, retouching or text removal. A source thumbnail is used where available. Ferrari SP-8 at the Hampton Court Concours on 1 September 2024, according to the photographer; 2023 is its introduction year.