Rare pair of open-top Ferraris go on sale at Hexagon Classics

9:25 am, August 12, 2016

HEXAGON Classics is offering two extremely rare, low-mileage open-top Ferraris at its showroom in Finchley.

The Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is a limited-edition roadster version of the 478bhp 5.5-litre V12-engined 550 Maranello and was first revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 2000. With just 448 examples rolling off the production line, it’s one of the rarest open top Ferraris of the last twenty years.

The model has just 1,625 miles on the clock and comes in spectacular Giallo Fly yellow paint with Nero leather inside. It also has the desirable six-speed manual gearbox featuring the famous Ferrari open metal gate.

Priced at £395,000, this left-hand-drive car is one of the best in the world. First supplied by Japanese dealer Cornes & Co, it has been meticulously looked after, coming with the original handbook and spare keys and, of course, the temporary soft top, which can only be used at up to 70mph.

When the 550 Maranello was replaced by the faster, more powerful 508bhp 5.7-litre V12-engined 575M in 2002, Ferrari took the opportunity to offer another limited run version – and one with a highly innovative roof too.

Launched in 2005, the Superamerica features an electrochromic glass panel roof. At the touch of a button, this rotates backward through 180-degrees to rest flush with the boot lid in just 10 seconds, leaving the rear window in place to function as a wind deflector.

The roof’s clever carbonfibre structure is hinged on a single axis and means that there’s access to the luggage compartment even with the roof open. But the really intelligent part is that with the top closed the driver and passenger can adjust the opacity of the panel via a dial in the cabin. They can then experience the full brightness of a conventional sunroof at its lightest setting, or one percent of available light at its darkest.

All Superamericas received an uprated engine over the standard 575M, taking power to 533bhp. The 2005 model is Grigio Silverstone Metallic with Caramel Leather interior and has covered just 1,380 miles in its 11 years of life. It also has Ferrari’s F1 paddleshift gearbox.

A total of 559 examples were built to follow Enzo Ferrari’s philosophy of always building one car less than the market demanded, and Hexagon’s car is a perfect example of why the 575 Superamerica is so desirable. Like the 550 Barchetta, this Ferrari has recently had a full service and cambelt change and is ready to hit the road. It is priced at £379,995.

Paul Michaels, chairman of Hexagon Classics, said: ‘These limited-run Ferraris are incredibly rare and in perfect condition. You could not hope to find two better examples of the 550 Barchetta and 575 Superamerica anywhere in the world.

‘To have both on sale here at Hexagon at the same time is a real coup and a credit to our team. Both cars are fantastic modern classics that are sure to appreciate further in the coming years.’