Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

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THE FERRARI F550 MARANELLO COUPE

AFTER OWNING EVERY IMPORTANT FERRARI FROM A CALIFORNIA SPYDER TO A 365BB BOXER TO A DAYTONA SPYDER WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS MODEL FERRARI AS THE CAR THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO EVERY IMPORTANT CAR COLLECTION (WHILE YOU CAN STILL MAKE A GREAT BUY!). IT'S DESIGN RECALLS THE VERY BEST OF ALL THE FERRARI'S, SPECIFICALLY THE 12 CYLINDER "DAYTONA" AND 275GTB/4. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A RETRO BLEND OF BOTH MODELS AND WE BELIEVE THEY ACCOMPLISHED THAT SAME EXACT PURITY AND GRACE, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DRAWN INTO THE SVELTE BODY LINES OF THEIR 30 & 40 YEAR OLD BRETHREN. PENNED BY THE STUDIOS OF PININFARINA, THE SHAPE OF THE 550 MARANELLO IS CLEARLY THOROUGHLY MODERN BUT, STILL CAN'T BE PERCEIVED AS ANYTHING BUT, A THROWBACK OF PAST DESIGN. LIKE IT'S OLDER BROTHERS IT IS A TRUE SPORTSCAR LACKING MODERN FRILLS LIKE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, KEY-LESS GO, 'TALKING' NAVIGATION, SIGNAL ARROW & DIMMING MIRRORS OR CUP HOLDERS. YET, THIS CAR HAS NO EQUIVALENT. THIS MODEL MARKS A RETURN TO THE FRONT-ENGINED FLAGSHIPS THAT ADORNED THE FERRARI MARQUE FOR CENTURIES. IT SPARKS THE REVIVAL OF A MORE USABLE FERRARI THAN THE STANDARD 4 VALVE 8 CYL. BASELINE MODEL YET CARRIES ON THE TRADITION OF THE 12 CYLINDER BENCHMARK CARS OF THE PAST. SHARING THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC'S OF THE 12 CYLINDER DAYTONA 356 GTB/4 IT, TOO, IS WAY OVERPOWERED. YET, BY ALL REPORTS, IT HAS BEEN ASTONISHINGLY RELIABLE. FROM YOUR FIRST TEST-DRIVE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE AN ENDLESS SURGE OF ACCELERATION ALL THE WAY UP THE POWER CURVE.... TO 200 M.P.H. IT ACTUALLY PERFORMS BETTER THAN 2 SECONDS SHADE FASTER , AROUND THE TEST TRACK AT FIORANO, THAN IT'S MUCH LIGHTER 8 CYLINDER BRETHREN. IN FACT, IT IS THREE SECONDS FASTER THAN THE 512M . 0-60 TIMES ARE CONFIRMED AT 4.3 SECONDS. FITTED WITH A 5.5 LITER 485+ H.P. V12, EACH MOTOR IS BENCH TESTED AT MARANELLO 36 HOURS BEFORE INSERTION INTO IT'S HAND BUILT BODY. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6-SPEED MANUAL / OVERDRIVE THAT LEAVES YOU WITH A INCOMPARABLE SENSE OF CONNECTION WITH THE CAR...LIKE NO OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. ESPECIALLY WHEN TOSSED UP AGAINST THE "SEWING MACHINE"/ PLASTIC LADEN VIPER, UNCOMFORTABLE / SIT-ON-THE ROAD CORVETTE AND THE TAIWANESE QUALITY / WOBBLY SUSPENSION OF THE LATEST CHRYSLER (SORRY) BENZ. ONE QUICK TRIP AROUND THE BLOCK WILL MAKE A BELIEVER OUT OF YOU. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT ALL WINE & ROSES: YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY FOR THIS LUXURY IN, NO MORE THAN, 8 M.P.G. AND INVOICES FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE SURPASSING $5,000. CREATURE FEATURES LIKE AIR CONDITIONING, POWER WINDOWS, POWER DOOR LOCKS, LEATHER , POWER ( 8-WAY ADJUSTABLE) SEATS AND A FACTORY STEREO SYSTEM ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT YET, NO SUNROOF IS OFFERED.

THE ONLY CRITICISM (S) WE CAN CONJURE UP IS : PLAN ON LEAVING THE 'SPORT' MODE SUSPENSION LIT UP FOR ALL DRIVING (EXCEPT HI-SPEED HIGHWAY MILES) AS THIS CAR IS DIEING TO CUT LOOSE; SIDEWAYS. EVEN HERR SCHUMACHER WILL END UP "TAILS OUT" LACKING THE CONSCIOUS ABILITY TO MONITOR THE 'ACTIVATED' TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM . YOU CAN ALSO COUNT ON EMPTYING YOUR WALLET INTO THE COFFERS OF PIRELLI OR BRIDGESTONE AS THIS CAR PROVIDES ENOUGH TIRE-BURNING TORQUE FOR ANY TWO OTHER SPORTCARS. IT WAS FERRARI THEMSELVES WHO SUMMED UP THE F550 IN THE FACTORY BLOG AS "PERFORMANCE WITH NO COMPROMISE". IF YOU ARE AN INTROVERT AND LACK SELF CONFIDENCE - THIS CAR WILL MAKE A FERRARI PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER OUT OF YOU. IT GARNISHES PLENTY OF ATTENTION WHETHER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, CAR SHOW OR FOOD MARKET - EVERYONE WANTS TO ASK ABOUT IT. IT'S AN EASY MISSION: FERRARI HAS STRIVED IN RECENT YEARS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND DRIVABILITY IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES AND IT IS READILY APPARENT IN THIS VEHICLE. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND ONE IN SOMETHING BESIDES "LOOK-AT-ME-RED" AND WITH ONLY 9,860 MILES. IT'S A KNOCK-OUT COLOR: "GRECIO TITANIUM" WITH "CUIO" (DARK SADDLE INTERIOR) +ALL BOOKS / RECORDS WERE PRESENT. OUR CAR ALSO HAS THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION, FULL LEATHER OPTION, BRIDGESTONE TIRES (INSTEAD OF PIRELLI P-ZERO'S; SO-NAMED FOR TIRE WEAR), FACTORY CLOISONNE SHIELDS AND, WE ADDED THE CUSTOM ITALIANO STRIPES.

FIRST OR LAST TIME OUT OF THE GARAGE : IT IS AS IMPRESSIVE AS OUR FIRST RIDE IN A 427SC COBRA. ONCE AGAIN; MORTGAGE YOUR HOME IF YOU HAVE TO... BUT, BUY ONE OF THESE WHILE THEY ARE A GREAT BUY (SUGGEST '99-04 MODEL ONLY). HISTORY WILL REPEAT ITSELF.

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