The 550 Maranello captured the vaunted traditional configuration of a two-seater, front-engined V-12 Ferrari coupe while incorporating the latest modern technology, much to the acclaim of both historically minded tifosi and dedicated enthusiasts worldwide. In fact, Motor Trend described the model as the company’s “boldest move in a quarter century…quieter, more refined, more comfortable, and more pleasant to be in than its predecessor, yet also more nimble and more faithful in its at-the-limit handling.” The gentleman who gave their writer a test drive, one Niki Lauda, commented that “this is the first modern Ferrari, and the first I would really want to own.”

And no wonder: It offered utterly world-beating performance, with a 5.5-liter engine producing 478 horsepower delivered through a six-speed manual transmission, sufficient for 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 199 mph, wrapped in evocative Pininfarina styling that borrowed cues from the designer’s greatest hits on Ferrari chassis over the last half-century. Today it is widely recognized as being one of the most impressive, best-engineered, and pleasurable sports coupes of its era.

In keeping with the Dare to Dream Collection’s philosophy of iconic examples, the 550 Maranello offered here is finished in the most classic livery, Rosso Corsa over Nero interior. An original Canadian-delivery example sold new by Brian Jessel Sport Cars of Vancouver, British Columbia, it was acquired for the collection from a seller in Concord, Ontario, in 2011, and has been conscientiously well-kept since, with invoices on file for numerous services and improvements over the last decade.

Significantly, in 2011, Ferrari Maserati of Ontario performed a belt service, including replacement of the timing belt and bearings; the odometer indicated 2,523 kilometers. Further service and an oil change followed in 2013, and in 2022 the shock actuators were rebuilt, and the notorious “sticky buttons” were corrected. Today it remains in excellent overall condition, with the engine compartment and undercarriage both remaining extremely clean, the upholstery still in nearly unmarked order, and the finish exhibiting only a few small paint chips to the front air dam.

At the time of cataloguing, the car had recorded 6,729 kilometers (~4,182 miles), and it is complete with books in their folio with flashlight, tool kit, and a piece of British-made Globe-Trotter luggage trimmed to match the car’s Nero interior—a thoughtful, useful aftermarket addition to this Ferrari's complement.

This is a classic example of an instantly recognizable modern Ferrari—a car to thrill its driver, even if they are not Niki Lauda.