Ferrari 550 Maranello

From mid-engine back to classic GT

Since 1973, Ferrari had built its two-seater twelve-cylinder with a mid-mounted flat engine, most recently in the F512 M. Under President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who had been in office since 1991, the successor was developed as a classic front-engine GT. It shares its chassis frame and major engine components with the 2+2 model 456. The exterior styling is credited to Elvio D'Aprile under the supervision of Lorenzo Ramaciotti and was created between 1993 and 1996; the interior was designed by Goran Popović.

Chassis and suspension

The 550 features a transaxle layout: the engine sits almost entirely behind the front axle, with the six-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential at the rear axle. The tubular steel frame carries aluminum body panels. Double wishbones with coilover dampers work at all four corners; the rack-and-pinion steering features variable power assistance. The ventilated brake discs measure 330 mm at the front and 310 mm at the rear, while the 18-inch wheels are made of magnesium. Traction control can be adjusted across two levels or switched off entirely.

Interior

The interior is appointed with leather and a chrome gearshift lever. The seating position features eight-way adjustment, the drilled pedals are made of aluminum, the gauges are analog, and automatic climate control came as standard equipment. Fog lights are integrated into the front bumper, and the power side windows sit flush with the bodywork.

Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.