If you may have one of your dream automobiles in your storage, assume again to earlier than you purchased it. Way earlier than, while you had been a child. Did you may have the Hot Wheels or a 1:18-scale diecast mannequin model of it? There’s a superb probability the reply to that query is “yes.” Those miniatures aren’t simply good to take a look at on a shelf. They can function motivation to get the actual factor someday. If you’ve been ready to get the full-size model of a sure wedge-shaped Nineties Ferrari you checked out day-after-day while you had been a youngster, now’s your probability to do it: Our Pick of the Day is a 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello posted by a Florida dealership on ClassicCars.com.
First proven to the public at Germany’s Nurburgring in July 1996, the Ferrari 550 Maranello had a number of heritage-inspired design cues, resembling twin fender vents, which visually linked the two-seat GT automotive to the 250 GTO, and quad spherical taillights, which recalled the 365 GTB4, aka “Daytona.”
But the 550 Maranello wasn’t a relic of yesteryear. It was a serious departure from its fast predecessor, the F512M, which was an evolution of the Testarossa that got here out in 1984. Gone had been the facet strakes and the mid-engine format, changed by a cleaner, sleeker profile and a front-mounted 5.5-liter (therefore the identify 550) V12 that produced a considerably increased 485 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque.
Ferrari paired that with a extra fashionable six-speed guide gearbox (with a gated shifter, of course), which changed the F512M’s five-speed unit. Those updates enabled the 550 to hit 62 mph in 4.4 seconds (an enchancment of 0.3 seconds) and prime out at 198 mph (a three-mph enhance).
According to the promoting seller, it has maintained this explicit 550 Maranello for over 20 years. In truth, it just lately put in new belts, oil, filters, gaskets, and spark plugs in addition to a brand new brake grasp cylinder. Service historical past is all the time nice for a Ferrari. So is low mileage, one other factor this Prancing Horse has; over the previous 26 years, it’s solely galloped 17,493 miles.
Someone must make their childhood desires come true and let this stallion unfastened on the highway. If you wish to be that somebody, be ready to spend $229,900. That’s a giant chunk of dough, nevertheless it’ll flip that “One day…” you used to examine as a child into at present.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
