This rare LaFerrari prototype looks nothing like a Ferrari but might sell for $1.2m

A rough-looking LaFerrari prototype built as a hybrid V12 test mule is heading to auction with bids expected to climb past $1.2 million.

The LaFerrari prototype was built in 2011 and used for development work ahead of the production model’s launch.

It’s based on a modified 458 Italia and was only ever driven behind closed doors.

The body is unfinished, the interior is bare, and that’s exactly why collectors are paying attention.

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This LaFerrari prototype was central to testing Ferrari’s hybrid V12

Known internally as the F150 Muletto M4, this LaFerrari prototype was built by Ferrari’s engineering department as part of its testing program for the LaFerrari.

It was never intended for public use. Instead, it ran laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit while engineers worked on calibrating the hybrid V12 system.

At the time, the setup produced 789 horsepower, falling short of the final output in the production car but forming the core of what followed.

The car’s exterior shows its role.

There are oversized exhaust pipes, mismatched components, and exposed rivets where panels were modified for easier access.

Every design choice was made for function, not for appearance.

It was tested between 2011 and 2012 and then retired once development moved into the next phase.

RM Sotheby’s has listed the LaFerrari prototype for sale in Monterey on August 15.

The auction estimate sits between $900,000 and $1.2 million.

That’s well above its last recorded sale in 2022, when it sold for $715,000 through Mecum.

The increase likely reflects the growing interest in early hybrid V12 development cars and the rarity of a test mule like this being made available.

Ferrari test mules rarely appear for public sale

Ferrari usually keeps test mules like this in-house or scraps them after development ends.

It’s unusual for one to be released, especially when it’s tied to a major shift in how the company builds its cars.

The LaFerrari prototype marked Ferrari’s early move into hybrid performance, and this particular test mule played a direct part in that transition.

The car can’t be legally driven on the road or on most tracks.

It was never fitted with full trim, safety features, or road equipment.

Its chassis comes from a 458 Italia, making it easier for Ferrari to swap parts and test the hybrid V12 under consistent conditions.

This LaFerrari prototype test mule shows every detail in how Ferrari approached its shift into hybrid V12 engineering.

Its upcoming sale could signal rising demand for the mechanical stories behind modern supercars.

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