1998 - Ferrari 550 Maranello - Lot 18

1998 - Ferrari 550 Maranello The worthy heir to the Berlinetta V12 front-end dynasty initiated with the 275 GTB and Daytona. German registration Chassis n°ZFFZR49J000111194 Engine n°F133A-48616 - Ferrari's GT coupé from the turn of the millennium, a must-have in any collection - Unanimously acclaimed model, produced in only 3083 examples - Delivered new in Japan with less than 37,200 kilometers on the clock - Superb and rare Grigio Titanio configuration, Cartier leather interior - Good overall condition, with overhaul and some cosmetic work to be carried out - Stainless steel exhaust system, replacement service booklet and file since 2013 Launched in 1996, the Ferrari 550 Maranello replaces the 512M, the last evolution of the iconic Testarossa. Once again designed by Pininfarina, it marks Ferrari's return to the V12 front engine for its GTs, an architecture that had been abandoned after the 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Derived from the 456 GT, the 5.5L engine develops 485 hp and is mated to a rear-mounted 6-speed manual gearbox, ensuring optimum weight distribution. ASR, traction control and adjustable suspension assist the driver and enable the car's behavior to be modified. Braking is provided by ventilated discs measuring 300 mm at the front and 310 mm at the rear. The interior combines comfort, elegance and sportiness. The lines, which have earned it the nickname "Squale", with their long hood and side air intakes, are sculptural. It remains virtually unchanged, apart from the front bumper, on the 575. In 2002, the 550 Maranello became the 575M Maranello, with M standing for "Modificata". The V12 engine was further optimized, the braking system reinforced and the interior redesigned, but the introduction of the Magneti Marelli F1-style sequential gearbox with steering-wheel-mounted paddles meant that the car lost some of its authentic character and, according to some purists, the sacrosanct H-shaped metal grille was an integral part of Ferrari. The 550 Maranello, whose production was limited to 3083 examples, is today considered one of Ferrari's most beautiful and emblematic GTs of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. It also symbolizes the brand's dazzling return to its traditional architecture of a V12 engine at the front and a gearbox at the rear, which is also, so to speak, the last production engine. In a word, timeless, the 550 Maranello is unquestionably a great classic from the prestigious Prancing Horse marque. The Ferrari 550 Maranello we're offering was delivered new in Japan and put on the road for the first time on April 10, 1998. In Grigio Titanio, with black brake calipers, the brand's wing badges and a burgundy-red (Cartier) leather interior with black carpets, it features a rare and particularly desirable configuration. A post-factory stainless steel exhaust system further enhances the appeal of this magnificent GT. Aesthetically, the bodywork looks good overall, except for the front bumper, which needs to be redone. Externally, the headlamp fairing seals also need replacing, as they are cracked, while the rims, which show a few minor signs of rubbing, could also be redone for optimum presentation. Inside, there are no particular faults to report, apart from the absence of the driver's seatback control knob, the non-original car radio and a slight shrinkage of the leather on the dashboard in certain places, as is often the case on this model. According to the Pozzi-issued replacement service booklet that accompanies the car, it had covered a mere 9,500 kilometers in 2013 when it arrived in France. This low level of use, consistent with the car's Japanese origins, as well as its obviously meticulous maintenance, can still be appreciated today in view of the excellent state of preservation of the upholstery and plastic instrumentation. Again according to the available notebook and invoice file, the car was then serviced regularly and exclusively in Ferrari dealerships between 2013 and 2016. It was during this period that most of the car's mileage was finally completed, even though it was already registered abroad. In 2021 at 35330 kms, a service including timing belt replacement was carried out by a specialist. Since then, this Maranello has been driven very little, clocking up just 37150 km on the day of our test drive.