1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello Coupé

Registration no. R115 OAH Chassis no. ZFFZR49B000107276

Footnotes

'The Maranello needs no excuses: it is right-minded, a return to traditional values, albeit values and standards that tower high above those set by the Daytona when it shuffled off to extinction a quarter of a century ago.' – Car magazine.

With the introduction of the 550 Maranello in 1997, Ferrari returned to its tradition of building front-engined V12 sports cars, resurrecting a line that had remained dormant since the demise of the 365GTB/4 'Daytona' in 1974. The heart of any Ferrari is its engine, and the 550 Maranello's 48-valve, 5.5-litre V12 developed 485bhp at 7,000rpm, some 100-or-so horsepower more than the Daytona's. Ferrari had discovered long ago that providing optimum balance in a front-engined sports car necessitated the use of a rear transaxle, and the Maranello's came with six speeds. The power train was housed in a tubular steel chassis, to which was attached aluminium coachwork, while the all-independent suspension incorporated dual-mode (normal/sports) damping, switch-selectable by the driver, which was complemented by speed-sensitive power-assisted steering.

Styled by Pininfarina like its illustrious 'Daytona' predecessor, the 550 Maranello was similarly proportioned, adopting the classical combination of long bonnet, small cabin and truncated tail. The body's aerodynamics were developed in the wind tunnel, where hours of testing ensured that the minimum of drag was combined with constant downforce regardless of set up, an important consideration in a 200mph road car. Styling details such as the bonnet air scoop and hot air outlets behind the front wheelarches recalled the great competizione Ferraris of the past, in particular the immortal 250GTO, while the tail incorporated Ferrari's characteristic twin circular lights.

In 2004, Evo magazine published a 'Greatest Driver's Cars' feature that pitted the 550 Maranello against the Porsche 911 GT3, Honda NSX-R and Pagani Zonda C12S. The Ferrari won. 'As with all great cars, there's no one facet that dominates the experience,' declared the respected British motoring journal. 'Yes, the engine is mighty, but the chassis is its equal. There's never been a supercar that's so exploitable and so rounded in its capabilities.'

Supplied new to Dubai, UAE via Al Tayer Motors, this Ferrari 550 Maranello was first registered in the UK on 15th September 1997. The car comes with extensive service history dating back to May 1999 (when it was serviced by Evans Halshaw) recording regular maintenance in the UK, Monaco, and Belgium. The most recent service was carried out in September 2017 (at 78,545 kilometres) by independent Ferrari specialists Rardley Motors. Finished in black with tan leather interior, this most sought after Ferrari 550 Maranello is in beautiful condition and running well.