Ferrari 575 Superamerica 2005 - World Of Classic Cars -

Ferrari 575 Superamerica 2005

When Ferrari reintroduced the two-place, front-engined grand touring cars into their lineup in 1996 with the 550 Maranello as the spiritual successor to the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, it was evident that there would also be demand for a convertible version of the car, just like the Daytona Spider before it. The car that followed was the 550 Barchetta, which was identical in every way to the 550 Maranello but was intended to be a pure roadster, harkening back to some of Ferrari’s earliest models. Even though customers were thrilled with their 550 Barchettas, many felt limited by the car’s lack of a conventional convertible top, and they would only use their cars for quick out-and-back jaunts in the summertime. Looking to provide a solution to this for the convertible variant of the 575M Maranello, Ferrari devised a brand-new convertible-top system that would provide all the freedom of a convertible with the security of a coupe, in an effort to give customers the best of both worlds.

Ferrari 575 Superamerica 2005

The most interesting aspect of the 575 Superamerica was its Revocromico rotating hardtop. This hardtop was constructed using a carbon fiber frame that had been integrated with electrochromic glass, and it was the first of its kind ever fitted to a production car. When the top was closed, the opacity of the glass in the roof could be adjusted via a dial in the cabin. The driver and passenger could experience the full brightness of a conventional sunroof at its lightest setting or 1% of available light at its darkest. Furthermore, the Superamerica could be transformed into a convertible at just a press of a button, with the roof rotating back to rest flush with the boot lid in just 10 seconds, leaving the rear window in place to function as a wind deflector. Of course, this did not obstruct luggage capacity, and the Superamerica’s boot could swallow up more than enough luggage for two on a weekend getaway with the top up or down.

Ferrari 575 Superamerica 2005

This 2005 575 Superamerica is finished in Rosso Fiorano over a Crema leather interior and is in virtually as-new condition. The car has been carefully preserved in a collection of high-end sports cars for its entire life. It is outfitted with Daytona-style seats with Bordeaux piping and stitching, as well as yellow-painted brake calipers, and it also comes equipped with the HGTC handling package, which is perhaps the most desirable option offered for the Superamerica. The HGTC package consists of carbon ceramic brakes with racing-specification pads and calipers, 19-inch rims, a lowered suspension, titanium racing exhausts, and faster calibration for the steering rack, adding more performance to an already capable supercar.