550 maranello convertible (not barchetta) | FerrariChat
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550 maranello convertible (not barchetta)

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Andiamo, Sep 20, 2004.

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  1. Andiamo

    Andiamo Rookie

    Sep 20, 2004
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    Palm Harbor, Florida
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    Al Fontaine
    #1 Andiamo, Sep 20, 2004
    Hello fellow Ferrari fanatics. This is my first thread but I have been observing over the last several months. Back in December I read a thread about a Maranello convertible. This 550 is not a Barchetta and was touted as one of only two available.(The other one is owned by Marciano of Guess Jeans) I always wanted a Maranello but I wanted a convertible, as well. Unfortunately, the Barchetta is way out of my league financially. In addition, I did not like the idea of a 300K car that had a manual top nor did I like the looks of the top when it was up. Recently, I found the 550 convertible mentioned in your December thread in Clearwater, FL at Dimmitt. Apparently, they had bought it from Beverly Hills by way of Long Island. This 550 is awesome. Only 1243 miles without a spec. Basically, brand new. Part of the trunk lifts and the top automatically retracts in about 30 seconds. Works like a charm and the added bonus is that the top looks great up, too. I know that everyone's next question is did you pay what Beverly Hills was asking. No way. This is my first Ferrari but not my first expensive or exotic car. Roughly the cost of a comparable coupe without getting into specifics. Thanks for all the great advice that I have read over the last few months and I am happy to now be a car owning member of the club, Ferrari Chat.
     
  2. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
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    #2 Doody, Sep 20, 2004
    andiamo - welcome!

    please post some pics of your new toy.

    do you know who did the top modification? pavesi in milan? straman in socal? did it come with paperwork, etc.? some of us are very curious as to what the modification actually cost, etc.

    enjoy!

    doody.
     
  3. TTG

    TTG Formula 3

    Jun 11, 2002
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    Todd Gieger
    #3 TTG, Sep 20, 2004
    Pics PLEASE!
     
  4. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #4 Sfumato, Sep 20, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. SefacHotRodder

    SefacHotRodder F1 World Champ

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    #5 SefacHotRodder, Sep 20, 2004
    pleeeeeese post pics :D
     
  6. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

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    #6 Doody, Sep 20, 2004
    i personally do not believe there are only two cut 550s out there. there are far too many outfits that claim to be able to do them (at least four, maybe six). pavesi is known to have cut at least one yellow one. the BHC car was red, right? and that black one make three. there are undoubtedly others, imo.

    doody.
     
  7. Tubi

    Tubi Formula Junior

    Jul 1, 2004
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    Athens
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    Hari
    #7 Tubi, Sep 21, 2004
    Hi

    I remember seeing a pic on this forum a few months back...of a party at a basketball players (or other sports mans) mansion...looked like the pic was taken by a passing car or something...had alot of cars outside and i am almost 100% certain that it had a red '550 spider' outside (which was what all the talk was about on this forum regarding the pic)....have searched the archives bit to no avial..

    Anyone remember this picture? Can anyone locate it?

    Regards
     
  8. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 amenasce, Sep 21, 2004
    Are you talking about the tiitanio one for sale in BH ?
     
  9. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 25, 2004
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    #9 Fan512bbi, Sep 21, 2004
     
  10. Scuderia_Ferrari

    Scuderia_Ferrari Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2004
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    #10 Scuderia_Ferrari, Sep 21, 2004
    Wow, it looks pretty good.
     
  11. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #11 WILLIAM H, Sep 21, 2004
    awesome car, much better than the goofy Barchetta. Lets hope the 575 spyder is this nice
     
  12. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 amenasce, Sep 21, 2004
    Titanio..Rosso...same thing :)
     
  13. Andiamo

    Andiamo Rookie

    Sep 20, 2004
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    Al Fontaine
    #13 Andiamo, Sep 21, 2004
    Just got back on line and noted all the responses. Thanks guys. I will get pictures soon but it is the same car as above. The cut was at Straman and cost 100K and then another 20K here to refine it. As I said, it works like a charm and looks great up or down. They also did a lot of structural modification underneath to support the frame, etc. The original buyer took a huge hit, obviously, and only drove it 1200 miles. That is why I feel so fortunate.
     
  14. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
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    #14 Ira Schwartz, Sep 21, 2004
    Lee: The black car pictured in front of the Hotel de Paris in Monaco is not a cut, but rather a factory one-off (with auto trans) built for the family of the Sultan of Brunei. You can get more details from Edvar and Arvid van Daalen.
     
  15. Koby

    Koby Formula 3

    Dec 14, 2003
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    #15 Koby, Sep 21, 2004
    That rosso looks superb, I really like the proportions better than the Barchetta. If the conversion was done by Straman it should be a good one since he's been doing them for years.
     
