What do we think of this one? 575 GTC for sale..

Don't touch
A disaster

 

Why? Any chance you can tell us more about it? I have to say it looks very purposeful.

 

The 575 GTC was Jean Todt's answer to the fabulously successful 550 Prodrive. The car was designed by N Technology and was as bad as the 550 was good.

It won only one major race (with Wendlinger, if my memory is correct) and was a true nightmare for those who raced it - if only that the teams needed buckets of iced water as the driver's feet would burn from the heat!!!

To change a gearbox in a 550 could be done in minutes, in the 575 in hours....

Unwieldy, almost impossible to exploit and desperately unsuccessful. Unusable by the average, good gentleman driver

 

Peter your observation is correct but this doesn't mean that it's a bad race car..

 

Same car was discussed here briefly long ago...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/456-550-575/382785-2005-michelotto-575-gtc-sale.html

There was some reference in the ebay ad (which, regrettably, no one had the aforethought to cut and paste) to Michelotto being the builder (and not N-Technology) and the car having Classiche documentation. IIRC, the original ebay ad (presumably from Gary Anzalone of the Aero Toy Store) also indicated that it was never raced and was built for a "collector" collection. IMHO, a ridiculous asking price at the time of $795K, especially given the fact that there are (and there remain) several comparables available at much lower prices.

My biggest concern with one of these cars (not having any particular expertise with the 575 GTC) is, generally, having the spares package to keep it on track. Three sets of wheels isn't going to cut it. However, perhaps Costalotto will be able to help out.

CW

 

You know, when you're good. You're berry, berry good.

Dale

 

I have my moments.

CW

 

FYI, here's the Anamera ad from Aero Toy Store, which is still up...

2005 Ferrari 2005 Ferrari 575 MICHELOTTO for sale: Anamera

"This model of Competition Ferrari was built primarily by N Technologies. However this particular example, Chassis No 20, was one of the few examples to be built by the most acclaimed Ferrari competition coach builder of all time, Michelotto. Since the day it rolled out of the Michelotto factory, Chassis Number 20 has been surrounded by a vail of mystery, as it was quickly and quietly placed in one of the world’s most prestigious collections, never to be seen in public again. To this day the vehicle remains pickled and preserved’ as the only factory new Ferrari 575M GTC in the world. The 575 GTC was purpose built to participate in the FIA GT championship and made its debut at the end of the 2003 season at the Estoril FIA GT race, with an impressive victory over a pair of Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550 in second and third. Although the success could not be matched in the next few races, which is not uncommon considering the 575 GTC was a completely new racer, one thing the 575 proved to be immediately, was reliable. In Ferrari circles the letter `C´ stands for competizione, and the 575 GTC is the competizione version of the Ferrari 575M Maranello. The cars ability to cope and perform through the demands of the track as translated into the most reliable road version ever built. The displacement of the 65° V12 was increased to 5,997cc with a maximum power output of close to 605 bhp, and the car boasts a sequential shift. The track has been widened, the brakes increased in size and, thanks to the use of composite materials, the body was lightened. The tubular steel chassis features boxed sections and the all-round wishbone suspension features adjustable damping, adjustable anti-roll bar and adjustable anti-dive geometry. The car has a split rear wing with a nolder. This set up is the fruit of extensive aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel, something that was also carried out for the adjustable front spoiler and the under tray with its rear extractor. Lengthy wind tunnel testing transpired into developing the 575 GTC's aerodynamics and the car sports a flat underbody with rear diffuser to FIA/ACO regulations, and an adjustable front spoiler together with a split rear wing with Gurney flap. Braking is by courtesy of Brembo with 6-pot calipers at the front and 4-pot calipers at the rear. The Ferrari Corse Clienti department made numerous changes to the original version with the collaboration of the technical GT head, Maurizio Nardon. The aerodynamics were completely revised with the addition of a new splitter and air intake on the modified bonnet. These changes improve internal air flow. The engine was totally redesigned and, together with the new cooling tank, results in greater power and better handling. The current torque curve guarantees improved power management and the work on the steering column means that the new car is easier to point into curves and performs more smoothly when in them. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of the most coveted competition Ferrari’s of all time. (954)654 0555"

CW

 

Sheehan also has it listed on Anamera...

