RML reveals pre-production Ferrari 250 GT SWB restomod

The car is being built with carbonfibre bodywork for reduced weight and features interpretations of the Ferrari's defining design cues, including stacked rear lights, an exposed fuel filler cap, a ‘chip-cutter’ front grille and air vents behind each wheel.

The Short Wheelbase features bespoke dampers made by Öhlins, which remain two-way adjustable for the development car in order for RML to make any final adjustments once testing commences.

The restomod features an open-gate six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, along with the V12. 

Mallock said its sound has been specially engineered to sound as authentic as possible.

“The target was to emulate the exhaust note of a classic V12 road-racer,” said powertrain design engineer Adnam Rahman.

“We started by making recordings of the donor car’s Ferrari V12 from inside and outside the car at various speeds and loads, from idle to full-throttle acceleration.

"The engine was also put on a dynamometer, and data from both tests was built into a computer-simulated model that could be adapted to suit the new noise requirements of the Short Wheelbase.”

The Short Wheelbase is slightly larger than the original 250 GT SWB, at 4264mm long and 1954mm wide, but the overall silhouette has been retained. It also weighs slightly more than the original, at 1470kg – a likely result of the newer-spec engine and interior additions. 

The cabin is said to have been designed to accommodate drivers up to 6ft 6in tall and gains modern features including electric front seats, cupholders, air conditioning and an advanced infotainment system with sat-nav and smartphone connectivity.

“The new model pays homage to the driving purity of supercars from the past while offering occupants 21st-century comfort and convenience,” RML said.

It claimed the car wasn't built to challenge other supercars but will still reach a top speed of 185mph, hitting 62mph from rest in around 4.0sec.