1998 Ferrari

Production began on 20 November 1997 and was completed on 10 December. One of 459 examples officially imported into the UK, the car was supplied through Ferrari UK in Surrey to Charles Hurst Ltd in Belfast and first registered on 7 January 1998.

The original list price was £143,684.88, excluding delivery, number plates and road tax. Its sole factory option was the space-saver spare wheel kit, priced at £423, which remains with the car today.

The first owner, a Belfast businessman, retained the car until January 2005, when it was purchased from Charles Hurst by an Oxfordshire enthusiast who went on to become Chairman of the UK Ferrari Owners’ Club. He bought the car sight unseen, part-exchanging his Ferrari 456, and kept it for approximately five and a half years before replacing it with a Ferrari 575 F1.

The third owner, a Surrey-based Ferrari Owners’ Club member, acquired the car on 16 October 2010 with approximately 19,000 miles recorded. During his ownership, the dashboard was re-trimmed to address leather shrinkage, and a new clutch was fitted at 31,600 miles. We subsequently purchased the car following his ill health.

The car retains its original service book containing 14 service stamps, together with its handbooks, leather wallet, tools, two ignition keys and two immobiliser fobs, including the red master. It is fitted with a Tubi Style sports exhaust, 25mm rear wheel spacers and a “550” registration number.

We have recently completed the following work:

A beautifully presented 550 Maranello in a classic Ferrari colour combination, with a carefully documented history, its original accessories and extensive recent preparation.

Contact Mike Wheeler for more details and to arrange viewing