18,500 miles from new
2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello Coupé
Registration no. W948 BOH
Chassis no. ZFFZR49C000118956
Engine no. 56322

'The Maranello needs no excuses: it is right-minded, a return to traditional values, albeit values and standards that tower high above those set by the Daytona when it shuffled off to extinction a quarter of a century ago.' – Car magazine.

With the introduction of the 550 Maranello in 1997, Ferrari returned to its tradition of building front-engined V12 sports cars, resurrecting a line that had remained dormant since the demise of the 365GTB/4 'Daytona' in 1974. The heart of any Ferrari is its engine, and the 550 Maranello's 48-valve, 5.5-litre V12 developed 485bhp at 7,000rpm, some 100-or-so horsepower more than the Daytona's. Ferrari had discovered long ago that providing optimum balance in a front-engined sports car necessitated the use of a rear transaxle, and the Maranello's came with six speeds. The power train was housed in a tubular steel chassis, to which was attached aluminium coachwork, while the all-independent suspension incorporated dual-mode (normal/sports) damping, switch-selectable by the driver, which was complemented by speed-sensitive power-assisted steering.

Styled by Pininfarina like its illustrious 'Daytona' predecessor, the 550 Maranello was similarly proportioned, adopting the classical combination of long bonnet, small cabin and truncated tail. The body's aerodynamics were developed in the wind tunnel where hours of testing ensured that the minimum of drag was combined with constant downforce regardless of set up, an important consideration in a 200mph road car. Styling details such as the bonnet air scoop and hot air outlets behind the front wheelarches recalled the great competizione Ferraris of the past, in particular the immortal 250GTO, while the tail incorporated Ferrari's characteristic twin circular lights.

Right-hand drive chassis number '118956' was sold new via Ferrari agent Evans Halshaw in Birmingham. The car has had four previous keepers, coming into the current registered keeper's possession in August 2013, and comes with its original service booklet showing five services, the most recent carried out in September 2013 at 17,931 miles (the current odometer reading is 18,480 miles). Finished in Tour de France Blue with tan upholstery, this desirable modern Ferrari Gran Turismo is offered with service invoices, current road fund licence, MoT to May 2015 and V5C registration document.