Introduced in 2004 as a successor to the 360 Modena, the Ferrari F430 took the firm’s entry-level V-8 to a whole new performance plateau. Four seconds quicker than the 360 around the Fiorano test track, its one minute, 27 second lap matched the F50 hypercar—and trailed the mighty 660 horsepower Enzo by barely a whisker over two seconds. The F430 was an astonishingly rapid machine.

Although the Pininfarina styling—overseen by Frank Stephenson—was clearly an evolution of the 360, a surprising 70 percent of the car had been redesigned. Beneath the skin (which evoked both the Enzo and shark-nosed 156 grand prix car), there was a brand-new 4,308 cc flat-plane V-8. Designated as the Tipo F136, the dry-sump 32-valve unit developed a huge 483 horsepower—some 21 percent more than its predecessor. Torque, meanwhile, was up by a staggering 25 percent.

Perhaps the most significant new feature was the E-diff—a computer-controlled differential that deployed cutting-edge F1 technology. Regulated via a steering-wheel “manettino” (the first to grace a Ferrari road car), it offered five settings: snow, slippery, sport, race, and—for hardened adrenaline junkies—disengage. A key element in achieving the Ferrari’s extraordinary pace and class-leading dynamics, the E-diff was aided by a 50 percent increase in downforce. Remarkably, this aerodynamic wizardry was achieved without fitting oversize wings, or creating any additional drag—the 0.33 drag coefficient figure was identical to that of the earlier 360.

Described by Autocar magazine as ‘probably the best road car Ferrari has ever built’, the F430 was an instant hit. In total, some 15,000 were produced—all but around 10 percent specified with paddle-shift transmission. The car offered is one of the few with the classic open-gate manual gearbox, making it particularly desirable—the F430 being the final mid-engined Ferrari to have this iconic option. Supplied by Charles Pozzi, it was delivered to its first custodian in the chic 8th arrondissement of Paris on 22 March 2005. Finished in Rosso Corsa with a Nero cockpit and carbon fibre trim, the car has been carefully preserved, enjoying only sparing use since 2016. Acquired from Pozzi by the current owner—a discerning European collector—this incredible machine comes complete with handbooks, stamped service book, and tools. Separate invoices detail the last Ferrari main dealer service was completed in March 2024. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer read just 33.398 kilometres.

This remarkable Ferrari F430 offers the vanishingly rare opportunity to acquire a well-presented example of one of Maranello’s most accomplished modern supercars.