Tag Archives: F550

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

September 17, 2013 Graham 4 Comments

I’m sure all of us would love to do the commute in an exotic from time to time, to break up the monotony of the week. But let’s face it, just how practical is that? There’s a reason you don’t see Ferraris and Lamborghinis being used regularly. While the new models are undoubtedly more reliable, efficient and comfortable, the classics can be tempermental and difficult to deal with in traffic. Someone, however, decided to ignore convention, because this 1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello for sale in California is closing in on 80,000. The car has had the recently 30,000 mile service with the coolant pipe update which should assuage some reliability fears over the short term.

Year: 1999
Model: F550 Maranello
Engine: 5.5 liter V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 76,203 mi
Price: $52,900 Buy It Now

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

Great chance to get into a 550 Maranello at a good price. I was unsure of the service history and the cam seals were leaking a little on the car so I sent it to have a complete 30K service performed along with the coolant pipe update. This 550 will literally come with a brand new major service. If you are looking for a concourse car this is not your Ferrari if you are looking for a nice, straight 550 that you can drive and enjoy this is a great car for you. I had the car inspected prior to purchase since I was unable to talk with the previous owner, I am happy to forward this inspection to any interested buyer. After the car was inspected I drove the car 300 miles down to my home on the central coast and I was very pleased. The AC blew cold, everything worked properly and the car stayed cool while I sat in traffic for a hour on the 101. The clutch is good and has plenty of life, all of the power functions worked like they should the transmission was smooth and the motor is strong and I think a little faster than mine. I was personally at the shop while I had it inspected and racked. The front brakes and rotors are like new and the tires have over 65% life left.

The right rocker panel does have a few dents that you can only see when the car is up in the air. The springs have been upgraded with a Eibach lowering sprint set on the factory coilover that brings the car down about 1", this 550 also has a very nice set of headers on the car along with a harness bar for a set of 5 point belts other than that the car is stock. While I had the car inspected I did have the fluids changed just to be safe and a complete saftey perfored along with a California smog which is passed perfectly. The front bumper does have rock chips along with a few on the hood, nothing that cannot be touched up. I personally feel that the 550 is one of the most reliable Ferraris built this car will make someone a great driver. All questions are welcome along with any inspections that you would like to have done locally, all inspections must be performed prior to the ending of the sale. This car has a clean carfax and will be available to prospective buyers. Anyone with 0 or negative feedback must email me prior to bidding or I will cancel your bid. Thanks for looking at my auction.

At just over $50,000, it’s rather tempting to think you can get into a grand touring Ferrari of recent vintage for brand new Mercedes-Benz or Lexus money. However, as with all exotics, your repair bills will be much more than those other luxury marques. Still, I appreciate the fact that this F550 looks so good after logging this amount of distance. To be honest, I’d probably take this F550 over a creampuff any day of the week, as I wouldn’t feel guilty using it as intended. So what if it has a few scratches and scuffs here or there? If you maintain it as intended and keep up with the cosmetics well enough, this is a car that would surely appreciate if kept in original condition.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

December 27, 2012 Graham 1 Comment

It's true, we just featured an F550 Maranello on Christmas Day, but I can never get enough of this grand touring machine from the town where it gets its name. This silver F550 for sale in California is pushing 40,000 miles and is being sold at a price that is getting closer and closer to reality for some collectors.

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello. Argento Nurburgring (Silver Metallic) with Black Power Daytona Seats. Scuderia Shields, red brake calipers, 6-Disc CD changer, remote keyless entry, Tubi exhaust (smog legal), two California owners, books, tools and full records (back to new). Excellent service history. Major Service Including Timing Belts and New Brakes 47 Miles Ago (August 2012). No accidents, clean Carfax.

Notes: As you probably know, the interiors of this model do not age well. The dash in this car was redone once. It is in good shape today, but has some shrinkage above the gauge binnacle and on the passenger air bag cover. The interior switches, which get sticky, have been fixed or replaced as needed. Overall, the interior shows some wear and is a 7 out of 10. For this era of Ferrari, that's pretty good.

The fact that this car has had a recent service is huge and goes a long way towards justifying the seller's price. I like these F550s in silver, but a red leather interior would make a car like this pop more, even if it already has a V12 and impressive performance figures.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1998 Ferrari F550 Maranello

December 25, 2012 Graham 2 Comments

What better a vehicle to feature for Christmas than a red Ferrari? Of all the Ferraris from the last twenty years, the F550 is the one that I would want to see under my tree for the holidays, offering modern performance in a classic front-engined, rear-drive setup. In classic Rosso Corsa, this F550 for sale in California has done 20,000 miles and is a stunning example of a period in Ferrari's history that saw the sun set on traditional manual gearboxes.

1998 Ferrari F550 Maranello

1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello, perfect around town, ferocious roaring between towns.

1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello. Finished in classic Rosso Corsa over Tan hides, the 550 Maranello has been driven only 20,838 pampered miles! It has had two previous owners, However the first owner never drove it (100 miles when sold). It is in excellent condition inside and out! Books, keys and service records on hand! If you are looking for a lovely 550 Maranello to add to your stable, your search ends here! This Ferrari has the right color and has been well-maintained.

