The F355 was then the most produced Ferrari, with a total of 11,273 cars. Both the 360 and the F430 would succeed it in breaking this sales record.
In This Article...
Italian F355 Spider
The F355 Spider debuted in 1996 after 1,800 hours of perfecting work by Pininfarina’s skilled craftsmen. The early models only had manual transmission, and it was the first Ferrari to have a motorized top. They produced no less than 3,717 instances of the graceful form, which continues to appear fashionable today. The bulk are still driving, therefore it’s your turn to enjoy yourself.
The F355 Spider’s chassis houses one of the most significant Ferrari F355 Specs. Do you recall how weak the corners used to be on older convertible sports cars? Cowl shaking is a scourge that Ferrari engineers were able to eradicate via computer modeling. Convertible Spiders in the past have always come at a performance cost. Engineers took sure to leave space in the chassis for additional reinforcements when designing the convertible Ferrari F355 specifications in compared to the competitors. The Ferrari F355 Spider stands as a revolution in the world of convertibles because its chassis were stronger from the start.
Major options and fashions
Berlinetta: The Berlinetta was the first of a successful line of F355 vehicles, and it was unveiled in May 1994. The 6-speed manual transmission was the only one offered at first. However, the unique F1-style gearbox management system was initially installed in a road car—the Berlinetta—in 1997. The F355’s normal 6-speed manual gearbox was used to control the electro-hydraulic system, which was immediately adapted from Formula 1, where it made its début in 1989 and won the Brazilian Grand Prix. The new transmission ensured lightning-fast gear changes and had the added benefit of allowing the driver to always keep both hands on the wheel.
Ferrari added the GTS variant to the F355 family in 1995. The Berlinetta-based GTS variant comes with a detachable “targa-style” hard top roof that can be tucked behind the seats. Other details matched those of the Berlinetta. There were 2,577 GTS vehicles made in all, 2,048 of which were equipped with the 6-speed transmission and the remaining 529 with the F1 transmission.
Spider: The F355 Spider made its debut in 1995, with Pininfarina’s lines having been refined for 1,800 hours in the wind tunnel. The result is a blend of classy design and effective aerodynamics. The semi-automatic soft-top was powered electrically for the first time on a Ferrari. The Spider was first available with a 6-speed transmission. The Spider has an F1 transmission option available in 1997. With a total of 3,717 units made, the Spider ended up being the second-most popular F355 model. 2,664 of those units were produced with the 6-speed transmission, and the remaining 1,053 were produced with the F1 transmission.
Final Production
Up until mid-1999, the F355’s Berlinetta and GTS variants were still being produced. It took a little longer to assemble the spider.
By the time production was finished, Ferrari had produced 11,206 units in total, divided among the three body types.
4915 Berlinettas (496 with right-hand drive), 2577 GTS (434 with right-hand drive), and 3714 Spiders made up this total (with 454 in right-hand drive).
There were how many Ferrari F355 Challenge produced?
But by 1998, all of these upgrades had already been included into the vehicle before it was released (with the exception of the rear wing). Only 108 F355 Challenge vehicles, each with a “F355 Challenge” logo on the rear, were produced by Ferrari.
What was the new cost of the Ferrari F355?
Prices and specifications for the Ferrari F355 range from $184,400 to $308,000 for the 2000 Convertible variant.
The Ferrari 355 was created by who?
The F355 was created as Ferrari’s entry-level supercar and followed the 308, 328, and 348 as a less expensive substitute for their V12 versions. The design, engineering, and marketing teams at Ferrari were enjoined by company president Luca di Montezemolo to produce something wholly original, thrilling, and distinct from the 348.
The resulting F355 was a huge success; orders poured in faster than Ferrari could deliver them, and its complete body undertray was emphasized as a performance benchmark upon debut. Positive press coverage praised both the graceful aesthetics of Pininfarina as well as the 25% increase in horsepower.
The F355 was produced starting in May 1994 and was available as a targa top GTS or a Berlinetta coupe with a detachable metal top that could be stored in the front truck. A flat-plane crank V8 was longitudinally installed in the middle of the F355. With 380bhp at 8250 rpm from a 3496cc engine, it was one of the most potent normally aspirated engines available at the time. New five valve cylinder heads and lightweight engine parts like titanium connecting rods and forged alloy pistons made this possible.
The handling characteristics of the 348 were one of the key areas of concentration for the Ferrari engineers, particularly in terms of keeping control close to the adhesion limits. The installation of new electronic dampers that computed steering, suspension load, road speed, and brake pressure. Ferrari bragged that the F355 was seven seconds quicker around their Fiorano test track than the earlier 348 due to the suspension and additional power available.
The body’s sensual lines replaced the side strakes and straight lines of the Testarossa, and Pininfarina was in charge of creating it. The F355 was completely new, although having almost the same proportions as the 348. The majority of the body, including the under tray’s fiberglass bottom, was formed at Pininfarina’s wind tunnel. Rear buttresses emphasized the car’s fastback silhouette, while the rear kicked up like the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, complete with conventionally formed rear lamps.
The Fiorano handling package, which lowered the entire car, introduced a stronger suspension, and widened the track, was the most notable of the several upgrades available for the F355. Sports seats, four-point harnesses, and a mesh rear grille were available options.
Nicola Larini contributed to the creation of a challenge series in 1995 that replaced the popular 348 Challenge Trophy. Given that every Ferrari vehicle was identically built before being sold, it was a one-model race that was held throughout Europe and quickly became competitive.
