Maranellos are disappearing

Anyone else read through the invoices ? Good God ! It’s more like a restoration. Required a full gearbox rebuild right after the 6speed conversion.

 

The rpms. are definately too high for the speed in my opinion. A 550 or 575 can CRUISE at 140 mph. all day long (at about 25% throttle)…… Those 48 valves really breath when these 12-cylinder horses are working at cruising altitude. It is a shame it took Ferrari so many years to make their cars with less rpms while cruising. Modern cars can «outrun» these easily just because they have less rpms. so you can go longer more comfortably and run much longer on the same amount fuel. I have the solution, and that is to change the final drive ratio. I know the price and where to get it. We just need to order together to get the price down!!

 

... wait.. BAT 575 is a converted car?

 

Yes. With rebuilt gearbox right after conversion…..among other “issues”

 

I assume you are being a wisenheimer ;-)

 

Unfortunately not . I just didn’t bother to read the ad. I like pictures. Carry on.. .

 

Prompted by your post I have just looked at the invoices. That car has had an extraordinary amount spent on it. I reckon, more than $200,000 from the invoices shown and ten of those invoices are for more than $10,000!!!! Incredible!

 

Insane. Not sure if it’s a poorly built car, bad owners, or bad mechanics.

 

Nice 550 at Foskers. Just my spec

https://www.foskers.com/showroom/2000-ferrari-550-maranello/75

I'm struggling a bit with the interior description as being :-

The paintwork retains a deep gloss and the interior shows little sign of wear

 

SOLD for £66,500 + fees (£70,490).

 

Interesting. What do you think it would have sold for as a RHD car?

 

The delta always used ot be around £10K less for LHD. No idea what it is now.

At 20 years old + there really isn't a going rate for these cars anymore. It's all about condition, history and mileage. In reality I think the mileage part is getting less relevant unless you're one of these people that needs a sub 5000 mile show piece to sit in a museum.

I'm very keen on the one at Foskers, I called them about it yesterday and I'm waiting for them to do a full inspection on it before I view it. It's on consigment with them and needs a bit of love on the interior. Asking price is £95,000, lets see if it goes anywhere, I particularly like the spec of that one.

 

Desirable cars seem to sell quickly-the red car at Tom Hartley Jnr for 125k seems to have gone and i enquired about the ex Ross Brawn car at 145k but was already sold.

 

Can imagine quite a few 'classic' Ferrari built 1982-2004 currently living within the expanded ULEZ London area will either not be used regularly or even sold off to folks living outside London? 12.50 a day might not seem much but it adds up pretty fast ..

 

The gap between good an average seems to be widening. The real nice ones are either being snapped up or not even making it to market. The ex Brawn car really was a lovely spec bar the aftermarket brakes/wheels which are an easy change.

The average stuff is sticking. Average is pretty much what I'm after so something that needs some cosmetic tlc is probably right up my street as long as the mechanicals are sound. It just need to be "average" price. That's the sticky bit.

For me part of the joy of owning something like this is the tinkering and tidying bits up.

 

That's my exact sentiment, with cars that need a bit of work I always felt more connected since my own sweat and many times blood had a hand in keeping the car properly maintained and running as it should.

 

Confirms that just because something can be done doesn't mean it can be done economically. Reminds me of when a few used RHD cars were imported by a friend because he could get them cheaper than LHD cars in similar condition and could then convert them to LHD. Needless to say he's not doing that anymore.

 

£ 70 or £ 75 plus commission I think: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf21/london/lots/r0006-2000-ferrari-550-maranello/1159063 - which is half the very ambitious pre-sale estimate......

 

So, plus 20% VAT and recommissioning (what would that be: £10k to £20k??). so, probably a £110k car. Wonder what history it had.

 

Is the VAT on levied at point of registration? I would have thought that had to be paid at point of import to clear customs?

The images suggest the car is already in the UK, assuming it's not in a bonded warehouse.

(I've never imported a car - but I do import other products through business monthly).

 

I'm absolutely not an expert on this but I believe you can import without paying the VAT on the basis that the vehicle is being imported to sell and may not remain in the UK (and the same with other jurisdictions, e.g. the EU). If that is the case, the auction listing will usually state something to the effect that VAT will be payable if it remains.

 

A reasonably priced well used rosso corsa 550 at a dealer here https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/6099523-ferrari-550-maranello/

 

I went and test drove this 550 today. It was in lovely condition up close bar the interior which really just need a good tidy up.

This is the first 550 I've ever driven, I've only ever driven 575's previously F1 and Manual. What I wasn't prepared for was how different the 550 is to a 575 to drive.

What is it they say about not meeting your heroes? So it turns out I'm after a 575.

However if anyone really want a 550 go see this quick, it will sell quickly.

They had a 575 in the showroom in Rosso Corsa and it looked immaculate, in and out. They just can't sell it as no one want's a red 575.

 

Interesting- what didn't you like?

 

I think the reality of driving modern cars for so long has made me soft!

I found it heavy in a way the 575's I drove weren't, clutch, steering, gearchange, everything really. Ultimately I just didn't enjoy driving it which is the most important factor.

Right up until the moment I drove it, I was buying it. It was exactly what I thought I was looking for. I feel a bit deflated actually and I think I need to drive a 575 again.

Ultimately, getting back into my 2015 Mercedes SL for the drive back home was a joy. The whole scenario wasn't what I expected at all so I'm probably in need of a rethink. It's definitely me and not the car though.