Eric Clapton's Ferrari Symphony: When Guitars Meet 12 Cylinders

Eric Clapton is well known as one of the world’s greatest guitarists and singer-songwriters, but what fewer people know is that he is also a leading classic car collector. Ferraris are his main love, a passion that began in the late 1960s, encouraged by his friendship with another petrolhead and Ferrari owner, George Harrison. As Clapton explains in “Clapton, The Autobiography”, published in 2007 by Broadway Books, for him, it was the Beatles guitarist’s 365 GTC that lit the spark.

Here, in the year that sees Clapton turning 78, we give you a selection of his most important Ferraris: a “best of” collection, as it were.

365 GTC
Clapton’s love affair with this car began in the late 1960s when his friend George Harrison drove over to see him in dark blue 365. It was love at first sight! He has so bowled over that, despite not having a driving license, he bought one himself shortly afterwards.

Ferrari 365 GTC produced from 1971 to 1973

250 GT Lusso
It is no secret that “Slowhand” regards the 250 GT Lusso as his favorite car. Hot Wheels celebrated this important model with a 1:18 scale model.

Ferrari 250 GTL produced from 1962 to 1964

Dino 206 GT
Purchased by the star in 1970, this car is nicknamed “Layla” after the title of the song it inspired.

Ferrari Dino 206 GT produced from 1968 to 1969

Enzo
Eric Clapton was the first in England to own an Enzo. Instead of having it delivered to his home, he chose to go and collect it from the factory in Maranello and drive it back to the UK himself. During this trip he got a fine near Paris for doing over 230 km/h in an area with a speed limit of 50!

Ferrari Enzo produced from 2002 to 2004

SP12 EC
In 2012, Ferrari, together with Pininfarina, created a one-off for Eric Clapton based on the 458 Italia. It is a tribute to the 512BB, being a contemporary reinterpretation of that model.

Ferrari SP12 EC produced in 2012