Broad Arrow Auction: 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello

Tony’s Take: What’s not to love?

Reliability was – and remains – an issue. Price? That too. But OMG what an engine!

Attached to a six-speed click-clack gated manual, the 12-banger produces 478 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 419 lb⋅ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm, rocketing the Pininfarina-designed coachwork from zero to second in 4.2 seconds, on to a top speed of 199 mph (at least in theory).

Ferrari fitted the 550 Maranello with a double wishbone suspension, anti-roll bars (front and rear), coaxial coil springs and dampers on all four corners. In terms of handling, well, she’s a big old girl (3,912 lbs.). Farago used to shout ”hard-a-port” when hustling his 550 through a left hand turn.

But that wasn’t the point. The 550M marked Ferrari’s return to GT road cars.

Broad Arrow’s silver car is the right color; Ferrari’s GT’s are driven by execs who don’t want to roll-up to the executive parking lot in a bright red or eye-searing yellow Ferrari.

Although a few prospective buyers might find the Daytona seats a bit too mid-engine sports car, the diamond-stitching throughout the black and tan interior is a big plus. Premium modular wheels? Check! Let’s go to the tape . . .

Comparables

Not on the charts (but an excellent comparable): Bring a Trailer recently e-hammered a 16k Euro-spec 550M for $191k.

Euro cars generally hammer for 25 percent less than an equivalent U.S.-spec car. It sold at a venue that scares well-heeled buyers (they prefer to shop at high-end auction houses like Broad Arrow and RM Sotheby’s).

Highest, Average and Lowest sales for the year

The Broad Arrow car is a 2001 550 Maranello with 16k miles in a better color combo with a killer interior (especially the two-tone seats).

I calculated my prediction using the red BAT 550 as a comp, added 25 percent for a U.S. spec car and another 10 percent for the better venue. Downside: astronomical maintenance costs. The 575M is a better car in every way.