Ferrari 550 Barchetta (2001)

Ferrari unveiled in September 2000 a highly exclusive limited edition 550. The "550 Barchetta" was to be built to celebrate Pininfarina's 70th Anniversary. Just 448 units were produced and all were pre sold to VIP Ferrari preferred clients. Apart from some supplementary bracing, the Barchetta's high tensile welded tubular steel chassis was much the same as the Berlinetta. Weight was practically unchanged too and meant performance would be on a par with the closed car, a 0-60 remaining at just 4.3 seconds.

It was the bodywork that inevitably saw the most radical alterations in the transition to Barchetta configuration, Pininfarina removing all evidence of a roof and cutting the windscreen down by 100mm to give a roadster-like appearance. A muscular tail, flat deck and roll hoops behind each headrest further transformed the restrained Berlinetta into a racey extrovert. New five spoke riveted alloy Speedline wheels were used and soon after became optionally available on the Maranello.

This LHD example, number 292 of 448 cars built, was first delivered to its first private owner located in Taranto, Italy on the 7th November 2001 via Ferrari dealer Radicci Automobili S.R.L. Presented in its original and most stunning combination of Nero Daytona over a Nero Hide with Rosso Alcantara seat centres, the interior is appointed with contrast Rosso stitching throughout and sports seats with embossed Cavallinos on each headrest. The exterior benefits from Scuderia wing shields and Rosso brake calipers situated behind the original Speedline split alloys.

This example remained in Italy until 2013 with its first owner when it was subsequently purchased and exported to the United Kingdom, joining a well-established collection owned by Jason Kay of the acclaimed band Jamiroquai. DK Engineering sourced and sold the car to its third and current owner. It has since remained in DK's care and received a major service including cambelts in June 2016 with at which time the car had covered just 1,771 kms.

Today this stunning Barchetta has now covered just 1,840 km from new and as such presents exceptionally. Having been thoroughly detailed by our own Master Detailer it is in matching condition both cosmetically and mechanically. Accompanied by its original books, leather pouch and Ferrari torch, spare fobs, tyre pump, original tool kit and remarklably it still retains some of the factory carpet protection film. To make the car more versatile an aftermarket and superior fabric roof has been sourced and fitted making it really a useable beast. This unrepeatable Barchetta is located in our showrooms just outside London and is available to view immediately.

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