2011 Ferrari 458 GTB Italia

Back in 2009, the Ferrari 458 Italia emerged from the famous factory gates in Maranello to replace the F430. Its ancestry reaches all the way back to the late '60s Dino, the car named after Enzo Ferrari's son that forged the concept of the 'junior Ferrari' and introduced the mid-engined platform to the brand.

Cocooned in a slender exterior, the 458 was anything but the junior Ferrari. The glorious 4.5 litre V8 produced 562bhp at a dizzying 9000rpm, capable of catapulting the 458 from 0-124mph in a 599 GTB usurping 10.4sec, then on to a 202mph top speed.

The 430 Scuderia’s track credentials and 135kg advantage weren’t enough to maintain supremacy at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, the 458 lapped quicker, wearing regular road tyres

This was the result of Ferrari going for gold in every department. The 458 represented a quantum leap in technological terms, bringing a hoard of new systems into play to create an enveloping, pure driving experience.

The screaming V8 – put on show for all to see – was a masterpiece, with a 12.5-to-one compression ratio, direct injection and graphite-coated pistons driving the rear axle via a seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshifter.

The latest E-Diff and F1-Trac stability traction control armed the chassis with cutting edge technology, all cloaked in the Pininfarina-penned body capable of producing 360kg of downforce, while the dynamic winglets integrated into the front air intakes dropped by 20mm at speed to reduce turbulence.

Presented here is a very well cared for and enjoyed 458 GTB which was delivered new by Zagame Ferrari in Melbourne early 2011 to a well-known personality in the supercar community. The prancing horse has been serviced by Ferrari factory experts chronologically almost every single year with only small amounts of kilometres being completed in between.

The condition of the exterior panels and paint work is excellent with very minimum stone chips or marks, making near showroom condition. All four wheels are also beautifully kept with no marks or scratches.

The interior has been kept its shape and factory condition. The driver’s seat shows minimum wear or creasing in the leather. Door handles, steering wheel and switches around the car show no scratches or damage.

One look at this car, in person, and you will straight away recognise that the owners and technicians involved in this Ferrari have all enjoyed their time and shared the passion for the Cavallino.

It is astoundingly quick and dynamically infallible, all the while retaining an underlying sense of quality and refinement no matter the speed – a wholly resolved package. The razor-sharp responses and wailing soundtrack combined for an awesome final curtain call of the naturally aspirated high-revving Maranello-born V8.