RML has been working on a Ferrari 250-inspired restomod for years and it appears their hard work has paid off as the pre-production model looks simply stunning. Known as the Short Wheelbase, the model is billed as an “epic GT car” that pays tribute to the “golden age of motoring” while also offering 21st-century comfort and convenience. Based on the Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Short Wheelbase has a carbon composite body with soft curves and flowing surfaces. It’s joined by a 250-inspired front end that features a classic “chip-cutter” grille as well as circular lighting units.
The standout styling continues further
back as the model sports a ram air hood, flush-mounted door handles, and
functional side vents. They’re joined by muscular rear haunches, stacked
taillights, and a sporty four-tailpipe exhaust system that is “free-flowing”
and “acoustically sonorous.” The Short Wheelbase rides on retro-inspired
18-inch alloy wheels that were designed in-house and wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero Rosso
tires. They’re backed up by ventilated discs which measure 13 inches (330 mm)
front and 12.2 inches (310 mm) rear.
RML only provided a brief glimpse of the
interior, but they adopted a “no-plastic mantra” and this means “everything you
can see and touch in the cabin is either machined aluminum, glass or leather.”
RML’s head of design, Jonathan Bowen, added “It would have been easy to save
tens of thousands of pounds buying off-the-shelf dials and controls, but they
would not have met our high standards. Therefore, every switch, button and
clock you see in the Short Wheelbase is bespoke, and developed in-house.”
Judging by previous renderings, that’s
certainly the case as the model is slated to have a retro-inspired
tilt/telescoping steering wheel and watch-inspired dials on the dashboard. The
minimalist cabin also sports modern conveniences such as air conditioning,
power seats, cup holders, and a pop-up infotainment system that can be hidden
when not needed. Also, unlike many classic sports cars, the Short Wheelbase has
been designed for tall people. In particular, the company noted the cabin can
accommodate people who are up to six feet, six inches (two meters) in height.
Under the hood, there’s a 5.5-liter
Ferrari V12 engine that produces 479 hp and 567
Nm of torque. It’s connected to a six-speed manual transmission that sends
power to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. Performance
specifications haven’t been finalized, but the company believes the car will accelerate
from 0-96 km/h in 4.1 seconds and have a top speed of 290
km/h. Since the engines aren’t new, each will be stripped and examined to
ensure all internal components fall within Ferrari’s “original scope of
tolerance.” The engines will then be reassembled and validated on a dyno before
being installed in the vehicle. Sticking with the performance theme, the Short
Wheelbase has been equipped with new inlet, cooling, oil, and exhaust systems.
The company suggested the new components will enable drivers to make “full use
of the car’s performance” and then withstand a traffic jam in downtown Dubai
with temperatures of around 122° F (50° C).
Besides the aforementioned modifications,
the suspension has been adapted to “reflect the significant changes made in the
car’s design.” In particular, the model features bespoke Ohlins dampers as well
as a thicker anti-roll bar and revised spring rates. he Short Wheelbase aims to
be a “fast and usable GT with classic lines, capable of swallowing large
distances with a degree of comfort and convenience that wouldn’t have been
dreamt of 60 years ago.” Production will be limited to approximately 30 units
and each car will take around six months to complete.
The Short Wheelbase is expected to appeal
to North American consumers and approximately 70% of them will be exported from
the United Kingdom. The model is currently available to order and pricing
starts at £ 1.35 (US$ 1.83 / € 1.62) million before taxes.
