Dear V12 friends. The best car in the world is soon to hit its golden age! Thirty years old is for most countries, at least in Europe, when cars become "oldtimers" or "veteran" and gets status as almost tax free and even exempt from emission zones and will get full insurance for dirt cheap and so on. The first 550 cars are actually 1997 model year cars, but the model was finished and launched to the press in July 1996, which makes it thirty years old next summer. What would be better than celebrating this starting off at Nürnburgring and drive down to for example Monaco and continue to Maranello over a few days? This is an IMPORTANT birthday for the 550 model and can be part of the ownership experience, also for people abroad, -as it will change status of the model from youngtimer to a proper classic car / oldtimer forever and might impact their values aswell if a proper event could take place. Many other important car models of the history of the car has experienced similar events to celebrate greatness on four rubber wheels! It was a great leap forward for Ferrari when they returned to front end V12 two seater touring cars, and the 550 Maranello was also were faster than the aging 512M, which at that time was a more extreme sports / super car. And the design, pure enjoyment and high quality of the model is what I REALLY love about this car. Michael Schumaker was important in the launch aswell and even had his own 550. Additionally, there were even made a special "Schumacker-edition" 550. We all know the sad status of Schumacker after his tragic accident and this launch was when he was the young Schumacker we all love for who he was and what he accomplished at that time. We here at Fchat have discussed about an European event a few years ago, and I like the idea alot. To still be able to drive fast safely in Germany might not be an opportunity which will last availible forever, and to drive these V12 tourers like they were built for here in Europe is a really cool experience. Have anyone heared anything about a 550 30th anniversary yet? Just asking... It could be a great way to unite 456, 550 and 575M owners from around the world for a great time together with possible track time at the Nürnburgring, Autobahn, Swiss alps and to explore Italy with an incredible amount of elegant V12 Ferraris from the Luca Cordero di Monezemolo era. A time with Pininfarina design ONLY, and way before hybrids and soon fully electric Ferraris.... There are still many of these cars in Europe. To ship a car from the States cost about the same as a belt service in America Any thoughts? Erik, Oslo
Fantastic idea Erik, Here is my Blu Tdf 550 at Silverstone in the UK on 15th September 2012 where 964 Ferraris participated in a Guinness World Records event for the largest parade of Ferrari cars. Would love to meet up with fellow V12 friends at some point in 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this wonderful machine! Image Unavailable, Please Login Regards, Enzo.
No need to ship my car It is MY 1997 so 2026 is too soon But I think I will manage to make it Too bad Michael Schumacher will not be able to join
Anyone know if factory is doing something? Possibly at end of season in Barcelona? Barcelona or Maranello, makes no difference. If my eternal major service plus then some is done by then, I'll be there and do some autobahn's on the way. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is set to host the 2026 Ferrari Finali Mondiali | Circuit de Catalunya
1997 red/nero. Will pass the 100k km mark next year - nice anniversary as well... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Factory may do some thing... and/or the French FOC (Club Ferrari France). We have a CFF meeting end of November, I will try and get some information. For instance this year the CFF celebrated the 328 4Oth anniversary, to avoid competing with the factory arranged 50th anniversary of the 308.
For me personally, an informal tour with a few cool people as suggested by Erik would be great. I most likely won't join a factory event. Nothing wrong with them - but I'm personally not too.keen on an overpriced event and sales pitches for classice certifications, service packages etc. Just not my kind of things...
I agree. I personally would prefer a cool event where enthusiasts can meet, but someone need to organize it. Which is not something I have any experience with myself. CFF is short for Club de Ferrari a la France?? Montezemolo should be one of the guests in my opinion. He did so much right for Ferrari and was Enzo's assistant for years. Ferrari today as a shock exchange registered company, seem to focus alot towards being a money machine, which in itself is not wrong when you run a business, but the small nice brand factor is somewhat less precent in my opinion. I know Lamborghini has had many great events for their models when the turn round numbers. Pininfarina as a company is also a natural guest... I don't know if they have any interest, but you never know. A good drive of let's say 1000 kms (or more) should also be part of the event. Any ideas to what could be the program of such an event?
This is a great idea and I would be interested as well only if the event makes without the somewhat embarrassing pomp and circumstance usually observed at official Ferrari events that gather (too many?) people. I already loathe group drives that involve more than 5 or 6 cars as they usually turn what was hoped to be a swift journey into a mini train of vehicles where everyone has to care more about keeping the herd of cars more or less together rather than enjoy the moment of actual proper driving in a proper scenery. I rather see such an event based at a hotel where we would stay for a few days in an area with many nice roads around it rather than some sort of big pilgrimage drive to Maranello or overdone fancy place. Just my input and I know it's not easy to put together such a rally.
Hi Timmo. I see your points here. It is not easy to go a lot of car together as one group. But due to the potential amount of people who might be interested, it can be possible to see many cars. Your idea to make trips out of a hotel might be a good way to do this. To check in a new hotel every day and find parking, car wash etc. can be a challenge some times. Has anyone been at the Pininfarina headquarters or museum (if they have one)? I feel the design of the car is quite important... A location in north of Italy or even Switzerland would be a good place in opinion.
