THE TEST DRIVE THAT CONVERTED US | FERRARI 575M

Every so often, a car arrives at DM Historics that reminds us why we do what we do. Not because it’s rare, obscure or headline-grabbing – but because it surprises us - Our Ferrari 575M manual did exactly that.

When it first rolled into the showroom, we knew the facts: front-engined V12, gated six-speed, understated GT design. Objectively special. But we’d be lying if we said we expected it to feel any different to the many big-capacity GTs we’ve driven and sold over the years. Experience can make you a little clinical – until a car comes along that resets the benchmark.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS | QUIET CONFIDENCE

There’s a composure to the 575M that doesn’t shout for attention. No wild lines, no exaggerated drama. Just a long bonnet, a purposeful stance and that unmistakable Ferrari presence.
The kind of car you appreciate more with every step around it.

But it’s the moment you settle into the cabin that the first surprise lands. Everything feels correct: the seating position, the visibility, the simplicity. The metal gate glints in the corner of your eye – a small detail that instantly changes the mood. Suddenly you stop judging, and you start anticipating.

THE DRIVE | WHERE EVERYTHING CLICKED

The turning point wasn’t a single moment; it was a sequence.

Pulling away, the clutch engagement is smooth, the throttle response crisp. The V12 wakes up without drama – just a deep, cultured rumble. As the road opens, the car starts communicating in a way that’s increasingly rare. Steering feel with actual weight. A chassis that breathes. Power that builds like a wave.

And then you slot third through the open gate.

CLICK!

That was the moment the car shifted from “another GT” to something genuinely special. Linear power, real mechanical tactility and the sense that the car isn’t trying to over-impress you – it’s simply doing what a Ferrari GT should always have done.

By the time we returned to the showroom, the initial assumptions had evaporated. The 575M isn’t a car you understand from a spec sheet. It’s one you understand from the driver’s seat.

WHY IT MATTERS

We sell, restore and curate classic and modern icons every day. It’s easy to become analytical – to evaluate condition, spec, originality and provenance. But this Ferrari reminded us of the emotional side of the job. The part where a car takes you by surprise. The part where you step out of the driver’s seat with a grin you didn’t anticipate.

It humanises what we do.

The 575M manual isn’t just a rare configuration; it’s a masterclass in simplicity, balance and understated performance. A reminder that true GT cars are built to be driven, not just admired.

THE RESULT: A CAR THAT WE'D KEEP FOR OURSELVES

We often say this about the special ones, but this time we meant it more than usual. There’s a sincerity to this Ferrari – a purity of engineering and a depth of character – that turned us from evaluators into admirers.

Some cars impress you on paper - this one changed our mind on the road.

TAP HERE TO DISCOVER IT FOR YOURSELF