Replaced by the 575M Maranello, the 550 is a classic V-12 front-engined Ferarri. The Barchetta was the open version, and only 448 were made so it’s a real collectors’ car.
Both models have similar specifications, starting with the 5.5 liter 65 degree V-12 four engine which develops 485 bhp at 7,000 rpm and 419 lb-ft (568 Nm) at 5,000 rpm. With that sort of power, the 550 is no mean performer. It will reach about 185 mph, and get to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, which is pretty damn quick.
Elegant Ferrari shape
Both cars are elegant with a long sloping nose, flush-fitting headlamps and a large Ferrari oval grille. The long hood with that central air intake makes you realise there is a lot of power underneath, and then there’s the svelte coachroof on the coupe, and the smart headrests that blend into the tail on the Barchetta. Individual rear lamps give the car an individual look They’re too very cool cars; great at Monte Carlo or round Alpine passes.
Le Mans GTS winner
Like the 575M, the 550 has a steel tubular space frame, developed from the sports racing Ferraris – a lightweight 550 won the Le Mans GTS class in 2003, so these cars have the handling characteristics close to those of a racer. The stiff frame is reinforced by the aluminum body which is welded – yes, welded to Feran sheet, which is in turn welded to the frame, all in one operation.
For the Barchetta, extra reinforcements were added to the frame, but since the rag top is operated manually, and is fabric, the extra weight of the reinforcement is similar to the weight saved by removing the roof of the coupe.
485 bhp V-12 engine
The engine, tuned to 540 bhp for the Le Mans cars, is a fine example of the Ferrari V-12, but maybe lacking some of the refinements of the engines in the 575M and Scaglietti. Still 485 bhp at 7,000 rpm in a car weighing around 3,725 lb (1,690 kg) gives a pretty heady performance. Maximum torque is quite hefty - 419 lb-ft (568 Nm) @ 5,000 rpm. The engine is coupled to a manual six-speed box.
Adjustable damping
Suspension is by double wishbones front and rear, with coil springs and dampers, as you’d expect. This was before the days of continuously variable dampers, but the 550s were equipped with damping you could adjust from the driver’s seat as you went along. The valve openings are altered by small electric motors on the dampers, and respond to your choice of settings.
The 550 Maranello and Barchetta are two fine cars, even if they were very expensive when new. However, almost all Ferrari owners look after their cars and do a fairly small mileage – this is true of most supercars – so you should be able to find one that is a few years old in immaculate condition. Probably for the price of a new Porsche 911, which sounds pretty good to me.
