RML’s Short Wheelbase (SWB) is a love letter to the Ferrari 250 GT “SWB”. Utilizing a Ferrari 550 Maranello as its base, the restomod offers classic styling with modern performance.
The first vehicle has just rolled out of the company’s facility in Wellingborough, UK. It is a blue example dubbed “Car Zero” which will be put through its paces in a six-week program of driveability and durability. Extensive simulation work was done over the last three years before the vehicle ever turned a wheel in reality, and the program will act as proof for the work already done in virtual.
The engineers at RML set up shop at the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, UK, for rigorous testing that is usually reserved for OEM brands. RML has tested numerous vehicles at the track on the behalf of other brands, but this is the first time it’s tested a vehicle with its own name on it.
Read More: GTO Engineering’s $1m 250 SWB Is The Ferrari Classic You Can Crash And Not Care
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The first three weeks are dedicated to validating chassis dynamics and handling, but after the fun tests are over, the vehicle will really be put through the wringer with a series of durability tests designed to mimic real-world driving. These tests include extreme cold and heat in a climate-controlled wind tunnel, a 2,000-km (1,242-mile) endurance test on the High-Speed Bowl, and finally, a few hundred miles over “Belgian Pavé”, a cobblestone section that will push the suspension to its limits.
The RML SWB is based on a Ferrari 550 Maranello, which means it is powered by a 5.5-liter V12 capable of producing not just a great noise, but also 479 hp and 419 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine sits in the front and sends the power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. The body is composed entirely of carbon fiber, contributing to a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of just 4.1 seconds, onto a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Customer cars are entering production now, and if you want one, it’ll set you back a cool £1.35 million ($1.83 million / €1.62 million) before taxes.
