Ferrari 550 Maranello: the Hope Classic Guide
You won't be surprised to hear that our Maranello was one of this year's Hope Classic stars - so here's our guide to Ferrari's V12, 199mph grand tourer.
Capable of 0-62mph in a very respectable 4.4 seconds and able to reach 199mph where the law allows, the 550 Maranello is as potent as it is handsome - and has the kind of performance that has aged well, allowing the 2+2 to hold its head high in comparison with the best of the modern supercars.
And it's worth remembering that the Maranello represented something of a revolution for Ferrari during the '90s, both in design and configuration, replacing the mid-engined 512 with a front-engined, 5.5-litre V12 (hence the 550 name).
The car was launched at the legendary Nurburgring in July of 1996, and there were just over 3000 built before its demise in 2001. If you go hunting for one today, don't expect to find any example with a fancy auto box; the 550 Maranello only came with a gated manual gearshift. The 485bhp V12 is absurdly torquey; you can, if you're in the mood, spin the wheels in sixth.
Our 550 Maranello was predictably popular at both the Hope Classic Rally in June, and in the subsequent Driving Through The Ages day at Goodwood - so by popular demand, here's our whirlwind guide to the best reviews of the front-engined Ferrari, although with our coverage of the car from the two events.
What the experts say...
Car magazinethe gearing allows you to accelerate almost seamlessly to crazy speeds
"...Not once during those 30,000 miles did I ever encounter that horrible feeling when a car does something unexpected when you’re pushing on."
"I discover that if you run the V12 out to 7400rpm – something it’s amazingly willing to do – the gearing allows you to accelerate almost seamlessly to crazy speeds, the engine pulling hard immediately after every upshift."
" it doesn’t shrink around you. Instead, you’re always conscious of its size: the 550 feels like a Very Grand Tourer. Which is exactly what it was supposed to be."
"Around town, a 550 is almost as docile as a Mondeo, but get onto an open road, put your foot down and brace for a relentless slug of lag-free power, accompanied by a chilling howl from the engine."
The 550 Maranello at Driving Through The Ages
A very lucky group of winning bidders at June's Hope Classic charity in June won a day with a collection of some of the finest classics on earth. Driving Through The Ages was staged at Goodwood House in September, with a collection that included a Jaguar XK120, a Porsche 911 RS, a Mercedes-AMG GT R, and - of course - our Ferrari 550 Maranello.
The Ferrari 550 Maranello at the 2019 Hope Classic Rally
In June of this year, we assembled a stellar cast of classics at Brooklands for the 2019 Hope Classic Rally - including this stunning Ferrari 550 Maranello.
Oh, and before you go...
Put the date in your diary now - the next Hope Classic Rally is on June 26 and 27, 2020!
If you want to support us - either by donating your classic, or attending the event, or becoming a sponsor - we'd be delighted to hear from you; just head to the Hope Classic Rally website here.
The Hope Classic Rally is organised by classic enthusiasts, and allows other enthusiasts to bid to drive some of the world's greatest cars - with the money going to driving sustainable change for vulnerable children in Africa.
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