Ferrari Monza SP2

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Overview

Ferrari has a habit of revisiting names and models from their glory years, and justifiably so – wouldn’t you, if you have a history like theirs? Monza is a name given to Ferrari racing cars in the mid-50s, and it has been rebirthed in glorious form as the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2. The two cars are the first ones in the new Icona line from Maranello, and they differ only in the number of seating available; the SP1 is a single-seater, while the the SP2 is more sociable as a two-seater.

The stunning bodywork is inspired by the 750 Monza and the 860 Monza. This lineage is very obvious too, from the voluptuous front wings to the abrupt rear buttresses. And just like the forefathers, the SP1 and SP2 have nothing in the form of weather protection, not even a windshield.

That’s unbelievable. Not only that, there’s a lack of the usual Ferrari nerdiness too in marketing materials. There are no big downforce figures, no Fiorano lap times – even the top speed is simply stated as ‘over 186 mph’ (299 km/h). There is a sense that the new Monzas are not about data or peak performance, but the experience.

Only 499 examples will be available, although all were sold in 2018 and the split between the two is not known. We do know a buyer can only have one of them, so there’s no way of getting both in matching colours from Ferrari. Its asking price is around €1.6 million before options.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Exterior

The chassis of the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 is based loosely on the 812 Superfast. They have a carbon fibre composite bodywork, which keeps weight relatively low. The SP1 is 1,500 kg, while the SP2 is slightly heavier at 1,520 kg, dry.

The long bonnet hides a large V12 up front that is only accentuated by the absent windscreen, and there’s a pair of dual hoop-housing buttresses behind driver and passenger. The LED taillights are a slender lightbar, instead of the usual quad round-lenses, and the turbine-spoke alloys are not found on any other Prancing Horse. All these exclusive goodies sets it apart as a bespoke, exclusive model.

Both small scissor doors open upwards and are surprisingly lightweight. There’s a functional boot at the back of the car too that will fit a backpack and a two helmets. The lack of windscreen may seem like a problem, but Ferrari has a Virtual Wind Shield to direct wind away from the driver.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Interior

It is both reassuringly familiar and strangely alien in here. The steering wheel and dashboard are Ferrari regulars, but the angled row of buttons in the centre column is a nice throwback to the good old days of ‘normal’ controls. Both seats in the SP2 are isolated in their own little caccoon by a pillar of carbon fibre, while the passenger’s side of the SP1 is simply… not there and in its place is more bodywork. There’s no door here as there’s no need for one.

Closing the scissor doors from the inside requires the use of a leather strap. The seats are available in a variety of finishes and materials, and they come with a four-point harness. The seats are comfortable, but there’s a lack of other luxuries here, like carpets or leather-covered panels. There’s a bareness, or purity if you will, that is further emphasized by the lack of any thing above the dashboard. The panoramic view is great.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Features

For a speedster with no roof, the Monza should not be difficult to place when parking. Still, there are parking sensors all around, as the hood is really quite lengthy, while rear view is impaired by the buttresses.

There’s a little bit of practicality available too. Both occupants have a USB port, a grab handle that can double as water bottle holder mounted to the central tunel, and there’s also a map holder in here. You know, because that’s how they navigated in the old Mille Miglia days.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Powertrain

The naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 found in the 812 Superfast has been fettled to produce 810 PS at 8,500 rpm and 719 Nm at 7,000 rpm in the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2. That’s 10 PS and 1 Nm more than the 812 Superfast, and it makes this version of the engine one of the most powerful V12s ever to come out of Maranello.

This powerplant sits prettily under the front-hinged clamshell hood, and power goes through a 7-speed DCT to the rear wheels only. That’s 800 horses, to the rear rubbers, in a car without a windshield. The driving experience will be interesting to say the least.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Driving Performance

The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 finishes the century sprint in 2.9 seconds, and the second century in 7.9 seconds. Top speed is ‘> 300 km/h’, to quote Ferrari’s website, and the lack of an exact number almost dares owners to find out for themselves. It stops just as confidently, from 100 km/h to standstill in just 32 metres.

A helmet is necessary in the Monza, and even with it the noise of the engine is glorious, equaled only by the induction sounds. However, wind noise is unavoidable past 60 km/h, and the Virtual Wind Shield is reportedly not effective past this speed. The roar of the wind will drown out every other sound, unfortunately. Without any pillars or roof as well as a cossetting cockpit, Ferrari says this is as close to an F1 driving experience as a road car is capable of.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Ride Comfort

Though this is a 300 km/h supercar, hitting speeds like these will be rare. The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 are comfortable at low speeds, where the sheer beauty of the car is and noises from the engine can be appreciated fully.

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Fuel Economy

Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 – Conclusion

Just like Porsche has Singer (kind of) and Aston has continuation models, the Icona series from Ferrari will bring heritage models of old into the modern era, and there is a strong following for cars like these. Every unit of the 499 Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 were spoken for within months of its announcement, after all. 

There are better, faster track specials out there, and there are hyper cars that are even rarer, but there aren’t many other trinkets out there that are capable of such spectacle. In a world where every supercar and hypercar are obsessed with performance and power and lap times, the existence of the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 is a nice breath of fresh air.