Stock prices are up, gas prices are tame, so why not buy an expensive Ferrari (RACE) - Get Report with the biggest possible engine.

At least that's what well-heeled Ferrari shoppers did in the first quarter of this year, as the supercar maker said Thursday that sales of V12 models surged 50 percent from the prior year. Top-selling cars with these power-plants included the GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and the F12tdf.

Ferrari's with seemingly wimpy V8 engines fell 3 percent. Total shipments rose 6.4 percent to 2,003 units.

Sales in Europe increased by 9 percent, fueled by double-digit sales in Germany, France, Italy and Britain. Deliveries rose 4 percent each in the Americas and the Asian Pacific, which excludes greater China, where sales improved 3 percent.

Total sales came in at Euro 821 million, trouncing estimates for Euro 763.6 million. Operating profits tallied Euro 124 million, ahead of estimates for Euro 101 million.

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Editor's Pick: Originally published May 4.