575M Maranello with Handling GTC and manual gearbox # 128905

Dear fellow Ferraristi,
I am very happy to let you know that, after a long search, I bought a Ferrari 575M Maranello with manual gearbox and a Handling GTC package.
The car was delivered new to the first and, until me, only owner on July 12th 2002 by Ferrari Pozzi, Paris in Blu Pozzi with beige leather interior and carpeting, Daytona seats and carbonfibre dashboard. Also equipped with the Fiorano Handling Pack from new as far as I know now, but still have to that confirmed. The French (Paris) registration was 575PPJ75.
The first owner took really good care of her, having her serviced diligently by Pozzi in Paris and Rossocorsa in Milan. Lots of maintenance bills came with the car documenting her really well, together with the correctly stamped service book. I am only waiting for the bill of the car when delivered new by Pozzi, to confirm the FHP specification of the car as delivered when new.
In March 2003 the standard wheels were replaced by 19 inch wheels at Pozzi, Paris.
Then in April 2005 the car was upgraded to Handling GTC at the official Milan Ferrari dealer Rossocorsa.This comprised the Handling GTC package but not yet the HGTC exhaust.
This Handling GTC package alone (without the exhaust and the 19 inch wheels it already had received in 2003) cost a whopping Euro 22.000 euro excl. local VAT and excluding the labour to fit the HGTC package.
In November 2006 the car was also fitted with the Handling GTC exhaust system by the Ferrari dealer for another Euro 8000 excl. local VAT.
The owner of the car has a company in the textiles/fashion industry and travelled between Paris, the Cote d'Azur and Italy. Mainly the maintenance was done by Pozzi in Paris, a few times in Italy at authorised Ferrari dealers.
He was obviously a man of impeccable and specific taste specifying #128905 in a very subdued Blu Pozzi with beige Daytona seats and matching carpets but upgrading it to the most sporty Handling GTC version later. Also in 2005 he had the 5 air outlets in the dashboard changed by the Ferrari dealer to those of the 575 Superamerica (and 612 and 599) when these became available, because he thought they were more beautiful!
I must say I also think they look very good in the car indeed.

I searched for a good manual 575M with HGTC in subdued colours for quite a while. And, although quite a few 575M's were beiing offered in Europe in the past year, I almost never came across a manual 575 M with HGTC package.
This car was offered for sale by DPM Motors in Monaco on behalf of the first owner with only 33.500 kms from new. I spotted it on their site in april 2010 and decided to have a look when going to Monaco for the GP Historique and inspect it. Well, so I did with my good friend and fellow Fchatter Mick (8valve) and the car was even better than expected.
A deal was struck in which I traded in my trusted silver 1977 308 GTB which therefore returned to Monaco exactly 8 years to the day after I had bought her in Monaco!

Some weeks later I collected #128905 from Monaco and drove her home on Monaco export plates making a beautiful detour along Cuneo and Turin and then into France to stay with friends near Mégeve at the foot of the Mont Blanc for the night. Then on the next day along Geneva and Luxemburg to Amsterdam. What an absolute delight the car is! A true Grand Tourer but also reallly fast and very sporty whith the HGTC package and those fantastic brakes. Even in the Alps when really pushing it, you never are short of braking capacity. Quite something for a relatively heavy car.
It is all I ever wanted and hoped for from a 575M, a perfect combination of long legged Grand Routier and very sporty when required. These first 1700 kms have been a dream. I hope many more will follow like these. I will post photos shortly.
Best regards,
Michael

 

Here some photos of my car. First I will use the photos DPM Motors used to advertise the car. My photos are too big, will post them when I have time.
Best regards, Michael
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Here some more photos of picking her up in Monaco and driving the Grand Prix course, less than a week after the F1 GP all the grandstands and guardrails still in place.
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Hope you don't mind some more of her, I am really in love with this car....
It shows the car high up in the Alps near Mégeve and in The Netherlands at a good friends' house who accompanied me in the trip. Living in the centre of Amsterdam I could only dream of having so much space around my house
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Thank you Martin, I will be happy to show her to you and take you for a spin when I have her registered here in The Netherlands.
Best regards, Michael

 

Yes, I think with these cars you can still shift about as quick as the F1 and it adds to the feeling of being one with the car. Also, since I plan to keep the car for a long time, it will be more durable over time with less problems in the future I think.
Next to that, very simply, I LOVE shifting myself in such a classic package. It really adds to the "modern day Daytona" feeling for me.
Can't take the grin off my face now, just wanting to drive her all over.
Sorry guys, just feel like a grey haired 47 year old child now!

 

Thank you, that is very kind of you!
I was rather touched about your good health wish.
One of my 2 brothers died unexpectedly last year which really turned my world upside down. Reason also why so far I still have not shown/driven my Ferrari 360 GTC #2060.
I am back now, hence the purchase of the Maranello I wanted for quite a while.
Showing and driving #2060 will come also one day.
I wish good health and happiness to you and your beloved!
Best regards, Michael

 

Thank you! I will happily show her to you and take you for a spin when we meet again during one of the meetings in the Low Countries.
Best regards, Michael

 

Thanks Peter! By the way, the photo on your profile, is that also a 575M with HGTC?
Best regards, Michael

 

Thanks a lot Terry, your comments are most appreciated!
Yes it has the carbon fibre instrument panel. I will check later whether it was installed from new or fitted later and will let you know once I know. Will post a photo of it later when I get a good one.
Concerning the exhaust, it sounds very nice in the "loud" mode but honestly I would love it to be even a bit more loud . So therefore I will happily check about the central muffler as you suggested. I think currently it is a bit too civilised still, so judging by what you wrote there is hope.......grin....
On my F355 Spider I fitted the Challenge exhaust, now THAT is LOUD, ha ha. Maybe even a bit too much for a congested country like The Netherlands. Would never have thought I would say that, but, boy is she loud!
On the Maranello I would like her to be loud in the loud mode but still just acceptable to others too, that would suit the elegant car better than the noise my Yellow Screamer makes.
Best regards,
Michael