Descripción
H&H Classic Auction @Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
24th of July, 2024 13:00
1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello
1 of just 457 UK-supplied examples
Estimate £60, 000 - £70, 000
Registration No: R469 ESG
Chassis No: ZFFZR49Cthe details below
MOT: T. B. A
43, 100 recorded miles and 6 former private keepers
The subject of a service and belt change in 2022
1 of just 457 UK-supplied examples
Fitted with gated 6-speed manual transmission
Offered with original owners wallet, handbooks and service book
Ferrari's 550 Maranello was introduced as a replacement for the F512 M in 1996 and found much acclaim during its five years of production. It featured a 484bhp front-mounted naturally-aspirated 5. 5 litre V12 engine driving the rear wheels through a transaxle - the six-speed manual gearbox being located at the rear for optimum weight distribution. Suspension was by double wishbone, coil springs and anti-roll bars all-round and the braking by ventilated discs front and rear. The Pininfarina designed all-alloy body was mounted on a tubular steel chassis. A pukka GT car out of the Daytona mould, it offered speeds of up to 199 mph coupled with the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 4. 3 seconds - the sort of performance figures that wouldn't have disgraced an F1 car once upon a time. With a luxurious and roomy interior and a boot that accommodated at least a set of overnight bags (or a full set of golf clubs), this was the perfect car for dashing through Europe - Monte Carlo one weekend, Rome the next. It was replaced in 2001 by the 575M Maranello. Though not intended for use in motorsport, the 550 Maranello was nevertheless adopted for racing by a number of privateer teams, to good effect. 2003 was arguably the year of best results, with Prodrive winning the GTS class in the Le Mans 24-hour race and finishing second in the GTS class of the American Le Mans Series, and Scuderia Italia winning the FIA GT championship.
Finished in the handsome combination of Argento Nurburgring with Blu Scuro leather upholstery, this particular example – chassis 110374 – was supplied new by Glenvarigill Company Ltd, Ferrari of Edinburgh. First registered as ‘R469 ESG’ on 23rd January 1998, its odometer displays a modest 43, 100 miles. Used for high-speed transcontinental touring, the 550 Maranello wears ‘Stratstone’ number plates front and rear (having sported the personalised number plate ‘R55 OUD’ for a while), the supercar benefited from a service and belt change two years ago. Riding on correct-type five-spoke alloy wheels, the Ferrari pleasingly retains its original owner’s wallet complete with handbooks and service book which contains stamps by the likes of Maranello Sales Ltd and DK Engineering Ltd.
The UK market was allocated a mere 457 examples of the 550 Maranello not all of which have survived to the present day. Still a fantastically capable Grand Tourer (albeit one with near 200mph performance), the model is arguably more rewarding to drive than many of its successors due to the standard-fitment six-speed manual transmission. Inexpensive compared to the 275GTB/ 4 and Daytona from which it is descended, ‘R469 ESG’ is offered for sale with the aforementioned book pack, V5C Registration Document and assorted invoices.