2004 Ferrari 575 GTC for sale: Anamera

CW

 

$795K asking price. And, yes, the 430 was available at the same time. It may still be available, as both ads remain on Anamera.

Also currently listed as still available are GTC's...

2003 FERRARI 575 GTC COMPETIZIONE

and FA's...

Ferrari 550 maranello - barchetta - 575 MM for sale fa-automobile.com

CW

 

If the 575 GTC does not reflect what a bad racing car is all about, then what does? It was universally criticized by all who had the misfortune to race it and it basically NEVER won a thing! It's only merit was the name it carried...and those who bought them as track day cars have really suffered too!!

It is like saying that the 2009 F1 car was hopeless but not a bad car because it was a Ferrari..

 

I see your point. In that case yes, you're right but again you have to think the competition at the time and a lot of other things.

 

Thank you, I appreciate your input and advice.

 

I searched YouTube for the races mentioned in the cars history and found race videos showing this car in action. The whole field was filled with very powerful cars.

I think this car is beautiful and would be a blast to drive privately. It certainly is expensive, but cheaper than the FXX program.

 

I agree with Peter's observations on the car. If all you want is a Ferrari race car sure, but a bad car is a bad car nomatter who drives it. I also would have concerns using the car, there is really no place for it, unless you have obscene amounts of money to run it on trackdays with team support, or in a racing series where it would fit in a class. Not cheap, I'm thinking this potentially could be more expensive than running a 599XX with a skeleton crew. For what I know these old racecars mostly sit around and get out 1-2 times a year when someone like Maranello Motorsport has events where they bring out a whole lot of retired racecars. CC definately won't run any on-site support for them outside Finali Mondiali and perhaps F Racing Days. My rough guess is this needs more crew than a 599XX which honestly can be run with one technician present. Getting parts must be a nightmare too...

 

It's not the only unraced example, FoH has one similar.

 

Lovely looking car, but unless you have deep pockets and very competent race engineers on staff who has very wide support network of race component suppliers don't even dream about it. I have the ex Olive Garden 550GTS built by Italtechnica with a 40 foot container worth of spare parts and it's still extremely difficult to keep the car in running condition.

Examples of some of the impossible to get no longer available parts include:

Pankl one off custom bearing hubs
Pankl titanium prop shaft
Bosch motorsport spark plugs
Magneti Marelli DAS4 data logger
Carbon/carbon brake rotors and pads

I love my 550GTS and would never sell it but am constantly frustrated by it.

 

You were given the solution to the DAS4 but never took it up.........

 

Hi Wayne,

I Just bought another 550 to build into a racecar for local clubracing because I love the chassis and the closeness to what I already race... corvettes. I guess your frustration can also be related to the level of prep beyond a streetcar with readily available parts and the sourcing of suppliers of other stuff. An example is that corvettes are cheap. The carbon brakes from the ZR1 are nearly bolt on to the lower line corvettes but no one sees an on track advantage relative to cost over steel brakes. I have heard that some Ferrari guys swap out the carbon brakes for steel. My guess is that carbon is great but not that great. Anyway, Stoptech is 10 miles from my house and growing big. They will engineer a steel system for you for under $10k. They did that developing the race brakes for our class on my racecar as an example. In the states there are also makers of carbon driveshafts in torque tubes vette/550 style. Hubs? Well worst case senario you remanufacture the control arms to same geometry and use NASCAR uprights and hubs or any number of others. Forgeline will make centerlock hubs and wheels. Emco/quaife sequential crashbox $20k. At my level of prep the most difficult/expensive thing is a motor blowing up.

 

Ah, does this mean, looking down at the ground and kicking some pebbles, does this mean that you are, I mean, I know that you probably never would, but it is maybe, just maybe, possible...

 

Anything is possible. What is definately happening is a 550 racecar is in my future. I got two 550's and lots of time. The problem is one car is perfect mechanically and one car is perfect cosmetically. You know 1st world problems! I will eventually start a thread on the build. Alex has already built his racing it in Taiwan.

 

Well, my advice is to sell the one that is perfect mechanically, to me, of course.

 

I was looking to keep it original to its racing days. DAS4 was sent to Italy and had the motherboard replaced, but that lasted only 2 months before it died again.

So now it looks like I will go the Motec route.