I've been letting this one sink in a little bit.....one question would be.....for a car like this one with "heavy" miles and "full pricing".....why not buy a more rare color combo with heavy options 575 at a reasonable price and then have the manual conversion done? That 550 with those miles isn't "investor grade" so might as well buy the more evolved 575 and do a conversion? A heavy optioned 575 and then converted could be had for less than $150k?
I'll pick on one example. This car sold 2x semi-recently and higher than I thought at the BAT link and review below. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148167547/ https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-ferrari-575-maranello-7/ Buy a nice color and optioned 575 with up to date maintenance (theoretically) and then spend call it $35k-ish on a conversion and you could be all in on a very nice 575 for $140-ish? That's probably "winning"......under the assumption that you want a driver and not an investment piece. I looked at a lot of 575's during my intense hunt....impossible to argue the evolution of the 575 from the 550. Also more frequent to find a "full optioned" 575 than the 550. For me it was all about the more analog 550 especially the gauges....but if the 575 gauges don't deter you then the manual converted 575 should be the cats pajamas?
You’re way better off with a high mileage car / return on investment… people don’t like modded Ferraris when shopping.
Agreed completely on how a huge majority of buyers want to see zero mods...and under 20k miles.... Heck my independent mechanic didn't even like to see mods. He tried to talk me into removing the MSW COP -- and I was...."hey, thanks for the thoughts but I'm buying this car BECAUSE of the mods"! I get it that many want "purity" and low miles....makes sense if your hold period is "undetermined". @root did a perfect job of having his 550 back to nearly perfect OEM status for his semi-recent sale of his 550 (removing Fabio's mufflers and selling to me) and making sure the OEM wheels were on and present. For me personally, I wanted a driver, and wanted as many evolutionary mods on the 550 as possible. It might be dumb but the analog 550 gauges mean a lot to me. That short list of modified Maranello Skunk Works 550's @Cribbj -- at least in my opinion -- are absolutely the ones to have......if you cant find one or cant do the MSW upgrades (COP is NLA as an example) then for a "driver"..... it seems like the smart move is a late model, fully optioned 575 and then either convert to 6MT or talk with @360trev and follow what @Clyde Romero has done.
I'm not concerned with resale. I -ruined- my F355 with modifications so would be perfectly happy with another modified car
"I'm not concerned with resale. " *** That was the decision that I made when I bought my Gated, FHP, 575M with 2,500 miles on the clock. I drive it.
You're probably closer to F355 would be buyers' preferences than I am. But my anecdotal observations tell me that the F355 buyer tends to be more accepting of mods than the typical 550/575 buyer. The F355 seems to be even immune to overdue service, multiple owners > 6, spotty service records, and even accident history whereas Maranello buyers tend to be more picky even when there are about 6 to 7 times more F355s than 550s.
When DeLoreans, e31s, and 928s with twice and three times the mileage are bringing about the same amount, yes I too can't get over how undervalued these cars are. I believe their relatively lower numbers in circulation has kept them under the radar.
Looks really sharp. Negotiate, and then redo the interior in black. With those modular wheels and fresh leather, you'll be sitting pretty.
Is that the Ohio State 550 ? The original owner of the Buckeye 550 owns or owned Foreign Cars Italia.
Clyde- Mine do not leak. On the 575M modulars, there is no gasket that has air behind it. There is on the 550/Barchetta modulars.
This is insane to me.... Following or extending from the conversion conversation thread regarding the HGTC cars....this one SOLD in the UK last week (originally a Czech car) for $96,520?!? I realize the European market is softer but that is an amazing value. https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2005-ferrari-575m-maranello-hgtc
Ugh....I need to stay off the internet. https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1999-ferrari-550-maranello-wsr This WSR Giallo LHD sold earlier this year as well. Wow....
LHD cars in the UK are taking a bath since separation from the EU. That HGTC 575M would have been worth quite a bit in the US, but not for another 8 years.
Totally Insane! What's even more insane is at the end of Sept when the USD was at an all time high this price would have been $85K!!
Heavy milage...?!?! Are you crazy? That engine is barely broken in. A California car with low miles like that should be very attractive. I bought a Jag in the same area many years ago and that car looked like new to the underside and runs superb even today at 160.000 miles. My 550 has over 100.000 miles and the engine runs like a new, or better than a brand new 550 engine with zero blue smoke or any problems what so ever. And it has never been apart. Se my picture with over 200 mph. All horses are still fresh. The factory brochure says "only" 199 mph. top speed, but that is not true. Harry Metcalf of "Harry's Garage" commented on this and had over 200 mph. a number of times himself. And like he says, MUCH faster past 300 kph. than his Pagani Zonda... This thing flies. And is only 20 kph. slower than a 740 hp. F12... You US guys must have a really weired perseption of what a Ferrari engine is like. Ok it is partly developed from a F1 engine, but it is not a race car engine. It is build to last a long time. If a 964 Turbo 3,6 is like 3-500.000 dollar right now, the 550 should be at least that if not more. A six cylinder Porsche is more like a beefed up VW Beetle in comparison, while the 550 Maranello is the king of analogue GT cars with the most sober and elegant design of all GTs and at the same time is a "high speed demon", and also a robust machine like a John Deere tractor. 159' is rather reasonable today, given that the most expencive 550s have sold for over 250.000 dollar lately. Case closed. Erik Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Although I live in the USA now, I have owned 3 x V12 Ferrari's in Europe and quite simply put, there is so many more places to visit when you live in Europe and own a V12 Ferrari. Having stated this, I find that many owners in the USA are obsessed with keep mileage as low as possible for future resale value which is a real shame!
