If the 1980s is remembered as the era that Ferrari would unveil some of the most famous mid-engined supercars to wear the Prancing Horse badge, the following decade would herald the revival and reinvention of its front-engine platform. The renaissance began in 1992, as the much-anticipated, four-seat 456 arrived to fill the void left by the 412—but the most exciting development was yet to come. Unveiled at an event at the Nürburgring circuit in July 1996, the 550 Maranello was presented as the company’s first V-12 powered two-seater with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout since the lauded 365 GTB/4 "Daytona", which had bowed out 23 years earlier.

The new model effectively replaced the final iteration of the fabled Testarossa as Ferrari’s flagship 12-cylinder, two-seat grand tourer. The 5.5-litre V-12 was rated to produce 485 horsepower and 420 ft-lb of torque, while a manual six-speed gated gearbox was the only transmission offered. To this day, the 550 Maranello is considered by enthusiasts to be one of the finest modern driver’s Ferraris due to the engaging combination of V-12 power and muscular manual transmission.

Beneath its attractive Pininfarina-penned bodywork, the 550 Maranello’s chassis featured two-setting electronically variable suspension, ventilated disc brakes at all four corners, and 18-inch five-spoke wheels. The striking grand tourer soon became known for its performance potential, setting three production car speed records in 1998, including driving for one hour at an average speed of 184 mph—a feat that would remain unchallenged until 2002. Visceral and long legged in equal measure, the 550 could achieve 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds;100 mph in 10.2 seconds; and 150 mph in 23.5 seconds, pulling hard all the way to a dizzying top speed of 199 mph.

A high level of performance was complemented by the ability to traverse continents in supreme comfort, with a luxuriously appointed interior that lived up to the high expectations that Ferrari had become known for. Comfortable and well configured, the cabin featured a full leather interior with air conditioning, further to electric seats, windows, and mirrors, while Ferrari’s attention to detail extended to a tactile round metal gear lever and attractive drilled pedals.

This example, chassis number 120641, is recorded by the Ferrari Owner’s Club of Great Britain to have been completed by the factory on 25 June 2000, built to European market specification. Finished in the attracting pairing of Rosso Corsa over a Crema leather interior, the colour scheme is matched by red Brembo brake callipers. The earliest known ownership history of the car is as part of the Netherlands-based Maat Collection, until the 550 Maranello was acquired by another collector in 2013 and the Ferrari began a period of static display at the Cayman Motor Museum located in West Bay, Cayman Islands. Retained by the museum until late-2021, the car was most recently subject to CHF 26,160.70-worth of servicing by Niki Hasler, the Basel-based Ferrari specialist. This work included the fitment of a new timing belt, the renewal of sticky interior buttons and plastics, recharging of the air conditioning system, four new Pirelli Rosso tyres, and refinishing of wheel rim paint—further to routine servicing.

A stunning example of Ferrari’s venerated front-engined V-12 flagship, this well maintained and well specified 550 Maranello is once more ready to be appreciated, whether on the open road or as a milestone model in any serious collection of modern classic supercars.