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Custom-built Ferrari 412 is not easy on the eyes

The 1989 Ferrari 412 Pavesi Ventorosso is a one-off topless creation from Carrozzeria Pavesi, which isn't the most well-known Italian coachbuilder in history. Ventorosso stands for "Red Wind", which brings a tear to one's eye – much like the 'improvements' to the bodywork. To begin with, the front end isn't all that bad. The headlights seem to have been grabbed from the then-new Citroen XM, and they are far less squinty than the lights originally complementing the 412's pop-ups. But the further toward the rear you go, the more it all falls apart, as the rear end treatment inexplicably combines round 412 taillights with a black, Testarossa-like plastic slatting above them. The complete car is somehow similar to the Michelotti-designed Reliant Scimitar SS1, which is undeniably also a product of its time. Still, the 18,641-mile car is mentioned to be in perfect condition inside and out, and that has resulted in a nearly $137,000-price tag by the seller, Maranello Service in Calvatone, Italy. It is also noteworthy that the 5.0-liter Colombo V12 is mated to a manual gearbox, which isn't always the case with 400i/412 models. And the best thing? You cannot see the exterior when driving it. Related Video:

Robert De Niro cast as Enzo Ferrari in new film

In one of Robert De Niro's early defining roles, he portrays a young Vito Corleone as a man climbing up the ranks of the New York underworld in flashbacks during The Godfather: Part II. Soon, we might see De Niro stepping into the shoes of a godfather from the Italian sports car industry in a biopic about Enzo Ferrari. According to The Guardian, De Niro recently told an Italian newspaper that the film would go into production soon and would shoot in Italy. This project apparently holds a high priority for him, and in addition to starring, De Niro's company is co-producing. It could be a while before we see the film in theaters because the script is still being written. We're also told that Clint Eastwood might sit in the director's chair, if he likes the story. Ferrari had a life every bit as fascinating as many fictional characters with stints as a racecar driver, an engineer and of course a canny businessman. He also held a long passion for motorsports, which could make for some very exciting scenes. According to The Guardian, the film would focus on Ferrari's life from around the founding of his sportscar company in the mid '40s through to his death in the late '80s. With characters like Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull and Sam Rothstein in Casino under his belt, De Niro certainly has shown the chops to portray a larger-than-life figure like Ferrari. Hopefully, he has retained the clout to get the film finished, though. Similar motorsports biographies haven't made it to the screen, such as the supposed Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise flick Go Like Hell or the Mad Men-inspired TV show about sports car racing in the '50s and '60s. Related Video:

Ferrari developing V-twin motorcycle engine?

When we read reports that Ferrari had applied for a patent on a V-twin engine design, our first thought was to check the date: this says the first of October, right... not April? And so here we are, entertaining the notion that Ferrari could be developing a motorcycle engine.
The report comes from Autocar, which claims to have dug up the application to patent the design for an "internal combustion engine having two cylinders, which are arranged in a 'V' configuration." In other words, a motorcycle engine. The application reportedly goes on to describe a balancing shafts to reduce vibration. Our own research did not lead us to find the application in question, so we'll have to take it with a grain of salt for the moment. But supposing it's all on the up and up, and that Ferrari was actually developing a motorcycle engine. Would that be so out of the ordinary?
Well, yes and no. Parent company Fiat, which is taking increased direct control of Ferrari, is undoubtedly looking at rival Volkswagen and its recent acquisition of Ducati (putting it in close proximity to Lamborghini) and would be keen to get in on that action. However tenuous the relationship, Lotus has also recently authorized a motorcycle bearing its name. And of course automakers like BMW and Honda, with which Ferrari has competed on and off the race track, also make motorcycles.