Friday 12th August 2016

Ferrari 550 Friday!

Got a spare £800,000? Banking on some summer sunshine? There's a Barchetta and a Superamerica for sale...

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The Ferrari V12 drop-tops are always in demand. Despite the fact the coupes are often better to drive, their exclusivity and the opportunity to hear those engines in the fresh air tend to make them very covetable cars.

Not often you see one of these...

You'll remember the most recent V12 barchetta, the F60America, sold out - at £1.56m each - before the rest of the world even knew it existed. So yes, rather in demand. Therefore, despite a combined price of nearly £800,000, don't expect these models from the back catalogue to struggle for buyers.

The 550 Barchetta is now nearly 16 years old, the roadster first seen at the 2000 Paris motor show. Just 448 were made. This Giallo Fly left-hand drive car has only 1,625 miles on it and, unsurprisingly, is in pristine condition. It even still has the fabric roof. For this slice of Ferrari V12 history, you'll need £395,000.

Also on offer at the same dealer is a 575 Superamerica, in the rather more restrained shade of Grigio Silverstone. For the later car Ferrari introduced a slightly more advanced roof, as it used electricity. Not only could it be lowered in 10 seconds, but the roof also featured adjustable opacity when raised. It could be a big sunroof, or allow just one per cent of available light through. Perfect for when the weather's a little sketchy on the riviera.

Good luck with that roof

Like the Barchetta, this Superamerica has a minimal four-figure mileage (1,380), a flawless service history and a recent cambelt change. It is in fact marginally less expensive than the Barchetta, at £379,995. Attribute that to its relative commoner status perhaps, with 559 made.

It would appear then that the current market demand for Ferraris shows no signs of abating. Would a Barchetta or Superamerica be your super V12 roadster of choice? Or would the lotto win be spent elsewhere? The floor is yours...

[arkenphel]

I thought the yellow one looked nicer until I saw the roof profile...

[matpilch]

arkenphel said:

I thought the yellow one looked nicer until I saw the roof profile...

in all fairness, they both look awkward side on

[Davey S2]

I said a few years ago that the Superamerica was seriously undervalued and was going to rocket up in price. Shame I didn't have the cash to buy one.

[FourWheelDrift]

arkenphel said:

I thought the yellow one looked nicer until I saw the roof profile...

The 1920s just called and it wants it's roof back.

[mikearwas]

Davey S2 said:

I said a few years ago that the Superamerica was seriously undervalued and was going to rocket up in price. Shame I didn't have the cash to buy one.

Same. They were circa 150k not too long ago.

[stephen300o]

All the grace of the 550.. Removed.

[Oilchange]

That roof??
And for how much?

[J4CKO]

Hate to say it but sort of looks like it started life as a TR7.

[k-ink]

That roof

[GranCab]

I see the six-sided tax has been applied to these two ....

Here's an RHD Barchetta for less ...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C689782

[f1nn]

I love the 550...coupe I s'pose.

Before the prices went mental, I was in Henley on a summer Saturday morning and an older guy pulled up in a red on creme 550, spotlessly clean and it looked utterly wonderful in a way that pictures just don't convey.

If there was a like button, I'd be pressing it!

[SidewaysSi]

The Hexagon "think of a number and triple it" approach to car valuations.

[Roma101]

That's funny. When I saw this article on the homepage, I thought it was the one H R Owen has up for sale at the moment in St Albans. That is also yellow, LHD. Not a manual though and has been there for quite a while. Shows how common these cars are!

[PHMatt]

The roof on the yellow one looks stuck between closed and open?!

[98elise]

arkenphel said:

I thought the yellow one looked nicer until I saw the roof profile...

It looks like I made it!

[Muzzer79]

IINM the roof that Ferrari supplied with the 550 Barchetta is universally acknowledged as being st.

Top speed with it fitted is under 100mph.

So, one either leaves their 550 Barchetta at the holiday villa where a roof is not a necessity, or one buys a better aftermarket roof that looks more appealing aswell.

I'd love one.

[SteveSteveson]

Muzzer79 said:

IINM the roof that Ferrari supplied with the 550 Barchetta is universally acknowledged as being st.

Top speed with it fitted is under 100mph.

So, one either leaves their 550 Barchetta at the holiday villa where a roof is not a necessity, or one buys a better aftermarket roof that looks more appealing aswell.

I'd love one.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. The roof looks horrible, but the car was never designed to have the roof. It's an afterthought, designed to be used if the owner happens to get caught in a shower unexpectedly. If you know it is going to rain you take another car.

[AdamV8V]

I'll take my V12 drop-top in a more British fashion, thanks, and pocket the £275k for 488

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Then again, DBS Volantes are common as muck with a whopping 852 produced

[JohnGoodridge]

More my league.

[The Wookie]

Barchetta roof is indeed utterly pointless! Best to pick your days and have it as a very special weekend car. Surprisingly little compromise over the coupe in terms of driving too, very little body movement.

They are stunning in real life, very special, not a fan of the yellow mind.