Looking to go back to their roots after not having produced a two-seater, front-engined, V-12 grand touring car in almost 25 years, Ferrari introduced the 550 Maranello in 1996 to revive what was once the company’s most celebrated line of automobiles. The 550, intended to be a modern-day successor to the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, quickly proved to be an overwhelming success, as it was a vehicle capable of crossing continents at high speed whilst also cosseting its driver and passenger in comfort, with a boot full of luggage.

Five years after the introduction of the 550 Maranello, Ferrari unveiled the 575M Maranello, which offered a host of upgrades over its predecessor. The displacement of its V-12 engine was increased by 250 cubic centimetres, which brought total displacement to 5,748 cubic centimetres, hence the car’s designation of 575. This also brought about a healthy increase in horsepower and torque, giving the 575M a top speed of 202 mph, and larger brake discs were fitted to help reign in the speed when necessary. Ferrari was also able to improve weight distribution to an even 50/50, which helped to improve handling.

For the first time in a front-engined V-12 model, buyers also had the opportunity to outfit their new car with an F1-style gearbox, which proved to be a very popular option. Cosmetically, the front end was slightly revised with newer headlights, a revised air intake, and a front spoiler. Inside, the interior was modernised and refreshed with an updated dashboard, trim, and steering wheel, amongst other minor updates.

The 575 Maranello offered here, sporting chassis number 123761, is one of the earliest of this model in existence, being used as an experimental pre-production model. The car was supplied new to its first private owner directly by the factory and is finished in Rosso Corsa over a beige leather interior with Castoro carpets. It is also fitted with the optional F1-style transmission, as well as the highly desirable and very rare sport bucket seats. Chassis 123761 has remained in Italy from new, and at the time of cataloguing, its odometer showed just 12,543 kilometres from new. Additionally, it is important to note that the car retains its original set of manuals; however, this does not include a warranty book, as it was sold new with no factory warranty.

Not only did the 575M prove to be a worthy successor to the 550, but it also ended up being another excellent addition to the fabled family of grand touring cars. As these cars are capable of topping 200 mph, they are still very quick by modern standards and reliable enough to be driven on a daily basis, making them one of the best Ferraris of the Montezemolo era. This example is certainly no exception, and it would be a wonderful choice for either the enthusiast looking for their first Ferrari or a seasoned tifosi looking for an excellent driver.