The Ferrari 550 Maranello. Quite possibly, the best Ferrari ever. Or is it really? Well, so many journalists (including Jeremy Clarkson) absolutely adore this thing so almost 20 years on after this car ceased production, I want to find out why this car was so good? Was it all down to the 6-speed manual gearbox, mounted to the Tipo 5.5 liter naturally aspirated V12? Was it the fact that this was the last manual-only Ferrari ever? Or was it just the fact because it hallmarked back to Ferrari’s front-engined road racer pedigree?
I’m unsure. Well, my first impression is that it isn’t the best-looking Ferrari at all. The front looks like a big cheesy smile and the body shape itself are classy but boring for a Ferrari. It sure has aged very well. and it isn’t exactly ugly. It just doesn’t look special enough for a supercar at all. Furthermore, this was the car that replaced the Testarossa, a car which was completely mad. Gone are the sharp square lines, the mental looks, and really the outlandishness that the previous mid-engined Ferrari’s had.
In fact, this car looks like a Peugeot in comparison to the Testarossa. People will kill me for saying that, but it’s true. The shape of this car simply does not excite me, which is a shame because, in 1996, this was one of the most expensive Ferrari models on sale. Surely it could’ve been more? For me, the looks of the F355 look far better.
Ok, enough whining. The real party piece of this car isn’t the looks. It’s the engine and the gearbox, and that’s where things start to make sense.
The Engine Is Art
The engine is a piece of art. No doubts about that at all. It’s a 5.5 liter naturally aspirated V12 pushing out 478hp and 419 lb-ft of torque, almost as much power as the crazier Lamborghini Diablo. This engine means that this car hits 60 in just 4.4 seconds (4.2 when tested) and flat out it can do 199 mph. Incredibly fast, even by today’s standard.
The engine sounds awesome too. Very old-school and very raspy. No pops or bangs, the noise is purely made by the engine. The car is full of soul and passion. It truly is, Ferrari at its absolute best. The engine itself looks like artwork, with the metal cover finished with red accents. A timeless engine bay indeed.
The same engine was also used in the larger 4-seater 456 and 456M, but do not mistake the 550 as a 2-seater “sportier” 456 because it isn’t. It’s a far different car altogether, and the engine in the 550 is more powerful and also much more exciting.
In 2002, this engine was upgraded to 5.7 liters and the power output was increased to 508hp. The name of the 550 changed to 575M, and the car got an F1-style flappy paddle gearbox as an option.
The Handling is Phenomenal
Despite its somewhat aerodynamic design, the Testarossa was never great around the corners at all. Strange that, because it was a very low car with a decent center of gravity. Unfortunately, the suspension was made from nonsense so it was a terrible car to drive. But hey, it’s a 1980s supercar and that was the norm.
The 550 on the other hand is like chalk and cheese in comparison to the Testarossa when it comes to handling. It’s not a handful at all. Around corners, this thing has so much grip it’s insane. the 550 has a limited-slip differential, double-wishbone suspension, anti-roll bars front and rear, dampers on all four corners of the car, and rack and piston steering. Wow, that’s a lot.
Nowadays, the average hot-hatch has all of that. But back in 1996, this was special. If you want the best handling though, get a 55- with the Fiorano Handling pack. Fiorano is Ferrari’s own private test track. This made everything stiffer, and the car was even lower. Slightly impractical for everyday use, but it made this car so much more fun.
It’s very hard to tell if your 550 has the Fiorano Handling Pack. The only way to tell is to look at the shock absorber ECU or hydraulic steering part number. I’m sure not many people will do that at all.
The Interior Is Timeless
Previous Ferrari’s were not one for great interiors. The 456 was organized but a bit boring. Then the F355 was also nothing special either. The 550 though was far more driver-focused, and the H-shift 6-speed manual gearbox just looked so cool, and it really did stand out.
The quality was also very high. It was a car that you truly would love to spend hours and hours in. In all honesty, compare this car to its rivals from Aston Martin, Lamborghini, or Porsche. It was a proper classy car inside, and the space behind the rear seats made it great for luggage bags. You could, in fact, fit rear seats in the bag if you wanted.
It’s full of luscious leather, which feels so expensive. You have to have the leather finished in tan or cream. Black simply does not do this car any justice at all.
A Car For The Proper Car Enthusiast.
Not all Ferrari’s are made for people who really like cars. Some Ferrari’s are proper posers cars, and despite all the fancy tech that they have, the engines, etc no proper car enthusiast would really want one at all. The 550 on the other hand is not a showy-off car especially in colors like silver or black. It’s very comfortable and very elegant. However, it sure does let the driving do its talking.
The proper successor to this car, the 599 was a far more exciting-looking car with a lot of F1 science and technology. But in all honesty, this car proves that you do not need that sort of stuff in a car. Yes, it’s nice having launch control, adaptive dampers, etc but this car with all of its analog features is bound to put a bigger smile on your face.
This car was made with soul and passion. It was made for proper drivers out there who want to feel a connection with the car. Ferrari could have easily fitted an F1 automated-manual transmission like the one in the F355 in the 550, but they didn’t. It’s not even an option. The only gearbox you can have with this car is a 6-speed gated manual transmission, and that is what makes this car so special.
It’s not a car that will attract attention from the plastic golddiggers. In fact, this car won’t get that much attention at all wherever it goes. However, the people who will appreciate the 550 for what it is and take a real interest in it is a proper car enthusiast who knows what they’re talking about.
The 550 is a magnet for car nerds.
To Conclude.
The 550 may not be the most exciting-looking car at all. I don’t like the looks, and personally, I think they made a mistake with it. It’s timeless but a tad soulless and in comparison to its rivals, it does look pretty boring indeed. However, this car drives so amazingly, that all is forgiven.
This is a proper mechanical car. It’s completely analog and it’s centered around the driver. It’s Ferrari at its finest hour, and it is a car that any true car enthusiast can appreciate. The great thing is, the 550 isn’t even that expensive in comparison to some of the other Ferrari models. In fact, this car costs the same as a 599 on the used market or a California. It’s a proper bargain if you ask me, and it somewhat suggests that the 550 is underrated in the used market.
Either way, if you have the money for one of these (say around $110,000) then just buy one of these. You seriously won’t regret it. Porsche fan Richard Hammond had one, and he regrets selling it.