22 replies to this topic

[spadge1976]

The 550 is, undoubtably, a real mans car. It was launched in the mid 1990's to great acclaim, the spiritual successor to the great Daytona. The styling of 550 was greatly inspired by the Daytona - although it isn't a retro recreation like a modern Mini, Fiat 500 or Challenger. Both cars are beautiful, without making too much effort.

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Daytona
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550

I picked up UT's model for only £15 on ebay - what a bargain. It's a great model for its age, very much like the UT F355. It's a bit better than the F355 as the brakes have more detail, but are sadly still missing the calipers (I beleive the silver version rectifies this). But like the F355, although it is missing some of the finer detail you might expect today, everything that is there is done very well. It feels nice and solid, the shape and stance are perfect (better than the Hot Wheels Elite, especially the panel gaps), the interior is crisply recreated and the paint is nicely done. Special mention to the very finely printed 'Pininfarina' badge.

Overall, 9/10 taking into account its age

(pictures to follow)

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[spadge1976]

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[spadge1976]

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[spadge1976]

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[spadge1976]

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[spadge1976]

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[spadge1976]

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[Eric]

 spadge1976, on Apr 4 2009, 05:19 PM, said:

Ferrari_...250b07fb.jpg
image_up...3_780514.jpg

Nice pics.  

I never noticed this but the rear looks disproportionate.

[Mike K]

Gem of a Ferrari you have there, I have the gray Bburago but I hope to find this red/tan one soon  :cheers  The 550 Maranello has been one of my favorite cars ever since I first looked at it!

[guitardave_1]

Beautiful car David. I think it continues to age very gracefully, and it remains one of my favourite Ferraris from the last few decades (along with the 355).

The UT is a really well made model. I think both overall appearance and finer details are good. I have the silver version (although it's just about on its way to a new owner), but I didn't get it for £15! You're correct that the brakes were improved on this one, but the 'drilled' brakes are still only painted on.

[emmanouil]

I like very much the photo comparison :cheers

Maybe this is the only model I prefer the Bburago instead of the UT

[johneli1]

 emmanouil, on 05 April 2009 - 11:29 AM, said:

I like very much the photo comparison :cheers

Maybe this is the only model I prefer the Bburago instead of the UT

You must be nuts! ;-) I have a red and a silver UT 550. They make the Bburago look like a toy! I think the UT Ferraris are the closest thing we have to AUTOart doing Ferraris. I'd take a UT Ferrari over a Mattel Elite any day of the week.

Edited by johneli1, 25 January 2010 - 05:43 AM.

[winstoncds]

Johneli, do you have the Burago model? I have it and I think it is really well made by late 1990s-very early 2000s standards. There might be some shortcuts but none that cannot be rectified with a paint marker. The negative points are the painted b-pillars and the missing brake calipers. Anywhere else you can point us to that makes it look like a toy compared to the UT?

[emmanouil]

 johneli1, on 25 January 2010 - 05:42 AM, said:

You must be nuts! ;-) I have a red and a silver UT 550. They make the Bburago look like a toy! I think the UT Ferraris are the closest thing we have to AUTOart doing Ferraris. I'd take a UT Ferrari over a Mattel Elite any day of the week.

Any possible expanation/ justification of this statement would be accepted...

Edited by emmanouil, 26 January 2010 - 03:39 AM.

[acisne]

 johneli1, on 25 January 2010 - 05:42 AM, said:

You must be nuts! ;-) I have a red and a silver UT 550. They make the Bburago look like a toy! I think the UT Ferraris are the closest thing we have to AUTOart doing Ferraris. I'd take a UT Ferrari over a Mattel Elite any day of the week.

In case you haven't figure it out, UT has not made a diecast in years and they evolved into AUTOart. http://www.diecastxc...tyle_emoticons/default/wink.gif

If AUTOart were to make them, they would be released 5 years after announcement, would be plagued with QC problems and would be released in a couple of oddball colors but not red.  

[sennagts]

Im going to have to agree with Acisne..

[initiald]

 acisne, on 26 January 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

In case you haven't figure it out, UT has not made a diecast in years and they evolved into AUTOart. http://www.diecastxc...tyle_emoticons/default/wink.gif

If AUTOart were to make them, they would be released 5 years after announcement, would be plagued with QC problems and would be released in a couple of oddball colors but not red.  

You never cease to amaze me with your words.  

[Stephan1986]

i love this model (have the silver one, because the Maranello is too beatiful to be "just red" :) )..Bburago vs UT in this case? (and in any other too)...no way to compare, Bb made a toy, and UT made the best 550 out there (copied by Hot Wheels)...and still with a little melted rims and sticky tires, ill gona never change that... :)

[Craig]

 acisne, on 26 January 2010 - 07:22 AM, said:

In case you haven't figure it out, UT has not made a diecast in years and they evolved into AUTOart.

If AUTOart were to make them, they would be released 5 years after announcement, would be plagued with QC problems and would be released in a couple of oddball colors but not red.  

Lol, I wasn't here when you wrote that, it's still true though

[emmanouil]

 Stephan1986, on 11 January 2013 - 06:35 AM, said:

i love this model (have the silver one, because the Maranello is too beatiful to be "just red" :) )..Bburago vs UT in this case? (and in any other too)...no way to compare, Bb made a toy, and UT made the best 550 out there (copied by Hot Wheels)...and still with a little melted rims and sticky tires, ill gona never change that... :)

Have you ever seen in life the 550 maranello from Burago? Actually there is a comparison and Burago is very close to UT. I believe that this is one of the best Burago s (of the made in Italy era), while the UT is not one of their best efforts. Burago is even better in engine detail, adequate interior, more or less same wheels (also without calipers), accurate shape and stance (rear end sits high enough) and better trunk, not to mention the suitcases in the interior

[jandro_f1]

Indeed one of the most beautiful ferraris of the 90's. I have the UT grey 550. Really like the red interior combo with the grey body color. Right now I'm making some upgrade to this car. Specially the headlights which are really crap compared to the bburago or maisto models. But besides that, is a really good model.

[Bicolore]

Seeing your photos, never knew that the UT 550 looked pretty decent :O