How reliable is the official number of 500 cars?
F-Register has two ways to indicate the number of cars built by model. One way is the "rule" that about 30% of the production of each model -except EU-only models like 512 BB and 400 Sedan- was exported to the US. The other rule quotes that F-Register shows records of 70% to 80% of the Factory's complete production.

When visiting the FRD at Hockenheim, we had an interessting talk with an owner of one of the official F512M's. He quoted that instead of the official 500 only 287 units have been produced because the newly introduced 550 Maranello as the Testatossa's final eveolution's successor was already knocking on the door of the Showrooms. Other sources quote that 387 units have been produced.

What we know is that 75 units have gone to the US with US-specific VINs and individually numbered. Executing the 30&-US-rule, we really would end at about 250 produced units, but the F512 TR looks like a model where F-Register's US-rule doesn't work: F-Register shows records for 357 cars.

Looking at the 70/80-rule, we have to admit, that the number would well exceed 450 units and might well be the official figure of 500...

Our educated guess is that 287 is not correct as well as 387.