1996 - Ferrari 550 Maranello ex-Michael Schumacher - Lot 10

1996 - Ferrari 550 Maranello ex-Michael Schumacher Chassis no. ZFFZR49B000105067 Japanese export certificate "A Maranello with a total of just 10,000 km, and driven mostly by the legend Michael Schumacher at the height of his fame!" 20 July 1996, the Nürburgring circuit, crowds of people flocked to the first Ferrari Racing Days, organised by Ferrari's German importer, just as the factory did at Mugello and Jacques Swaters, the Belgian importer, did at Spa. And it was this event that was chosen to present the Prancing Horse marque's new road car, the 550 Maranello. For once, with the engine in a central rear position, the new model brings back to life the tempting concept of a front-engined V12 berlinetta, abandoned since the legendary 365 GTB4 Daytona. And alongside the Shell Ferrari Historical Challenge and a few demonstration laps by Michael Schumacher at the wheel of the F1 F310, it is the queen of the weekend. To mark the occasion, the Italian factory didn't skimp on the announcement effect, and summoned no less than 8 F1 drivers to take the wheel of 8 new 550 Maranello cars, including Lauda, Schekter, Irvine, Fisichella, Schumacher of course and Papis. It's Papis who takes the wheel of chassis #105067, with Argento Nürburgring bodywork and Cartier Red interior, which illustrates these pages. Photos of the event and a few videos give us a glimpse of our car almost 30 years ago... A few days later, she was again the star of the show in the inescapable Italian magazine Quattroruote (issue 490, August 1996), where she tested the newcomer. The 5.5-litre, 485 hp V12 offered exceptional performance, enabling this masterpiece of Pininfarina design to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 4.4 seconds - enough to leave the test journalist stunned... It seems that the car then remained the property of Ferrari, which left it for the use of Michael Schumacher. This was confirmed by the German legend in a letter signed by himself: ‘I am pleased to confirm that 550 Maranello chassis no. 105067 is the car I drove on many occasions. (...) I hope that its next owner will enjoy this car that I have loved for a long time’. This letter is dated 10 February 2003, when the car was exported to Japan, bound for the official importer Cornes & Co. On 23 June, the day Cornes put it up for sale, the dealership received no less than... 165 requests! The car had two owners in Japan, before returning to Europe with just over 10,000 km (10,008 km on the day of the photos!). Please note that the car, with its Japanese export certificate, is a temporary import (vehicle to be cleared through customs in the country of the future buyer), and that it has been very regularly maintained, including a change of belts in March 2019, at 9,729 km... If the 550 Maranello, of which only 3,083 were built, is a Ferrari to be collected as a matter of urgency before its rising price skyrockets, what can be said of this example, which ticks all the most exclusive boxes in a highly demanding market? Perfect colour configuration, presentation model, factory ownership, very low mileage, and exclusive use by Michael Schumacher. It seems that Aguttes on Wheels is now offering you the chance to buy the most beautiful, most exclusive and most incredible 550 Maranello. Needless to say, the car comes complete with tool kit, manuals in original leather case and Japanese invoice folder.