Ferrari 550 Maranello

           

    

I don't put many Ferraris in Car Lust--not because I don't desire them, but because it almost seems too easy, too obvious. How could one not lust after a Ferrari?

Still, the Ferrari 550 Maranello has been too glaring an oversight to continue to omit.

The Maranello was on the leading edge of Ferrari's resurgence in the 1990s. While preening 1980s Ferraris like the 3.2 Mondial and 308 GTB were easy pickings for Corvettes and even a well-driven Camaro IROC-Z, the Maranello took Ferrari back to its roots--legitimately world-beating handling and power, married with a newfound refinement and comfort.

Incredibly beautiful, especially in gun-metal gray, comfortable, and capable of both supercar performance at the track and comfortable triple-digit cruising on the Autostrada, the Maranello became the instant gold standard both for hard-edged supercars and grand tourers.

The Maranello also kicked off the infatuation with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters--an innovation that until that point was available only in Formula 1 cars and video games.

Its combination of sensuous styling and engineering, combined with its almost Germanic execution, made the 550 Maranello worthy of both knee-shaking lust and clear-eyed, well-reasoned respect.

--Chris H.