Hi, I don't think anybody is dissing the Diablo or Countach. They (especially Countach) have been my dream cars also for quite a long time, but I have to admit that although I still admire them a lot, I would not take one and drive if from here over the mountains to the Riviera or to Le Mans Classic next summer. A Finnish friend did drive his Diablo VT roadster to Le Mans and back last year. I only drove our 456 GT from Frankfurt there (and did three laps on the big circuit! ) with two kids (back then 12 and 17 years old) and then to Burgundy, from there to Bordeaux (Arcachon) and via Mulhouse back to Frankfurt (and had my wife onboard for a short while in Bordeaux). Now we could not do that in any other car conveniently. And even if driving alone or with my wife or son, I don't think I'd do any big tour with a Countach or a Diablo. Just too exhausting, too much noise, too much to worry about etc. But I am glad some folks do. I did sit in the Diablo around Le Mans, with the top off, it was great. But still it's not a car for me. From the drivers point of view the 456 GT and the Maranello are very similar. Ok, you can chime in about how the Maranello is shorter, lighter, faster etc. but IMHO the difference is very small. And the 456 GT seats four, which is sometimes really, really good. Anybody got the numbers, just for curiosity, to see how they compare to the amounts of TR's and 550's and 575's made? 456GT 456GTA 456MGT 456MGTA Cheers, Pekka T. Fin.
To respond to the latest replies here... the most expencive 550 Barchetta I have heared about was sold (probably) in the 800-900.000 USD range. About space... i love to drive the 550 at high speeds. To do that, Germany is the country although you CAN do it in several other countries too even if it is highly unrecommended (good English word?). In real life, this require a one week road trip. Then luggage is quite important! I believe the finest Maranellos can fetch 2-300.000 in ten years. As I never see a 550 on the roads in any country in Europe it must become quite hot in the years to come. And from my 30.000 miles per year in many European countries, that is a pretty strong statement regarding their rarity! Amen Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
The numbers I have (I am no specialist at all of these cars!) are somewhat conflicting, but hopefully a true specialist will clear these very soon: 456GT: 1548 (of which 141RHD) 456GTA: 403 (or 402?) 456MGT: 688 (some sources say 640) 456MGTA: 650 (some sources say 631) Rgds
There is a typo in one of the entries on my production numbers listing. The correct numbers here (correcting 512TR). The numbers are official data, the dates are not. Testarossa: 7177 1984-92 512 TR: 2280 1992-94 (not 3280 per previous) F512M: 501 1995-96 550 Maranello: 3083 1997-2001 575M Maranello: 2064 2002-2005 Nerofer, the number Ferrari give us to use for 512TR is 2280, rather than 2261. As some some highly informed Fchatters historically pointed out on the general discussion board, these official numbers may have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
I think you can generally believe official production numbers for non-limited edition cars. However, you do have to be careful about exactly what the numbers represent. For example: Are they for the entirety of production (Cavallino continue to quote a very low number for Challenge Stradale production, for instance - three hundred and something - because that was how many made when the question was asked and it was a lot nearer the start of production than the end)? Do 550 numbers include or exclude Barchettas? Right hand drive numbers are almost always incorrect because people take numbers published for UK right hand drive to be all right hand drive, forgetting about Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. Then there are misprints to take into account and one person's guess being reported by another person as an official Factory figure when it is nothing of the kind. Plus prototypes which may not be counted in production totals but may still end up sold on. Jonathan
Maranellos are disappearing because no one is selling them. After prices doubled there is a correction. High priced ones are sitting and no one wants to accept a low price,so they are waiting for prices to go up. Could be a wait.
550 production of 3083 does not include Barchettas. That number (448), plus 33 WSRs added to 3083 (3564) may be where the incorrect 3600 number originates. Not even sure if the 33 is included in the 3083 or not. For 456s I have: 456 GT 1534 456 GTA 402 456M GT 668 456M GTA 660 All GTs 2202 All GTAs 1062 2:1 GTs to GTAs total, but even for Ms. In the UK 141 GT/61 GTA, 33 M GTA/139 M GTA. Helps to understand the 456 GTA did not come out until CY1996 and as MY1997 in the US. Lots of GTs sold before then.
