2002 Ferrari 575M

Chassis No. ZFFBV55A320128682
The 575M Maranello arrived in 2002 and served as the replacement for the 550 Maranello, featuring a multitude of design and technical updates to Ferrari's most revered layout – the V12 front-engined rear-wheel drive Berlinetta. Customary Ferrari design house Pininfarina was tasked with the updates, which can be identified by subtle tweaks including different headlights, a larger hood scoop, and a taller, more narrow grill. Underneath the skin, the engine received an increase in displacement from 5.5 to 5.7-liters; hence the name change to 575M with “M” representing Modificata.
The 575M saw the introduction of the “F1” automated manual paddle-shift transmission, a first for a Ferrari V12. Built by Graziano Trasmissioni these transmissions featured a claimed 200-millisecond shift time as Ferrari brought Formula One technology directly to the road. Heralded as a way to increase performance with faster, more precise shifts while reducing driving effort at low speeds, it was a commercial success. A total of 2,056 575Ms were produced with the overwhelming majority specified with the F1 transmission. Research indicates that only 246 discerning original owners, however, specified the traditional six-speed gated manual transmission, preferring the classic three-pedal arrangement to technological advancement.
Anyone who has driven an open gate, manual transmission Ferrari knows the “click-clack” sound of the gate colliding with the gearstick. While technology may have advanced, there is nothing quite like a perfectly timed shift while rowing through the gears. This arrangement creates the ultimate connection between car and driver and is a feeling which cannot be replicated with additional buttons, switches, or paddles. It is said that any manual transmission Ferrari is special, and this 575M Maranello six-speed certainly qualifies as such. It is one of the final breed of models where a six-speed was available and one of only approximately 80 US examples so optioned. These manually equipped 575Ms represent the best of the classical Ferrari layout – a sublime front-engined V12, rear-wheel drive, coupled with ideal GT usability.
Ordered new in the traditional Rosso Corsa over Tan with red carpets, this example shows just over 10,000 miles at the time of cataloging. Foreign Sport Technician of Santa Monica, CA oversaw a complete “Major Service” only 1,500 miles ago in November 2015 at a cost of $9,400. Additionally it benefits from recent service by an independent Ferrari mechanic completed just prior to auction. An incredibly rare opportunity with only a reported 80 US market cars produced, this manual transmission 575M includes books and tools and is deserving of very close attention.