A new electro-hydraulic gearbox known as the F1 transmission became available in 1997. It was available at a time when only Alpina and Porsche offered a similar gear change, and very few automobiles had such a feature. On Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, a Spider model with an electronically operated top that concealed itself under a canvas cover was introduced the same year.
The 360 Modena took the place of the F355 and improved the “junior” Ferrari in many ways, the most notable of which were new fixed headlights and an all-aluminum chassis construction. This meant that the F355 was the final Ferrari to use the largely decorative retractable headlights. Ferrari created 100 “Serie Fiorano” vehicles as a way to cap out the model. These vehicles had a handling package, a challenge grill, carbon fiber inlays, a suede-covered steering wheel, and a plaque on the dashboard identifying them. After the manufacturer produced 11 200 F355s, the Serie Fiorano and 360 Modena were both unveiled at the 1999 Geneva Auto Show.
There are how many Ferrari 348s?
The 3.4-liter naturally aspirated version of the quad-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder V8 engine was included in the 348. It was designated as the 348 tb for the coupe (Trasversale Berlinetta) and the 348 ts for the targa (Trasversale Spider). The model number was formed from this arrangement, with the first two digits representing the engine’s displacement and the third representing the number of cylinders. Similar to the Mondial t, with which the 348 shared many components, the engine, which had a power output of 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp), was positioned longitudinally and linked to a transversemanual gearbox. The transverse location of the gearbox is indicated by the “t” in the model tb and ts designations. In total, 4,228 examples of the 348 ts and 2,894 examples of the 348 tb were created.
With angled side air intakes and rectangular taillights like the Testarossa, the 348’s style stood apart from earlier Ferrari models. It also featured design cues from the F40, the company’s fastest production car at the time, and other illustrious Ferrari models from the past. Chief stylist Leonardo Fioravanti, noted for such designs as the F40, Daytona, 512 Berlinetta Boxer, 288 GTO P5, P6, and others, oversaw the model’s final design. The F355, which replaced the 348, reverted to the 328’s stylistic characteristics with rounded side air scoops and round taillights.
The 348 was equipped with double-redundant anti-lock brakes, self-diagnosing air conditioning and heating systems, dual-computer engine control using dual Bosch Motronic ECUs, and other advanced features. After models (1993 and later) use Nippondenso power generators and Japanese starting motors to increase reliability. The battery is also moved within the front left fender to optimize weight distribution.
Though European and general market models of the 348 do not ship with the self-test push button installed, which is required to activate this diagnostic tool, all 348s have OBD-I engine management systems.
The oil and coolant radiators were moved from the nose to the sides, much like the Testarossa, but unlike the 512 BB and 308/328. This greatly widened the side of the car, but it also made the cabin much easier to cool since warm water hoses no longer ran underneath the cabin as in the older front-radiator cars. The doors became unusually broad as a result, which was another negative consequence.
A dry-sump oil system was used in the 348 to minimize oil starvation at high speeds and during challenging turns. This design meant that the oil level could only be correctly monitored on the dipstick when the engine was running. To expedite the removal of the engine for maintenance, the 348 was equipped with a rear sub-frame that could be removed and an adjustable ride-height suspension.
How did the Ferrari 355 come about?
The Ferrari F355 was introduced at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show as the much-maligned 1990–1994 Ferrari 348’s 1995 model year replacement, carrying on a tradition of mid-engine Ferrari sports cars with fewer than twelve cylinders that began with the 1968 Dino 206 GT. A lot of the modern automotive writers who evaluated the 348 when it was new described it as a temperamental, bad-handling, and very out-of-date machine. The 348 was introduced around the same time as Acura’s mid-engine NSX sports car.
What is the price of a Ferrari F40?
2020: The Ferrari F40’s most recent sales in 2020 and 2019 ranged between $700,000 and $900,000. 2022: A Ferrari F40 is currently selling for well over $1 million once again.
What number of Ferrari 360 Spiders were produced?
Ferrari’s 20th road-going convertible is the 360 Spider. There were 2,389 Ferrari 360 Spider cars produced for the US market, 670 of which had the gated 6-speed manual transmission.
What is the value of a Ferrari 355?
It is obvious that selecting the ideal vehicle calls for some research, considering multiple vehicles, and a healthy dose of luck. Sheehan’s suggestions? Be patient, pay attention to Ferrari F355 pricing and what you can get for your money, and purchase the greatest vehicle you can.
“If you’re in the market for a 355, you want to buy a car that someone else has just spent $10,000 or more on for a significant service by a reputable shop, [one that] comes with a fat stack of service invoices dating back several years,” says one seller.
What is a reasonable cost for a Ferrari F355? Reiterating Sheehan’s statement, “Financially, they are affordable, with F1 cars in the $50,000–$70,000 area and six-speed cars in the $60,000–$75,000 range, which is a sweet spot for first-time or entry-level Ferrari purchasers.”
The F1-equipped vehicles were more expensive to purchase when they were new, but due to their less-than-ideal driving qualities and greater maintenance costs, they are now worth less than regular six-speed manual vehicles. Also keep in mind that Ferrari no longer offers its renowned gated manual transmission, which has caused individuals seeking a more classic Ferrari driving experience to raise the price of 355s with manual transmissions.
There’s a decent probability that the ideal car for you at the ideal price is out there because Ferrari produced more than 11,000 F355s. Find it, and you’ll be treated to a driver’s vehicle for the ages, with one of the best-sounding V-8 engines ever manufactured, an 8,500 rpm redline, and styling that heralds the end of a unique period at Ferrari, one that will undoubtedly never be matched.