  16. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #16 Sfumato, Sep 21, 2004
    Yessir, I have it in my Brunei file. Beautifully done, what spider should have been. I can only hope the 575/Fioravanti droptop will be as nice.
     
  17. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 WILLIAM H, Sep 21, 2004
    Auto Trans ?!?!?! Why????? Yeuch

    I like the red car better anyways
     
  18. evandaalen

    evandaalen Formula 3
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    #18 evandaalen, Sep 22, 2004
    Tubi, regarding the pics of a 550 spider conversion, check the thread below. On the second page (post# 28, the photobucket pics) you can find links to some pictures, including some shots of the 550 spider conversion. This is the one owned by Marciano of Guess Jeans.

    [thread]31614[/thread]

    One picture with the 550 spider conversion:

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/arts550/asa02.jpg

    And as Ira wrote (hi Ira!), my brother Arvid made the picture of the black 550 Spider. It was also published in Cavallino and Forza. Indeed a one-off made by the factory (and Pininfarina) for the Sultan of Brunei. Fantastic hard-top, far more better than the 550 Barchetta. And William: almost all cars of the Sultan are RHD and fitted with an automatic gearbox, including this one ;)
     
  19. Andiamo

    Andiamo Rookie

    Sep 20, 2004
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    Al Fontaine
    #19 Andiamo, Sep 22, 2004
    Evandaalen, it appears that Marciano's 550 convertible is red like mine. I thought his was a black one like the Sultan's. I was told that Straman only did two cuts on a 550, Marciano's and mine and I thought his was black. Maybe I got confused with the Sultan's. Anyway great pictures and if you want more on the rosso, the dealership that I bought it from still has the pictures up. Dimmitt.com and look under ultra luxury inventory.
     
  20. Andiamo

    Andiamo Rookie

    Sep 20, 2004
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    Al Fontaine
    #20 Andiamo, Sep 22, 2004
    Evandaalen, it appears that Marciano's 550 convertible is red like mine. I thought his was a black one like the Sultan's. I was told that Straman only did two cuts on a 550, Marciano's and mine and I thought his was black. Maybe I got confused with the Sultan's. Anyway great pictures and if you want more on the rosso, the dealership that I bought it from still has the pictures up. Dimmitt.com and look under ultra luxury inventory.
     
  21. evandaalen

    evandaalen Formula 3
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    #21 evandaalen, Sep 22, 2004
    If you look at the picture of the other 550 Spider Conversion, it seems that the part that hides the roof is BLACK, while it's TAN on your car. Maybe that story confused you??

    Anyway, I'm not completely sure how many 550 spiders where made by Straman and which colours they were. I always thought 2 cars, both red, but I could be wrong.

    I also heard that your car was the very last car that was made by Straman, before they stopped with the business. Was your car made in mid 2000 for a person in the area of New York? Just curious ....
     
  22. Andiamo

    Andiamo Rookie

    Sep 20, 2004
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    Palm Harbor, Florida
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    Al Fontaine
    #22 Andiamo, Sep 22, 2004
    You are right on the mark. This car was done in 2000 for a guy in New York as you stated. Also, thanks for the clarification on the black and tan issue. I have been trying to get all the history and you fellows have been great with your assistance. I spoke to the original Ferrari salesperson in New York, Nick, and he confirmed a lot of this for me. Apparently, Straman did two and then stopped. I am feeling luckier every day.
     
  23. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
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    #23 Ira Schwartz, Sep 22, 2004
    William: I can't understand the auto trans either, but as usual, Edvar is right ("Hi" back, Edvar!)- I too understand that most of the Brunei cars are automatic, for whatever reason.
    Ira
     
  24. 400SPYDER

    400SPYDER F1 Rookie

    Jul 7, 2004
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    #24 400SPYDER, Sep 22, 2004
    Andiamo that really is an absolutely gorgeous car - you must be "over the moon"(Sorry English football/soccer saying!).:)

    You started off in your first post by saying you didn't pay the Dimmitt asking price - what was that if you don't mind my asking - as it's not listed on the website.

    HI also to Edvar(great help to me in past concerning an alleged Brunei car). Do you Edvar or anyone else for that matter know how much Pavesi charge for their conversion?

    Cheers Kevan

    :) See you down the road - with huge grins on our faces :)
     
  25. LouB

    LouB Formula 3

    Apr 15, 2001
    1,811
    FL, OR
    #25 LouB, Sep 22, 2004
    Beautiful car. Don't understand why Ferrari didn't do a real spider rather than the almost useless Barchetta.

    How much does it weigh? Any cowl shake over rough roads?
     
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