I fully agree; official production numbers from the factory are fairly reliable usually, but not those for "series spéciales". What would be very helpful is that any one: car salesmen, description for auction, writer of books, internet posters, etc...used the usual "rules of research and courtesy" and quoted the sources for the figures he use; as this is almost never the case, some strange figures - sometimes simply wrong - are published and repeated to the point that many believe them to be true. Furthermore, should anyone believe the factory figures to be wrong, his assertion should be explained and demonstrated, which is almost never the case. A good example of how it should be done is Michael Sheehan's article "How many Apertas?" Just to give an example, and sorry to beat that dead horse again... This is precisely the case in the often quoted discrepancy in the production numbers of the glass 308 GTBs (= "Vetroresina" in Italian); the factory ALWAYS said that 808 "Vetroresinas" were made. Gerald Roush, in an article, tried to cross-check the calculation and ended at 712. This figure, published by a reputable author in a reputable magazine, became the norm, most writers therefore saying that the factory figure of 808 was wrong...even after Gerald Roush himsef apologised for having mistaken (exactly what Jonathan says above...) the figure of 154 RHD cars for the total RHD production, whereas it was only the UK RHD cars, so the Australian cars (= 44) were missing at least, plus probably others for South Africa, etc... So, even if the bean counters do not fully arrive at 808 today, one thing is sure, the often quoted "712" is plainly wrong, and the actual numbers of glass cars produced is actually nearer of the factory figure of "808", or even, who knows, might actually be exactly that... I see no reason to doubt the factory production numbers for "standard" cars, even if reconciliation of numbers is sometimes very difficult for the years when production changed from one type to the other, with the usual overlapping of the two cars for several months. In that aspect, and for instance, 1980 is a nightmare with the last carbed 308s and the first injected two-valves overlapping for six months... But usually, the factory production numbers, if these come from an "official" factory publication indeed, are fairly reliable for "standard" cars. Rgds
Great collection of rare Maranellos in UK this weekend at Car-Iconics in Rutland. Immaculate low miles 550; first 575 off production line; Geneva show prototype 575 HGTC; a fantastic low miles 575 HGTC; and suoer-rare 575 HGTC with 3 pedals. Also a number of other 12 cylinders - including Elton John 365BB, plus another truly immaculate version, and a couple of Testarossas. See www.car-iconics.com for details.
What will give us a good idea of the market is the Historics at Brooklands auction on Nov 25 where there are two 550s up for sale.
Taz you are quite right and when I said Barchettas I did really mean to say WSRs - which probably only proves my own point about how easy it is to make mistakes! Jonathan
I'm not so sure it will. The black car is ex-Japan and has been for sale for ages and the other car is a Euro car where the description talks about an expensive engine repair. It may be entirely without justification but I don't think I'm alone in having the impression that certain types of car only go to auction when there's some sort of story that makes them a hard sell through other sales channels. Obviously, I'm not talking about the high end classics where auction is one of the main routes for sale but I don't think you tend to see very many top quality 550s (for example) at auction. Jonathan
We are familiar with most of the 575Ms mentioned above at Iconics, including 123761, the first 575M we can document. We also helped the original owner of the first 575M HGTC establish that his was indeed the first because of certain features like hand-turned front wheels still marked only with the old part number instead of 210660. Pretty sure we know where the 3 pedal HGTC originated, too, since we helped the original owner find a buyer. Some special cars tend to reappear, usually at a higher asking price.
with Ferrari shifting to hybrids in a couple years, having a big V12 attached to a beautiful body will be part of the history books, thats when these beautiful works of art will take off.
That sounds about right actually..I hadn't looked at the descriptions in detail. I'd be quite surprised if they sell, given the estimates. There is just one really nice looking 550 I recall having seen at auction in the past couple of years in the UK . The Canna di Fucile one which sold for £110k last year at Silverstone Auctions, as discussed here. I'd have bought it if I didn't have a 550 already. http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/ferrari-550-maranello-7054
Here's a decent looking 550 up at auction at Bonhams December sale. UK car, lived in Denmark and is now back. It doesn't appear to have a complete service history, but looks good in the pix. Estimate £100-£130k, 19k miles claimed. http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24124/lot/114/?category=list&length=10&page=2
Not to be negative, but this car would suit better a black or beige interior. Cream and red don't go that good together in my opinion. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Red/cream is quite a popular combination in the UK, I think more so than on the continent where red/black seems prevalent for this era of Ferraris...as a generalisation. My Italian 550 is red/black. I quite like red/cream myself, but not with red carpets. However, this is very much a matter of personal taste.
The good thing is that it is a good theme for discussion The more strange color set-up, the more interesting!! Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I see all these maranellos for sale and the asking prices are all over the map, what are they really selling at these days? What would one like mine be worth: 2002 red/tan 18k miles, recent major ie within 300 miles, clutch 3000 miles ago. I see asks on ebay from 84k to 188k for F1s the 84k one is salvage so scrap that one but whats one like mine realistically worth at this juncture. I have all the service history from 10k miles on. The first 2 owners never really saved anything but I have all the paperwork for the last couple years
