The 599 GTB holds the distinction of being the last V-12-powered Ferrari sold with a manual transmission. Driving one is a privilege few people will ever experience. This onboard video will get you close.
The Tedward YouTube channel was lucky enough to get some time behind the wheel of a manual 599 GTB, filming the entire drive from the perspective of the driver. After a brief walk-around, we’re treated to 10 straight minutes of manual V-12 greatness.
In the mid to late 2000s, stick shifts weren’t exactly popular with the supercar-buying crowd. As a result, Ferrari built just over 20 manual 599s before production ended. The car in this video is not one of those original stick-shift examples, but one that’s been treated to a manual conversion.
The conversion includes metal shift gates, like you’d get from the factory. And thanks to Tedward, we can hear the lovely clacking that comes along with each shift. Most of the time, though, the cabin is dominated by the V-12’s sound. This particular car is making around 700 horsepower thanks to a tune borrowed from the more hardcore 599 GTO and a more free-flowing exhaust. And it sounds excellent.
If you have a few minutes, we highly recommend turning your sound up and listening.
