Looking to reinvigorate its 12-cylinder offerings and give a slight nod to its illustrious past, Ferrari introduced the 550 Maranello to great acclaim in 1996. The factory had been without a two-seat, front-engined V-12 coupe since the Daytona was discontinued in the early 1970s, and the 550 Maranello was lauded as a wonderful successor to that iconic model. This was a return to the company’s golden days of the 1960s, with spectacular performance, a spacious trunk, and a rear parcel shelf that could easily carry enough luggage for a week-long road trip for two.
After the success of the berlinetta, Ferrari soon realized that there would also be a market for an open version, and it introduced the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina (in deference to its long-time coachbuilder) at the 2000 Paris Motor Show. It had a shorter, more aggressively raked windshield, three-piece alloy wheels, an aluminum fuel-filler door, and a restyled rear deck that actually offered more trunk space than the coupe. The Barchetta was a true roadster, fitted with racing seats and a soft-top only suitable for low-speed use—Ferrari’s way of telling its clients to have some fun in the sun. Only 448 Barchettas were built, and they have become a “core” model for any Ferrari collection that includes recent vintages.
The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina offered here was the 135th of the 448 cars and is an original U.S.-specification example, finished in classic Rosso Corsa with Beige interior. According to the consignor, it was distributed through Ferrari North America but was originally delivered in South America, subsequently spending time in Texas and California. At the time of cataloguing, it had recorded 3,344 original miles and remains in excellent original condition throughout. Importantly, it has also been awarded Ferrari Classiche certification. It is accompanied by its factory removable soft-top, a set of manuals in their folio, car cover, keys, and even the rare original set of Pininfarina open-face helmets with which it was supplied when new.
Ferrari’s 550 Barchetta has remained incredibly successful and popular since new and is definitely one of the most collectible modern Ferraris, as it is the last manual-transmission, 12-cylinder barchetta. This example, in excellent original condition, would be an exceptional addition to any collection.
Photos: RM Sotheby’s
2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina
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