THE BODY AND TRIM

The body oozes pure sex! Silky smooth sleek lines! All of the body panels are in excellent shape. The tires are relatively new. the glass an all trim is in perfect shape. There is some small rock chips in the front end which is expected of a car this low to the ground. keep in mind in 1998, clear protective film wasn't the miracle protector it is now.

THE INTERIOR

The interior is quintessential Ferrari, gorgeous Tan leather Hides, rich carpeting. These cars are notorious for the leather dashes shrinking. As such the leather dash has all been redone. Dials are huge and instantly readable! The seats are supple and in excellent condition. Drilled foot pedals, shift knob is an aluminum ball on a chromed stalk and a stainless steel shift gate.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

Ferocious power, and that lusty V-12 keeps pouring it on from each shift until red line in any gear. It is also two cars in one. In softer, sedate hands, it tools around town, breathing gently in its first four gears. It's light on the clutch, easy to shift; the steering is powered and well-balanced, and only tiptoes are needed for braking. She is a tame horse. Want spirited driving? Push the car and let it know who's the boss. Then it becomes a bronco spirited, vital and very, very quick.

The range of around $60,000 to $85,000 is the sweet spot for asking prices of F550 Maranellos. If this car's servicing is up to date, this isn't a bad value when it comes to an F550, but as we all know, these are not cheap cars to maintain. If the car is in need of a service, then a bit of negotiating will have to take place. At these prices, I would wager to say this is about as cheap as F550s will get for quite some time, as collectors will start to yearn for the more visceral, modern classics from Ferrari with this V12 coupe squarely in their sights.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

2001 Ferrari F550 Barchetta

December 6, 2012 Graham

The Ferrari F550 Barchetta has always been a bit of an oddball, forgotten Ferrari of recent years. The proportions kind of turned me off a bit, with the roll hoops looking a bit out of place and the long rear deck looking, well, a bit too long. Nevertheless, this was based off one of my favorite Ferraris of all time, the F550 Maranello, so I still have a bit of soft spot for these cars. They are compromised, however, as the roof included with the car could only be used up to 70 mph. This Barchetta for sale in California has been modified by the current seller, having the roll hoops taken off and the original racing seats removed for stock F550 Maranello seats. It gives this car a bit more of a tamer, street look.

2001 Ferrari F550 Barchetta

Up for auction is an absolutely stunning 2001 Ferrari Barchetta in Rosso Fiorano with Black Interior and only 8,130 miles. Serial Number 124043. Production Number 065/448. This 550 Barchetta was sold new at Ferrari of Dallas in August 30, 2001. The second owner was from California and in the entertainment industry. He sold it because he did not have time to drive it. Major service was completed in June 2012 at The Auto Gallery, an authorized Ferrari dealership (replacement of timing belts, etc.).

I have always loved the 550 Barchetta. I consider it the ideal modern Ferrari – impeccably made, equipped with modern electronic conveniences, very easy to drive and great for long distances. I would take this over a Daytona Spyder any day. Evidently, I made several modifications to this Barchetta due to personal preferences. I have always hated the big racing seats and the roll bars which visually detract from the smooth and flowing lines of the car. I would look at the roll bars and think the car was waiting to be picked up by a crane. So I took the roll bars out by simply removing 4 bolts and capped off the holes using the same materials which were dyed to match. The seats were replaced with 2 black Ferrari 550 coupe seats which bolted right into the factory holes from the racing seats. Now when you look at the Barchetta your eyes follow the lines of the car from any angle. Nothing was cut in this car so it can go back to stock in 1 hour (the stock seats and roll bars are included in this sale). I also added a Tubi Exhaust to give it that great Ferrari sound.

I know you’ll have questions so please feel free to call me: Rick – 805 218 0606. Please call rather than text. It takes me too long to reply by text or by email.

This is an interesting car because few people have the nerve to modify a Ferrari for fear of devaluing it. I like the fact that the seller removed the roll hoops, but personally, I would have kept the original seats. These open roofed F550s command a bit more money than their hardtop siblings. With low mileage and the desirable 6-speed manual gearbox, this car should bring somewhere around the $150,000 mark, as the range for these cars can range from around $125,000 and edge up close to $200,000. Personally, I'd rather have the beautiful hardtop, but these Barchettas might follow in the legendary Daytona Spyder and see prices reach into the stratosphere in the near future.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

June 24, 2012 Graham 1 Comment

We've featured a number of Ferrari F550 Maranellos here at CICFS, and quite frankly, they never fall out of favor with me. The classic styling, V12 power and raw emotion of these cars has been discussed at length. This F550 for sale in California is aptly finished in the unique shade of California Azzurro.

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello

1999 Ferrari F550 Maranello. Beautiful, excellent inside and out. This beautiful Ferrari F550 has been expertly maintained, is visually stunning and is a dream to drive. The California Azzurro Blue exterior is complemented by luxurious luggage, full leather package including the coveted quilted rear shelf and leather headliner. This California car has power seats, Ferrari Scuderia shields, stereo with 6CD changer and silver calipers. This car also has had regular scheduled services and oure price of $79k includes a fresh major service. Car has books, tools and keys.

