In praise of the 550 | FerrariChat
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In praise of the 550

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by piersg, Jun 11, 2010.

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  1. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #1 piersg, Jun 11, 2010
    I have owned my 550 for 2 1/2 years, and having forgotten the cost of the car when I originally bought it, it is now 'mine' and is unlikely to leave anytime soon.

    Or so I thought.

    I was also very lucky to have a couple of Porsches, a 997 GT3 and a 1964 356C and a 1970 911S track car, but living in Houston, lack of a/c in the summer months is a big deal so I started thinking.

    I have several friends with fast cars generally they have dismissed the 550 as an old man's cruiser (they have no idea what they are missing)..and I have to say that the 997 in particular was a big disappointment after the 996 GT3 I had for a few years, so I decided: "That's it they are all going".

    One night I went into my lonely garage looked at the 550 and I started to think about something more overtly sporting, and having sold the other German things naturally I had a hole burning away in my pocket.

    I called a local high end dealer.

    'Why not sell that old 550' the dealer said, 'I can get you if you are lucky $55k!'

    "What@*#$%!!' was my response, NO!

    So, with my lovely blue 550 was sitting in my garage, I had a vodka and tonic, read a magazine and thought what about a 360 Challenge Stradale?

    5 weeks later I have one, and what a car!

    Bloody wonderful. The essence of adrenalin.

    Feeling guilty having spent too much time with my new young girlfriend, yesterday I drove the 550 again, and just like going back to the wife after a long business trip...I thought to myself I love them both dearly but for different reasons.. (can you do that?)

    However, as my life is clearly not complicated enough, 2 weeks ago I acquired a 1961 +4 Morgan which had been raced all it's life, (if anyone is interested I would be happy to share stories about this car), so now I have 3 fantastic cars and one I can actually work on. (That would be the European model..) Maybe I should point out that I actually live with 2 dogs (really they are dogs, not just a late night opinion), so any references to past wife's would be for illustration only!

    Let me get in a bit of advertising::
    If you are in or near Houston this weekend, come to Classy Chassis at Reliant Stadium and see the cars, help the kids (you do just by buying a ticket), and have a ride with the guys/girls in a Ferrari / Lamborghini etc in the car park outside, maybe you will get me in the CS!
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,146
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    #2 darth550, Jun 11, 2010
    Beautiful! :D:D
     
  3. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    22,414
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    #3 henryr, Jun 11, 2010
    PICTURES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
  4. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 19, 2006
    16,121
    Full Name:
    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    #4 italiafan, Jun 11, 2010
    Nice story!

    My 550 was great to drive. My garage was too small, and too many traffic lights in SW Florida, and too many cops.

    550 is gone. Porsche Panamera Turbo sits in her place.

    In place of the 550 the Panamera is a great GT cruiser.
    In place of the Maserait GS the Panaera is a rockin' sports car in "sport plus mode" with 569lb-ft.
    In place of the CayenneS the Panamera has a cavernous trunk, and 2 comfy seats in back.
     
  5. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #5 piersg, Jun 11, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. ddnguyen

    ddnguyen Karting

    Aug 11, 2005
    247
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Duane
    #6 ddnguyen, Jun 11, 2010
    Full spectrum of the ferrari experience for that time period. Great colors for those cars too.
     
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,178
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #7 tazandjan, Jun 11, 2010
    Piers- Nice collection. I would love to have a CS to go with my 575M, but no money or garage space. Minor impediments. Easy to get attached to the V12 power, torque, and sound. Love the exhaust note on mine.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  8. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #8 piersg, Jun 11, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I love the exhaust on mine too it has Tubi's. I have read your posts over the last couple of years with great interest Taz, great to know you are such a source of information.

    I also am very lucky to have a 1924 Amilcar, (photo's attached) you can see Mr. Toad on the radiator.

    The Amilcar was the Lotus 7 of it's day, and is very scary at 30-40mph
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #9 ketel, Jun 11, 2010
    Not bad but I'm kinda thinking a 328 would be a nice garage companion to a 575/550. The 328, when sorted, is pretty bullet-proof, still looks great 25 years on (whereas the 348s looks more dated IMHO), and I think she'd be a good daily workhorse that's still a pisser to drive (as opposed to the lumbering Mondials) and still not worry so much about daily nicks and wear/tear given one can pick up a clean driver in the $30ks and low $40ks now. Thoughts?

    ketel
     
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,178
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #10 tazandjan, Jun 11, 2010
    Ketel- The 308s are prettier, the 328s are more powerful. Both good values. Someone is offering a nice 328 for $37,900 obo in the 3x8/mondial forum. Lot of car for the money.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  11. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #11 ketel, Jun 11, 2010
    Terry - Given this is all subjective, I would tend to agree with you that the 308 is the "purer" design concept but having had two in my life already (a '77 308GTB and '78 308GTS) I dont feel the urge for a 3rd. The 328 might be a dilution of the design of the 308 (as some have argued that the 575 is a dilution of the "pure" design concept of the 550) but the 328 is a far superior car IMO, more refined, and I find the build quality slightly better.
     
