Beschreibung:

Ferrari gives a two-year unlimited mileage warranty with each 550 Barchetta. A warranty makes a difference when evaluating the relative merits of a BMW 3-series with a Mercedes-Benz C-Class but, let’s face it, the warranty on a 550 Barchetta is about as meaningful as the color of its brake calipers. The fact is that a 550 Barchetta is an automobile that – to quote J.P. Morgan – "If you have to ask what it costs, you can’t afford it." It is a Ferrari. It is front engined. It is V12 powered. It is Pininfarina styled. It is raw power and performance. It dispenses with sensibilities in the same breath as it eschews weather protection. It is fifty years of Ferrari history, a barchetta like the "little boats" of the Forties and Fifties that provides its owners with an elemental driving experience. There are only 448 Ferrari 550 Barchettas. This Italian registered one is the 60th of the series. It’s Rosso Corsa. The interior is trimmed in finest black leather. Its gearbox is the six-speed manual. "Unlimited mileage" in its case is only 2,388 kilometers as it is cataloged, less than three years after its delivery to the current owner on 31 May 2001. It comes with the full complement of Barchetta goodies: handbooks, wallet, helmets, caps, car cover, satellite tracker and even an optional fire extinguisher. It’s never been driven in the rain (not surprising considering the superficial handkerchief that Scaglietti/Pininfarina supplies disguised as a "top."). No one needs more reasons than these to desire a Ferrari 550 Barchetta. But there are other reasons … and plenty of them. It’s a Ferrari. It has its V12 dual overhead camshaft 485 horsepower engine in the front. No, wait, we did those. The Ferrari 550 Barchetta is the descendant of the 275 GTS, and the 275 NART, 365 California and Daytona Spyders. It is as comfortable and secure on the road at "over 290 kph" as the 250GT California Spyder was at 200 kph. It sucks the doors off Vipers, and it does it with style, grace and panache. Sneer at old men secure in the cosseting interiors of Maybachs and Phantoms. The Ferrari 550 Barchetta is a driver’s car, with the sun shining into its interior and onto the driver’s head. Objectively considered, a ’76 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, Porsche Boxster or Mazda MX-5 are reasonable alternatives to this Ferrari 550 Barchetta Europa. Its warranty has expired. But its warranty is irrelevant. It’s the Ferrari 550 Barchetta that matters. Il n'existe que 448 Ferrari 550 Barchetta. Cette belle voiture immatriculée en Italie est la 60e de la série. Et elle est en Rosso Corsa. L'intérieur est garni du plus élégant des cuirs noirs. Sa boîte de vitesses à six rapports est manuelle. Elle n'affiche que 2'388 kilomètres au compteur, moins de trois ans après avoir été livrée à son actuel propriétaire, le 31 mai 2001. Elle est proposée avec toutes les options Barchetta: manuels d'entretien, trousse, casques, casquettes, bâche, GPS et même un extincteur en option. Elle n'a jamais été conduite sous la pluie. Ces raisons suffiraient à elles seules à donner envie de posséder une Ferrari 550 Barchetta. Mais il y en a d'autres. Beaucoup d'autres. La Ferrari 550 Barchetta est la descendante de la 275 GTS, de la 275 NART, de la 365 California et des Daytona Spyders. Elle est aussi confortable et sûre sur la route à plus de 290 km/h que la 250GT California Spyder l'était à 200 km/h. Elle dépasse allègrement les Vipers, et elle le fait avec style, grâce et panache. La Ferrari 550 Barchetta est une voiture pour ceux qui aiment conduire, avec le soleil à l'intérieur. Objectivement, une Cadillac 76 Eldorado cabriolet, une Porsche Boxster ou une Mazda MX-5 sont des alternatives raisonnables à la Ferrari 550 Barchetta Europa. Sa garantie est périmée. Mais la garantie n'a aucune importance – c’est la Barquetta qui compte.