About $79,000 is near average of what F550s are going for these days. Given this car has had a fresh service sweetens the deal even more. For those considering an F550, now isn't a bad time to pull the trigger, as collectors will no doubt be seeking the allure of a classic front-engined V12 Ferrari in the future, as they have in the past.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

2001 Ferrari F550 Barchetta

May 30, 2012 Graham 5 Comments

From 1996 through 2006, the Ferrari F550 and F575M were admired for bringing back front-engine, V12 cache back to the house of the Prancing Horse. Before the F550 gave way to the F575M in 2001, an open roofed version of the F550 was introduced, the F550 Barchetta. A roadster in the truest sense of the word, Ferrari offered this car with a soft top, but advised owners not to exceed 70 mph with the top on. Only 448 were produced, along with 10 prototypes. Apparently the compromise of the roof up speed limit led Ferrari to take a different route with the open roofed F575 variant, the Superamerica. This was more of a targa version, however, with an interesting glass roof that articulated 180 degrees to lie flat over the trunk lid. A few more of those were produced, this time 559 left the factory. This example for sale in New Jersey is the earlier Barchetta version and is practically new with just over 3,000 miles.

2001 Ferrari F550 Barchetta

The seller of this Barchetta offered zero information about this particular car, which is a shame, given these cars are quite rare. The open roofed F550s and F575s tend to command higher values than their hardtop variants. Prices tend to range anywhere from $130,000 to $200,000 these days, depending on mileage and service history. I've never liked these open roofed variants, as they are compromised not only in usability but in the looks department. The hardtop F550 was so aesthetically pleasing that I couldn't imagine hacking the roof off. But, to each their own. Most people that would own a Barchetta have a stable of exotic iron to choose from on a day to day basis. But even if I was that wealthy, I'd still go for the cheaper and more usable hardtop.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

2000 Ferrari F550 Maranello

March 28, 2012 Graham

The Ferrari F550 Maranello is one of my favorite exotics from the past two decades. In an era of bulbous and ill-proportioned aesthetics, the F550 showed that hope wasn't lost when it came to automotive design. The fact that it has a V12 engine and enough room for two and their luggage for a weekend getaway makes the package even sweeter. This low mileage example is a six speed manual and has lived most of its life in sunny Florida.

2000 Ferrari F550 Maranello

2000 Ferrari F550 Maranello. VIN # ZFFZR49B000119548. Silver exterior with black leather interior. Only 11,400 miles. Major service done! Leather rear shelf. Power Daytona seats. Factory CD changer in trunk. All books and keys.

At $78,500, this F550 is right in the heart of current market values, especially given the low mileage of this example. With a recent service completed, it should allow potential suitors to rest easy for at least another 10,000 miles or so and allow some time to set aside some cash for the next big service. I never grow tired of these F550s. Twenty to thirty years from now, I believe they will reach the same cult status as the legendary Daytona. They will be remembered as the last of a breed from an era when fuel prices were a fraction of what they will inevitably be and when a proper grand touring coupe meant a big engine and a proper manual gearbox.

-Paul

Ferrari, Modern Classic

2001 Ferrari F550 Maranello

January 21, 2012 Graham

Ever since the mid 1990s, I've found vehicle design to be rather uninspiring. From ill-proportioned cars to the controversy surrounding BMW and the designs of Chris Bangle, I've felt like the days of beautiful cars have passed us by. There have been some bright spots though. The revival of the MINI. The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. And this car, the Ferrari F550 Maranello. Along with the 456, this car signaled a return to front engined V12 grand turing machines at the famed sports car manufacturer. Introduced in 1996, the F550 was positioned as Ferrari's flagship. With a 5.5 liter V12 pumping out 485 horsepower and plenty of luggage space for two, this was one of the most practical Ferraris to date. Our feature car is a 2001 model with under 20,000 miles on the clock and has the desirable 6 speed manual gearbox.

2001 Ferrari F550 Maranello

As a grand tourer, the Ferrari 550 Maranello successfully embodies Ferraris high performance ideologies while presenting a luxurious and spacious interior. The 550s naturally aspirated V12 mated to a 6 speed manual transmission produces an impressive 485 hp and 419 lb-ft of torque that allows the Maranello to speed to 60mph in 4.2 seconds while its rear trunk is still large enough to accommodate a full set of golf clubs. The roomy interior of this silver grand tourer sports grey leather seats and a red trim throughout.

F550 prices have been dropping steadily, with some early examples seeing values in the $50,000 range. This isn't much more than what a new Infiniti G37 Coupe sells for, but the eternal sticking point is the maintenance costs. This particular car is priced quite a bit higher at $83,900, but that is a mere pittance to what these cars cost new. Personally, I would have rather seen this silver color teamed with an all red interior, but there are worse color combinations. If your bank account can handle it and you are seeking a Ferrari that can be used a little more than once in a blue moon, the F550 is a fantastic proposition. I would hasten to say that in twenty to thirty years time, these coupes will have aged just as gracefully as that other legendary Ferrari coupe, the 250GT Lusso.

-Paul