RM Sotheby’s is holding a Sealed (private) auction dedicated to a LaFerrari prototype that Prancing Horse created at a very early stage of development. Known internally as the M6, it rides on the 458 Italia chassis and looks little like the final production car (see video). The estimated price hovers between €900,000 and €1,200,000.
Ferrari built this car from February through April 2012. It then ran powertrain and suspension tests on it from May 2012 until September 2013. Although the car was outfitted with a carbon-fiber monocoque cabin, it was the first test example in the series, so it was largely still based on the aluminum chassis and other components of the 458 Italia.
On the upside, the M6 arrived just in time to get the manufacturer’s then-new V12. The company used the mule to run suspension and weight distribution tests, brake efficiency trials, and steering/stabilization tests.
Once the LaFerrari production ended in 2016, the test mule was sold into private hands. It is not street-legal, but fully drivable on the racetrack. The listing claims the buyer will be getting a full round of maintenance for the car once it is sold. The seller also includes fake bodywork that Ferrari used to conceal the mule during the tests, as well as a full package of OEM documents.
Even just as a collector’s piece, the LaFerrari M6 should be able to fetch a nice price as an integral part of the company’s modern history. It also provides valuable insight into the automaker’s engineering thought that went into creating its first hybrid supercars.