  12. 3500touring

    3500touring Karting

    Dec 29, 2003
    66
    Blaricum, Holland
    Full Name:
    Michael B.
    #12 3500touring, Jun 11, 2010
    Wooowww.......entirely off-topic but that Amilcar is really lovely! Is that a CGSS?
    I was looking at and contemplating an Amilcar CGSS when in Monaco at the RM auction.
    It looked lovely but I have not yet enough knowledge of them to buy one so unexpectedly. They would be great for many events though and I even fit in at 1.90 m.
    Enjoy your cars in good health!
    Best regards, Michael
     
  13. full_garage

    full_garage Formula 3
    Owner

    Feb 15, 2010
    2,241
    Sarasota Florida
    Full Name:
    Jay
    #13 full_garage, Jun 11, 2010
    I'm going in the other direction- Looking for a GREAT 550 to join my equally great 355- My 1990 928S4 is my "Classic Tourer" right now- Though thoughts of an all-wheel-drive Panamera as a 12 month touring car is pretty appealing as well.
     
  14. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #14 piersg, Jun 11, 2010
    It is a CS with a CGS head, and later CGSS brakes. I would recommend an Amilcar, there is a deceptive amount of leg room and the car is surprisingly punchy, the little engine puts out about 30-33 bhp, weighs nothing, so in top gear you can bounce happily around at 50mph.
    Let me know if you want any info, there is a guru in southern England who can help, and I have a friend who is putting an aero engine in his CS, should be around 300bhp, will probably kill the driver, but at around 600bhp/ton with 1930's brakes steering will get your attention.
     
  15. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #15 piersg, Jun 11, 2010
    Buy a 550, it has to be the greatest bargain and at these prices it is tough to see how there could be any further depreciation. I love 355's actually I don't particulary like the standard 360, but the CS is a radically different animal...
     
  16. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,026
    socal
    #16 fatbillybob, Jun 11, 2010
    The panamera is the ugliest thing I have ever seen well actually the pontiac aztek still wins that one.
     
  17. kickstart

    kickstart Rookie

    May 8, 2008
    15
    Cheshire, UK
    #17 kickstart, Jun 29, 2010
    Interesting to read your story about the 550. This summer after owning my car for nearly 3 years I had the first opportunity to take it for a proper cross europe trip.

    On the wednesday night we drove from Cheshire across to Hull on the NE coast in the usual rush hour traffic and got the overnight ferry to Rotterdam. On the thursday morning we set off for a high speed blast across the Netherlands and then the fun of the unlimited German autobahns. The car was clearly made for these types of roads, empty, super smooth, two lane gentle curves and 80 - 150mph totally legally. Fantastic.

    After 3 days at the Nurburgring racing my old 1969 Marcos and a few track sessions with the Ferrari around the ring it was back again for a wonderful run across Germany. The race (Eiferennen) went pretty well to boot - 3 hours round the ring and the modern GP circuit to make a 25km lap - cannot claim to have won but we finished and didn't embarass ourselves in wet and very slippery conditions.

    Have fun
     
  18. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

    Oct 12, 2003
    2,535
    Coronado, CA
    Full Name:
    RSK
    #18 nerd, Jun 29, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. open roads

    open roads F1 Rookie

    Jan 28, 2007
    3,799
    Sarasota, Fl.
    Full Name:
    Stan
    #19 open roads, Jun 29, 2010
    An Amilcar!!!! You are my hero. So that explainss the Morgan in part. Wanted more of a GT eh?
     
  20. Bullitt1

    Bullitt1 Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2007
    484
    Boca Raton, FL
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #20 Bullitt1, Jul 6, 2010
    Well, we owned a 308 GTSi, traded for a 328 a few years ago (really nice and for sale http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281428 ).
    IMO, the 328 is really the completion of the 308. I see the 328 as the 308 with all the bugs and kinks worked out of her. In some ways, the 308 looks better, is some ways the 328 is prettier, but in every other way, the 328 is superior. Everything just works (and feels) better.
    We are looking for a 550 when we sell the 328 :). Talk about a superior car :)
     
  21. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,178
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #21 tazandjan, Jul 6, 2010
    Chris- And the 575M is to the 550 like the 328 is to the 308.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  22. wbklink

    wbklink F1 Rookie

    Sep 2, 2009
    3,420
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Bill Karp
    #22 wbklink, Jul 6, 2010
    Your 550 and CS make a beautiful couple !
    may they live happily ever after...
     
  23. ND Flack

    ND Flack Formula 3

    Sep 18, 2007
    1,051
    DC
    #23 ND Flack, Jul 6, 2010
    I wanna hear more about the Morgan!
     
  24. piersg

    piersg Karting

    Jun 26, 2007
    61
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Piers
    #24 piersg, Jul 7, 2010
    It is a 1961 +4 with about 20k miles, almost completely original, and will stay that way. It was bought to race by my friend Arch McNeil, and he did very succesfully in the 60's through to the 80's although in the later part of the cars racing career he used the car very sparingly.

    He raced in E class, so modifications were limited, looks like the engine has a very high compression (210lbs in every cylinder) freer flowing exhaust manifold and that is about as nuch as I can see. Mechanically the car is in great shape
    I have put in an aluminum radiator and new exhaust system-and by myself (which is more than I could ever do on a Ferrari), so now she is more comfortable in the Houston heat, and I love the car. it is a perfect expression of -wearing my rose tinted specs- more care free days, not fast really but fast enough given the handling brakes etc.

    Wonderful car, great history and my dogs love it too.
    You should all have one and of course an Amilcar.
     

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