Like the cars that made Ferrari famous in the 1950s and 1960s, the 550 Maranello is GT meant for high-speed, cross-country travel, with all of the essential Ferrari pieces present and accounted for. Its style comes from Pininfarina, penned by Lorenzo Ramaciotti, who created something classic from Ferrari design vocabulary that seemed sleepy in the 456 GT, bland in the F355, and silly in the F50. Scaglietti built the all-aluminum bodywork, and the 5.5-liter DOHC V-12 under the hood produces 479 hp. The rear-mounted transaxle helps balance out this 3,726-pound car, and the six-speed manual features classic gated shifter with polished metal lever and knob.Beyond the classic cues is an ultra-modern car, one with sleek body that has super-low 0.33 drag coefficient and underbody trickery that reduces aerodynamic lift. The tubular space frame is rigid, the suspension features electronically adjustable dampers, and the engine has lightweight titanium connecting rods. The 550 Maranello could sprint to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and reach 199 mph.Then as now, the secret to this car’s appeal is its drivability. The cockpit is particularly spacious compared to Ferrari’s mid-engine cars, and two people can travel in chic comfort. The suspension is notably compliant, and the ride is completely modern even though you’re sitting nearly on top of the rear suspension. Despite its short 98.4-inch wheelbase, the car has terrific straight-line stability complemented by very direct speed-sensitive, hydraulically assisted steering.The Ferrari 550 Maranello evolved bit during its term in Ferrari’s new-car showroom. The Barchetta convertible was introduced at the Paris Auto Show in 2000, and ultimately some 448 were built. Meanwhile, Zagato built five specialty convertibles, each of which carried price of $1 million. Prodrive, the British racing outfit, also built series of GT-class racing cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which led ultimately to the great racetrack battles between Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, and Porsche that we see today.As Ferrari fashions have swung back toward mid-engine cars, it’s ironic that the Ferrari 550 Maranello now seems more unique, not less. Just as Ferrari intended nearly 20 years ago, the 550 Maranello combines heritage, classic style, and modern drivability in package that has enduring appeal.
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Cars for sale in Canada » Ferrari » 550 » 1999 Ferrari 550 for sale
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