Produced until 2003, the svelte 456 GT and GTA (the ‘A’ stands for Automatic), a front-engine grand tourer, was long overdue and was indubitably elegant, a gorgeous grand tourer, so beautiful, a very stylish and luxury sports-car, a phenomenally terrific automobile.

Buyer or Seller Questions? Let’s Talk! 310-975-0272

The 1997 model we currently have at Beverly Hills Car Club gains even more rarity points, holding a unique provenance, having been originally acquired from Irwin Winkler in Beverly Hills, California. Winkler, an Academy Award-winning producer and director, is renowned for his work on legendary films such as Sylvester Stallone’s first smash hit Rocky, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 1976, and Goodfellas and Raging Bull from the cinematic master that is Martin Scorsese. This connection adds a layer of historical significance and allure to the vehicle, making it a truly special piece.

Sleek and sexy, the Ferrari 456 GTA is a V12 gem, an extremely usable everyday supercar. And with the 456 GTA we have at Beverly Hills Car Club it gets even better. For this is a low-mileage 1997 Ferrari 456 GTA, finished in its factory color Argento, complemented with a black interior.

This limited-production Ferrari 456 GTA is rare, with only 403 examples ever produced, making this vehicle a collector’s dream.

This Pininfarina-designed sports car is equipped with an automatic transmission, 12-cylinder engine, four-wheel disc brakes, calipers with Ferrari literature, quad exhaust outlets, retractable headlights, Pininfarina badges, four-spoke steering wheel, Michelin tires, and OZ Racing alloy wheels. Amenities include air conditioning, electric door locks, power mirrors, power seats, center console, and embroidered prancing-horse badges on the seat headrests.

This grand tourer is a testament to Ferrari’s commitment to blending high performance with unparalleled comfort, making it a standout in the realm of exotic class vehicles. Do not miss your opportunity to acquire this exclusive Ferrari 456 GTA that is mechanically sound.

Incidentally, the name 456 derives from each cylinder displacing 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention until the 488 GTB. Despite its exceptional performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine, which has proven to be a very reliable unit. In fact, the 5.5 liter V12 engine used in the 456 won the ‘over 4-liter’ class of the International Engine of the Year award for 2000 and 2001.

Between late 1989 and the autumn of 1992, Ferrari did not offer a V12 front-engined four-seater. But in September 1992 at the FF40 International Ferrari Celebrations in Brussels, held to honour the 40th anniversary of Ferrari’s Belgian distributor, Garage Francorchamps, the all new 456 GT was launched.

The next month a public debut followed at the Paris Motor Show.

The stunning new 456 GT met with a rapturous reception. Notwithstanding an economic recession, the 456 GT’s superlative build, spacious cockpit, outstanding performance and gorgeous Pininfarina styling meant that it sold extremely well.

And this was assisted by the 456’s sporty demeanour. The 456 was based on a traditional tubular steel spaceframe designated Tipo F116CL; and at 2600mm, the wheelbase was 100mm shorter than the outgoing 412i.

Track dimensions were widened by 110mm at the front and 94mm at the rear. A tighter appearance, therefore.

Although the 456 was designed as a world market car that could meet the most stringent safety and emissions legislation without major modification, the 456 was not offered in the USA until the summer of 1994. US versions were identifiable by their rectangular side marker lights located down each flank.

However, an automatic version of the 456 – the 456 GTA, which we now have at Beverly Hills Car Club – did not appear until the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996. I’m certain that Irwin Winkler would have been excited by the idea of the 456 GTA: he went out and purchased one, after all.

The first film produced by Irwin Winkler was the 1967 Elvis Presley vehicle Double Trouble. Prior to this Winkler had been a manager who had impressed Robert O’Brien, head of MGM, during the making of 1965’s Doctor Zhivago.

O’Brien suggested Winkler produce a movie for MGM, and Russell Thatcher, head of the studio’s story department, offered the script for Double Trouble, thinking it would make an ideal vehicle for Julie Christie, a brooding success in Doctor Zhivago. Winkler agreed and took the project to O’Brien, who said he wanted to make it, but starring Elvis Presley instead of Christie. The script had to be rewritten to accommodate Presley.

Although the film was set in Europe, all the action was shot on the MGM backlot in Culver City.

Irwin Winkler later wrote that his first ‘foray into Hollywood’ was ‘with a famous male rock singer playing a dramatic role that had been written for a woman, a controlling, hostile manager, a story that took place in Europe and would be shot in Culver City, California, and a very nice director who could hardly walk up the stairs to meet me and who’d told me he was going blind.’

This director, Norman Taurog, had such extensive movie-making experience that he had begun his career making silent films; in total he made nine films starring Elvis Presley, more than any other director.

But no prancing horses were available at that stage…

-Alex Manos, Owner