The 550 marked Ferrari's return to producing a front-V12 engined two-seat Berlinetta, a type of car they hadn't manufactured since the demise of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona in 1973. The 550 Maranello features a high tensile welded tubular steel chassis, a frame that featured an extremely rigid central cage and advanced underbody aerodynamics. Wider track at the front than rear improves turn-in while a variable damper control system affords the driver Normal and Sport suspension settings. Speed sensitive power steering varies the level of assistance accordingly. Lightweight components were used throughout the construction of an all-new 5.5-litre 65° V12, cast alloy being used for the cylinder block, four-valve heads and sump while there were also forged alloy Mahle pistons and titanium conrods helping produce an enormous output of 485bhp at 7,000rpm, 45bhp up on the outgoing F512 with its five-litre flat-12. All 550 Maranello's used a six-speed manual gearbox and variable back pressure exhausts similar to those previously seen on Ferrari's limited production F50. Weight distribution was split perfectly 50/50 front/rear and greatly contributed to the exceptional handling and balance dynamics.

Performance-wise, 0-60 requires just 4.3 seconds while a top speed of 199mph is attainable given suitable road conditions. The body design by Pininfarina featured a number of acknowledgements to the 550's forebears, not least with its 250 GTO-style fender vents carved out from behind each front wheelarch and a Daytona-inspired cut-off tail with two circular light clusters either side. Other prominent features were a hood-mounted engine scoop that boosted air pressure inside the intake system to gain 20bhp, and a solitary vent on the left-hand side rear wing forcing cool air into a brake radiator.

The 550 was also Ferrari's first all-new model since their 1968 Daytona not to feature retractable headlights, fixed homofocal front clusters enhance the rakish nose with its wide grille opening. The Maranello was replaced in 2002 by Ferrari's 575M, the new car heralding the arrival of Magnetti Marelli's F1 paddle shift transmission for the first time on a V12 GT.

This example was supplied new by Garage de L’Athénée, Geneva to Mr Colin Hill in RHD, UK specification on 31st August 1998. Optioned new in the wonderful Canna di Fucile ( a warm metallic grey than now finds itself in Ferrari’s historical colour palette) over Crema.

The car was imported to the UK after just 11 months and registered to Mr G Denham of the Denham Motor Company in Essex. Retaining the car for just 6 months, the car was then sold to its current owner of 24th March 2000.

Accompanied by its original service book and book pack, complete with delivery stamp in the front cover. All servicing has been carried out in the UK with no fewer than 17 service stamps in the book from Ferrari main dealerships and DK Engineering. As documented by the comprehensive service history and MOT history, this example has been used extremely sparingly but serviced with no expense spared. Covering an average of just 260 miles a year since purchase, the car has covered just 8,900 miles from new.

With a fresh major service and ‘sticky switches’  replaced, this fabulous, exceedingly low mileage 550 Maranello is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.

Please refer to our main website www.dke.co.uk for full details, additional photos, our terms of sale and accurate pricing as some websites may use out of date currency exchange rates: https://www.dkeng.co.uk/ferrari-sales/1708/prestige_cars/ferrari_550_maranello.html