HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello

Pick of the Day: 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello

The ‘Daily Driver’ Ferrari

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Most Ferraris are garage queens. They are fair-weather cars only driven in pristine conditions and are more than often ornamental to a man cave. They are status symbols. They represent hand-built innovation – and a very pricey maintenance schedule.

But what of a Ferrari that you can drive every day, and have reasonable reliability and even some practicality? The Pick of the Day is one of them, a 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Kelowna, British Columbia.

One of my absolute favorite Ferraris is the front-engine, 5.5 liter V12-powered 550. This model, compared with other cherished prancing horses, makes a good commuter car. It has a roomy two-seat cockpit, storage for luggage, a nice ride – and with a gated shifter and power to spare at 485 horsepower.

This pretty example is in Grigio Titanio Metallic over Black Daytona-style seat trim and dark blue carpeting.

According to the dealer, the car is “expertly detailed by our professional detail bay upon arrival, this exhilarating, sporty, and beautifully sounding 550 Maranello comes to us in amazing condition with no accidents, a front bumper 3M paint protection and passes our stringent 100-point inspection.”

One consideration on any Ferrari is the cost of maintaining the car. Major service is more dependent on time than mileage – it is suggested to be done every six years. The positive on having a front-engine car vs. a mid-engine car is that the service can be done right in the engine bay. With mid-engine Ferraris, the engine needs to be pulled for major service – add $15,000 to the tab.

A major service, which includes cam seals, belts, water pump, fuel and air filters runs about $7,500. The 550 loves to be driven but hates to sit still. So, if you have one, drive it. Because of the weight of this car, brakes and tires should be monitored closely.

With 67,664 miles on the odometer and priced reasonably at $104,993, it should be a fun, almost everyday runner. But be mindful that, since the dealer does not mention a “service” but instead an “inspection,” it most likely may need a service before hitting the open road. 

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Tom Stahler
Tom Stahler
Tom Stahler is the Managing Editor of the ClassicCars.com Journal. Tom has a lifelong love of cars and motor racing – beginning with the 1968 USRRC race at Road America, in a stroller, at eight months of age. His words, photos and broadcasts can can be found on a myriad of media. He has won the Motor Press Guild’s Dean Batchelor Award and a Gold Medal in the International Automotive Media Awards.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Do you know of a Kali’s Kindor from Spokane Valley. Asked him about a car and a girl leaning on it with a metal watch bracelet yesterday ( a Datsun 240 Z ) You wouldn’t believe the responses I received

    • Ron, Pick of the Day is an editorial decision based on what the editorial staff picks out individually. However, if you think we might be wowed by your car, feel free to reach out. toms@classiccars.com Thanks for being a reader!

  2. What does any of this have to do with the Ferrari?
    Sweet btw.
    Love the front engined muscle Ferraris. Had a friend in the Kingdom drove a white over tan 400i, V12 & GM supplied TH400 auto with a rack of 6 2bbl Webers; intake howl to summon Satan himself, skincrawly exhaust note, and GM supplied Frigidaire A/C for the Saudi climate.
    This 550 Maranello looks very much as the example provided by Mark Knoffler to Alain Decadanet (sp?) for the series “Victory by Design”.
    Beauty. Grace. Front engine- what’s not to love?

  3. I bought a 550 2 years ago and in my 8mo. search after driving 9 550’s ranging in milage from 10k to 62k I found that well maintained high milage car drove the best and did it with a lot better price tag.

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