I've always had a problem with the look of the Barchetta. This car I do like better. The lines just look alot cleaner.. Anymore pics?
What you said about Wide World Ferrari's client sending it to Straman is true. I should know because I was his salesperson and arranged to get the "donor" car for him and sent it to Straman etc. What is untrue about comments is that the owner was "shocked" when he learned that Ferrari was making one (the 550 Barchetta). He was fully aware that the Barchetta was coming and had ordered his a little bit after his 550 conversion was completed and delivered.
Straman built two. The conversion price was $75k. One in poor condition sold a couple of years ago at auction for $110k as I remember.
The one at auction was the subject car from this original thread. It was actually very nice. Not poor condition at all. Asking price had been ~$165K with no takers before going to auction. The auction result was actually a surprise and a disappointment. Much less than expected. No doubt it would bring more now. In fact, I would be an eager buyer at the price it went for today...and I already have a very nice 550. Topless is the way to go...
Here is a good thread on the subject car: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/stans-straman-550-spider.477417/
Someone from the Ferrari Market Letter reported on the auction and gave that car a very poor rating. He said it looked like it had about ten times the claimed mileage.
Could be...as none of us have seen it in person. Still a heck of a nice V12 6 speed ragtop for $110K...
