The Ferrari 550 Maranello is a two-seat grand tourer manufactured from 1996 through to 2001 and is powered by a front-engined V12. It shared its platform and 5,474cc engine with the 456 but was positioned as the company's high-end model. The car used a transaxle layout with the six-speed manual gearbox located at the back, in-line with the driven wheels. It featured a luxurious and spacious interior and, unusually for a Ferrari, the boot could accommodate a set of golf clubs. The 550 has a tubular steel frame chassis with light, aluminium bodywork. The Ferrari 550 has enjoyed a great amount of success on the racing circuits, often in collaboration with Prodrive. Ferrari sent a slightly 'souped-up' version to an oval test track in Columbus, Ohio and set three new world records as follows:
- Covering 100 miles at an average speed of 190.2mph.
- Driving for one hour at an average speed of 184mph.
- Covering 100 kilometres at 188.9mph.
To celebrate these records, Ferrari built 33 road cars to the exact specification of the record setting car. The differences over the standard car are the Fiorano handling pack, leather trimmed roll cage, suede covered steering wheel and carbon bucket seats with Daytona stitching and race harnesses. Other changes included the Scuderia wing shields, sports exhaust, brake callipers in Rosso, Bordeaux carpets and a WSR plaque.
Supplied in the UK by Maranello Concessionaires and distributed by Ferrari agents Mortimer, Houghton and Turner to first owner, Chairman of Listers Group, Terry Lister, on 5th May 2000. Kept by the well-known automotive giant with fastidious care during his tenure supplying to original dealer Mortimer, Houghton and Turner in February 2003 for a cambelt change and service at 12,409 miles.
In 2005, the car benefitted from service and maintenance work at Graypaul Ferrari with an invoice totalling some £13,000, prior to entering long-term single ownership with a collector in Ireland which spanned 2009 – 2016. In 2017 the car was then bought back to the UK to be sold and received a further service, full inspection and cambelt change at 33,844 miles by Ferrari specialist Keys Motorsport Silverstone in February of that year.
Within the full report commissioned by the purchaser by Keys Motorsport it is detailed that the car handled well upon a full test and that the customer had requested the suspension ECU was disconnected due to the actuators and accelerometer logging a fault, this controls the adjustment of the ride height we are informed over 150 mph and although not effecting the day to day handling of the car, naturally should you wish this would need to be reconnected.
Acquired by our vendor in 2017 this 550 WSR has covered just 106 miles in his ownership, purchased as a collector car and professionally stored from 2017 to 2023. In August 2023, Autostore Europe Ltd of Cambridge performed a timing belt service alongside other tasks with an invoice for £3,704 and of late has been fully detailed.
Given that this car has spent much of the past 20 years professionally stored as part of Ferrari collections we would suggest the suspension ECU and new tyres should be factored into future spend should you wish to test the limits of this rare limited numbers example but due to the rarity of the right hand drive Ferrari 550 World Speed Record Edition you may wish to tuck it away and watch prices inevitably rise.
It is believed just three WSR’s remain in the UK, this example is most definitely an investment opportunity and one for the serious Ferrari collectors. Accompanied by a Ferrari wallet and full set of manuals, this represents an opportunity to acquire a highly original, low-mileage example of one of the most exclusive road-legal Ferrari grand tourers of all times, an example we sit alongside those cars that could potentially ‘double your investment’ and a car which has already been justifiably elevated to be considered one of Maranello greats. Consigned by Mathew Priddy
