After the success of the 550 Maranello, the spiritual successor to Ferrari’s 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Ferrari realized that there would be a market for a convertible version of the car, much like the fabled Daytona Spider of the 1970s. The resulting car was the limited-edition 550 Barchetta Pininfarina. The Barchetta was mechanically identical to its hardtop sibling, and it was intended to be a pure roadster. For the convertible variant of the 550’s replacement, the 575 Maranello, the factory responded to requests for a more usable top in dramatic fashion and created a brand-new convertible top system which offered the freedom of the Barchetta with the practicality and security of the coupe.

Dubbed the Superamerica, the most interesting part of the car was its Revochromico rotating hardtop. It was the first roof of its kind ever fitted to a production car, and it was built using a carbon-fiber frame that was integrated with electrochromatic glass. The transparency of the glass could be adjusted from within the cabin to allow varying amounts of light in, letting roughly the same amount of light in as a conventional glass sunroof at its lightest setting and only 1 percent of the sun’s rays through at its darkest. With the press of a button, the Superamerica can be transformed into a convertible, with the roof rotating back to rest flush with the boot lid in just ten seconds. Ferrari chose to produce just 559 examples, and every car was spoken for within weeks of its announcement.

Of the 559 Superamericas constructed, only 170 were destined for North American clients. Just a handful of these were equipped with the desirable six-speed gated manual transmissions, like the example offered here. Clad in the stunning shade of Rubino Micalizzato over Natural leather upholstery, this Superamerica was completed at Maranello in July 2005 and delivered new two months later to Ferrari of North America’s corporate campus in New Jersey.

By November 2005, the car was sold new to its first owner in Mill Valley, California, with whom it would remain until April 2008. At that time, it passed to its next custodian; though the car was registered to their residence on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, service entries illustrate that it evidently remained within Los Angeles and received regular use. This rarified, six-speed Superamerica was granted Ferrari Classiche certification in September 2009 while with this owner. It retains all of its major powertrain components, as to be expected befitting the model’s relative youth and the low indicated mileage of this particular example.

In November 2016, the car was acquired by its previous owner, then showing approximately 8,650 miles, and moved to their residence in Staten Island, New York. Acquired hence by the consignor, this attractive Superamerica was immediately furnished with a complete paint correction regimen and ceramic coating treatment prior to entering the consignor’s climate-controlled storage facility in January 2019.

The car has travelled fewer than 50 miles within the past six years, and is presently accompanied by its original window sticker, tonneau, tools, Ferrari Classiche Red Book, spare fuses, service invoices, and all of its factory manuals contained within their Schedoni leather pouch which has been signed by Piero Ferrari.

Fifteen years after its introduction, the Superamerica is considered by many to be a modern classic, and can handily compete with many GT cars on offer today. With ample luggage space, an innovative convertible top, and a 202-mph top speed, it would be hard to find a more enjoyable car for a weekend trip. This particular example is an especially collectible offering—owing to its Classiche certification, incredible color combination, and remarkably rare suite of factory specifications, including its manual transmission.