2002 Ferrari 575M

Description

This is not your typical Ferrari 575, as it has recently been converted to a 6 speed manual. The work was completed by highly respected independent Ferrari specialists Cavallino Motorsport in Brookvale, Sydney.

This is a UK delivered, factory right hand drive example that is presented today in its stunning original colour combination of Blue Tour De France (colour code 522) with Sabbia leather upholstery and blue carpets.

The car is optioned with the desirable Daytona seats as well as other internal trim options, upgraded hifi system, navigation system, battery charger, aluminium brake callipers and, scuderia shields.

Documentation on file notes that the original order 280636 was placed on the 14^th June 2002. The car was delivered in October 2002 to its first owner Mr Dion Liveras from Nottinghamshire. It was first registered as DL18 on the 31^st October 2002.

The service book notes that the car was serviced by Maranello Concessionaires on the 7^th March 2003 (@ 1,804 miles), then by HR Owen on the 8^th October 2004 (@ 14,197 miles) and then by HR Owen on the 6^th May 2005 (@ 16,396 miles). The car was then understood to have been kept essentially in storage for many years and its next service is recorded as being completed by HR Owen on the 12^th July 2021 (@ 22,016 miles).

The car was acquired in the UK by an Australian Ferrari enthusiast and subsequently imported into Sydney. There is an Import Approval on file dated 18^th February 2022.

Shortly after arriving into Australia the car was converted to a traditional manual 6 speed gearbox. As noted above, the conversion was completed by Cavallino Motorsport in Brookvale, Sydney. The majority of the major components for a right hand drive manual 575M are no longer available from Ferrari. The major parts, including the gear tower assembly, gear lever, rear gearbox selector cover and selector rods were all meticulously remade by a high-end engineering machine shop. All the smaller fasteners, springs, clips & seals etc were purchased from Ferrari. It would be almost impossible to tell that this car was not delivered from the factory with a traditional manual gearbox. Yes, the factory did build a few 575M’s with a manual gearbox, but they are unicorns and priced accordingly!

On the 31^st May 2022 Cavallino Motorsport performed a major service, including cam belts and all fluids. At that time the mileage is noted as 22,094 miles.

At some stage the car has been fitted with BBS 19″ two-piece alloy wheels and a Tubi style rear exhaust.

Today this car presents and drives superbly. ‘Blue Tour De France’ is the most stunning colour for a Ferrari 575M and it is a refreshing change to the ubiquitous ‘Rosso Corsa’. The ‘Sabbia’ interior with Daytona seats also completes the look.

Walking around the car it is hard to believe it is 20+ years old. The paint is in very good condition with only a few very small defects or blemishes here and there. The ‘Blue Tour De France’ paint work has a strong depth of colour and it retains a high gloss finish. The glass and all of the exterior trim, including the headlight covers, taillights, badges and decals on the car are all in excellent condition. The same can be said for the wheels, which are unmarked. The wheels are shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres all around. Both the front and rear tyres are date stamped 2013 and should be replaced on age.

Open the door and the interior presents almost like new. The first thing you notice are the beautiful Daytona seats and of course the colour combination of the interior. It is truly stunning and the pictures probably don’t do it justice! A peek into the driver’s foot well confirms there are three pedals and one of them is definitely a clutch! Slide in behind the steering wheel and you are genuinely surprised at how comfortable and supportive the seats are. As you take your time to get acquainted with your surroundings you see a lot of other details. There’s the Ferrari logo in the headrests, the small plaque on the right hand side of the dash commemorating the six Formula One championships from 1999 until 2004, the Ferrari Pininfarina flag badge on the centre console, the 575M Maranello badge on the glove box and last but definitely not least, the gear lever! The interior in this car is simply stunning, the upholstery is in beautiful condition, including the driver’s seat bolster which is usually the first thing that shows some wear. A weakness of this era Ferrari is that in time the plastic switches can deteriorate and become ‘sticky’. On this car, however, they present in excellent condition.

This is a car you could walk around and admire or indeed just sit behind the wheel and admire forever in a day. That said, it IS a front engined V12 Ferrari and we are genuinely excited to try out the manual gearbox. Let’s drive!

As expected, the V12 engine bursts to life at the first turn of the key and immediately settles into a smooth idle. The engine sounds fantastic without being overly loud. Once you’re comfortable with your seating position and the mirrors it is time to depress the clutch and select first gear! Off you go . . . As with a traditional Ferrari 575M with an “F1” gearbox this car is incredibly easy to drive. It is hard to fathom that you are behind the wheel of a genuine 320 km/hr supercar as you are comfortably cruising through heavy traffic whilst getting acquainted with this car. Within a very short time you feel very comfortable driving the car. Eventually, you find a break in the traffic and with a prod on the accelerator you are going too fast! The acceleration is smooth and progressive yet quite breathtaking.

In summary, driving this Ferrari 575 M Maranello is a real joy. This car is simply amazing to drive. The manual gearbox definitely adds to the driving experience in a very positive way. It is everything you get from a 550 Maranello, plus a lot more. The car is just so civilised and easy to live with on one hand, yet it is an absolute beast on the other! Everything works as it should, including the air conditioning which blows cold air.

The car was featured in a road test review by InCARnation with Mark Williamson and Stuart Greaves.

See: https://www.cavallino-corsa.com/s-projects-side-by-side

At the time of photographing, the odometer reads 22,537 miles (c 36,000 km).

Accompanying the car are the books in the original leather wallet, tool kit, Ferrari torch, battery charger and tyre inflation kit all in stunning original condition. There are also two sets of keys with remotes. Note: the service book is a Ferrari replacement book, but it is fully stamped.

The conversion to a 6-speed manual is reversible. Importantly, there were no new holes drilled and no components were cut. All the original F1 paddle gear change components will come with the car.

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