If you’re in an income bracket where an “affordable” collector car rings in at under $200,000, a front-engine Ferrari with a six-speed manual should be on your short list of cars to buy. In addition to being phenomenal grand tourers, these V12-powered coupes get around the necessary and expensive engine-out belt services that the mid-engined cars require, saving the owner a considerable amount of cash on the maintenance side of things. This particular 550 is also a European-market example, adding to its rarity and appeal for the Ferrari collector in your life. Find it here on craigslist in Palm Beach, FL for $164,550.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the tip. The 550 and its predecessor, the 456GT, are two of my absolute favorite borderline exotic cars at the moment. If you haven’t been watching, you can get into a 456GT with the automatic gearbox for under $60,000, which is a ridiculous opportunity if you’re up for it. The front-engined Ferraris have always lagged behind their mid-engined brethren, but this shouldn’t discourage you from making the leap; after all, collectors are now paying north of $50K for well-sorted Mondials! Of course, the manual transmission is a huge differentiator, which is why this 550 is so pricey (in addition to having under 30,000 miles.)

At first, I thought this 550 was one of the examples brought in by Amerispec Corporation, which rose to automotive fame in the early 2000s for importing European-spec Ferrari models like the 550. Enthusiasts love these so-called “gray market” cars for having a variety of features not seen on USDM models, from slimmer bumpers, fewer external lights/lenses, lower curb weights thanks to reduced crash protection, and more horsepower owing to less restrictive emissions controls. However, even those cars imported by Amerispec received some level of federalization like side marker lenses in the bumpers, and this car looks like a true Euro-spec car with no alterations from federalization.

The European market license plates could be decorative, but the 550 appears to have dealer plate frames from its overseas residence. You won’t be seeing much of this as the 550’s V12 packs a heady 485 horsepower routed through that delightful gated shifter, but it may put down slightly better numbers if the European market cars made do with less restrictive emissions equipment. The seller’s photos include the must-have factory luggage and books/manuals; hopefully, the tool kit is included as well. This is by no means a cheap investment, but I doubt the price on a well-preserved 550 Maranello with the manual gearbox is ever going to be any lower.