Ferrari 550 maranello cars for sale in California

Ferrari : 550 Maranello SPECTACULAR 1998 FERRARI 550 MARANELLO - A BLACK ON BLACK BEAUTY WITH 11K MILES

$89,500

Beverly Hills, California

EDITORIAL: Just about everything that prances out of the Ferrari factory these days is weapons-grade sports car chock-full of computerized transmissions and modern race technology. Ferrari is synonymous with incredible leading edge advancements so buyers expect breakthroughs with every new model. That's one reason you haven't been able to buy a Ferrari with a true manual transmission for years. That's too bad because the classic gated shifter and wonderfully weighted stick shift were trademarks of the brand. The last Ferrari to be offered exclusively with a manual transmission throughout its entire production run was the 550 Maranello. The 550 was a bit of a retro car even at the time. As the successor to the mid-engined Testarossa and 512 TR, the 550 looked back to the Ferraris of the 1960s and early 1970s and brought back the front engine V-12. And what an engine. The big twelve packs 478 hp and 419 lb-ft of torque. Shift the six-speed like a pro and the 550 could hit 60 mph in just over 4 seconds and keep pulling to 199 mph. The 550 gave way to the modern era of the paddle shift which soon became the dominant way to change gears. Ferrari and the automotive world in general hasn't looked back since 2005 with very few exceptions. The manual gated gearbox hasn't been available for the V/12 since 2007 as only a few 612's and 599's were made with them during 2005-07. Estimates are at 5% for the production of those two vehicles. Ferrari hasn’t been looking out for the enthusiasts who helped build the brand. The don’t recognize that Ferraristas still want the power and fluidity produced by the combination of a V12 and that so smooth 6-speed gated gearbox. Ferrari now caters to newbies who can’t get enough sound from the V8 so they need Tubis, don’t know how to downshift so they use the paddle, and think that owning a Ferrari as status rather than for the pure pleasure of the drive. Had the new generation of Ferrari owners ever had the chance of driving what the 550 offers, they’d ditch all that exhaust noise and comfort of the automatic transmission and learn how to drive and enjoy the sound of pure power with all those valves and cylinders, the whine of the transmission, and the feeling for the road that only the manual transmission offers. What’s better than a double clutch downshift from 3rd to 2nd into the apex of a tight curve and powering out of it without hitting the brakes and back to speed again? THE CAR: This black beauty with black leather Daytona seats has only 11,784 miles. All major service and belts have just been done in January, 2014 at Ferrari Newport Beach for $6,000. No sticky interior and no dash tears or shrinking. It always starts, fluids perfect and all temperatures are normal. The body is perfect as is the paint. No nicks, dents, ripples or smudges. No accidents. Interior is perfect. No wear on the seats or carpets. Transmission shifts smoothly and effortlessly. Engine purrs just like the V12s are supposed to sound. Car cover included. Custom two piece aluminum and stainless wide set wheels.The car was recalled for a Factory authorized exhaust manifold change out in 2001. The speedometer was changed at that time with 3673 miles on it. There is a certification on the driver side door jam. I'm not sure if they started it at zero or at 3673. As much as I try to get to the answer, it's 13 years ago and the service record is not available. It really doesn't matter because at the most, add 3673 miles to the current odometer reading of just over 12,000 miles. It shows up in the CarFax which is otherwise clean. Although the 550s were under appreciated during the production years, it has proven to be extremely reliable and is now highly sought after for several reasons. It is essentially the last 12-cylinder Ferrari production car that was available with a gated manual six-speed transmission. The silky smooth engine and gearbox reminds us of the time when Ferraris were really fun to drive. That combination is what true Ferrari enthusiasts seek. The meshing of 48 valves, 12-cylinders, 4 exhausts and a six-speed transmission make it a fantastic car to drive. You get the real feeling of the road with it. Paddle shifts just don't get it! Ugh! The maintenance on these cars is indeed low because not much goes wrong with them and the parts are relatively cheap. You rarely see a 550 at any of the Ferrari service centers; that's because a 12-cylinder manual shift combination has proven to be very reliable. Owners of low mileage 550s with the right color combination can look forward to good appreciation in the future. These cars have held their prices and are now on the uptick. The cars are rare so don't miss out. For any additional questions, please contact Mark at 310-345-9419. 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Hours of operation are: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:30 pm PST Our telephone number is: 310.247.3900 Multiple Purchases: If you win an item but wish to continue bidding on other antiques, we ask that you kindly email us and let us know so we can combine your invoices and ship your items together. Shipping & Handling: The buyer is responsible for payment of shipping & handling charges. Charges include expert packing, door to door shipping and insurance. Due to the volume of business, we are able to offer you this at the best rate available. Your tracking number will be emailed to you. Feedback: We encourage you to check our feedback to see what other buyers think of our products and services. Positive feedback is automatically posted when cleared payment is received. If you have an issue with a transaction, please contact us to resolve your issue before posting negative feedback or filing a claim. We offer friendly, reliable customer service and our goal is to satisfy our customers. Money Back Guarantee/Returns & Refund Policy: We offer a 100% money back guarantee on each item. If you are not satisfied with your purchase please contact us within 3 days of receipt of your antiques. After 5 days, your purchase is considered a final sale. There will be a 15% restocking charge and the buyer is responsible for shipping. Antiquarian Traders has not had a returned item in over 15 years! All shipping & handling charges and any other expenses you may incur when returning merchandise are NON-REFUNDABLE expenses. Contact Information Mark Slotkin Owner Antiquarian Traders 303 S. Robertson Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211 310.247.3900 Phone 310.247.8864 Fax 310.345.9419 Mobile Thank You for Choosing Antiquarian Traders!

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