When it was first shown, many were a bit hesitant, maybe anticipating something more aesthetically daring, but the car's unique features quickly charmed them. The 550 Maranello was Ferrari's response to those who thought that a front-engined V12 automobile couldn't compete with a mid-engined sports car in terms of performance. It was, above all, a practical and comfy two-seater, with plenty of baggage capacity and an enjoyable ride.
In July 1996, Ferrari 550 Maranello had its public premiere at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. The former F1 team drivers, Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine, plus several former Ferrari team drivers, including former Ferrari World Champions Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter, were there to test the car on the course.
With a front-mounted motor like that of its 456 GT sibling, the new vehicle was able to provide blistering acceleration paired with perfect driving qualities. The 550 Maranello was built between 1996 and 2001, and each car was given a unique chassis number ranging from 99928 to 126807. Now, it's time to take a look at the car's background to discover why we're so enamored with it.
As Expected From Ferrari, The Ferrari 550 Maranello's Design Is Awesome
Pininfarina was responsible for both the external and interior design of the 550 Maranello. Elvio D'Aprile is credited with the exterior design, which was directed by Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Maurizio Corbi was also engaged in the design stage, while Goran Popović created the interior design. It's no surprise that Pininfarina's design echoed the 456 GT.
However, there were also nostalgic cues from older legendary models, such as twin exhaust air vents in the front wings reminiscent of the 1960s 250 GTO and 275 GTB. Conversely, the taillights were more similar to the legendary 365 GTB/4 Daytona model. The deep and broad radiator air intake of the new model gave it a distinct look. The body was made of a lightweight aluminum alloy that was welded to the steel frame using Feran, a newly created material that allowed the two incompatible metals to be fused together.
The cabin was standardly furnished in leather, with electronic seat adjustment and a spacious baggage area. Air conditioning, automatic windows and door mirrors, and a sound system with a CD player were all included. Sports seats, as well as a variety of goods from the Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalization equipment, were offered as alternatives, allowing customers to tailor their cars.
Did You Know That Ferrari 550 Maranello Broke Three Speed Records?
Due to Ferrari's obsession with aerodynamics, the 550 Maranello had a low coefficient of drag and constant downforce on both axles. The car's unmatched quality and aerodynamic efficiency enabled it to set new production car speed records in Ohio on October 12, 1998. The 550 set three speed records: 100 miles at an average speed of 190.2 mph; one hour at a speed of 184 mph; and 100 km at an average speed of 188.9 mph. These achievements were held until 2002, when a pre-production Lamborghini Murciélago shattered them at Nardo's circuit.
A limited-edition of thirty-three "World Record" units were created in 1999 to celebrate the World Speed Record achieved in 1998. Later on, Ferrari debuted the limited edition 550 Barchetta Pininfarina at the Paris Motor Show in September 2000. The Barchetta was conceptualized to commemorate Pininfarina's 70th anniversary, and it arrived three months after Pininfarina's 550-based concept, the Rossa 2000. As predicted, the most significant changes were made to Barchetta's body.
As mentioned before, the 550 was always lauded for both its strength and its agility. The motor was a variant of the one used in the 456 GT, while the overall cubic capacity of 5.5 liters was selected to correspond to the model name. The naturally aspirated F133 A motor has four valves per cylinder, twin overhead cams, and a variable intake manifold. It has a displacement of 334.0 cubic-inch and delivers 478 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 419 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm.
This engine allowed for a peak speed of 199 mph and a time of 4.4 seconds from 0 to 62 mph. Furthermore, the new car's steering characteristics were enhanced by the ideal 50:50 weight distribution.
To put it succinctly, Ferrari's decision to return its premium two-seat production vehicle to a front-engined design was an absolute triumph. The 550 Maranello was a popular car for a long time before the redesigned 575M took its place in 2002. It wasn't a completely new vehicle, but rather an enhanced variant of the previous model.
The 550 had some racing experience, as well. Even though it was not intended for racing, several independent teams turned the 550 Maranello into a competitive GT racer. In 2003, a Prodrive-tuned vehicle won the GTS class at Le Mans, and the group also came in second in the American Le Mans Series that year, while the BMS Scuderia Italia team took the FIA GT title. Having said that, the Ferrari 550 Maranello is one of our faves. It was always an absolute favorite of ours.