Woah, the first RML Short Wheelbase customer has gone for a bold spec

At last year’s Monterey Car Week, TG got behind the wheel of the verification prototype of the RML Short Wheelbase – a £1.6m, V12-engined tribute to Ferrari’s 250 SWB. 

Based on a 550 Maranello but with a retro-look carbon composite body, the Short Wheelbase is certainly a head-turner. And so, what happens to heads when this particular one drives past doesn’t bear thinking about.

You see, this is the very first customer car built for a client in the US. It’s almost ready for delivery too, but first it’ll go on display at this year’s Monterey Car Week, and the spec is… brave.

We’re told that’s triple-layer yellow and deep metallic blue paint on the outside, with swathes of blue Alcantara and blue leather to match inside. There are yellow accents throughout the interior too, while all of the metalwork is satin chrome and shiny. Just check out that open-gated manual gearbox. Ooft. 

Quick recap on the figures? Well, we’re told that RML wanted usable performance, so the 550 Maranello’s 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine is simply reworked to ensure that it’s producing the 485bhp as was intended when it was brand-new. That means 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 180mph. 

Just 30 will be built, with two more apparently due to be completed shortly. How would you spec yours?