Thursday 19th March 2015

Ferrari F355 GTB: Spotted

Who said V8 Ferraris must be red?

---

Colour and upholstery spec can make or break a car. There are commonly understood pairings that always work, others that are really best avoided and some that you can't believe were ever allowed by the factory.

'Cuoio Naturale' never looked so good

Furthermore, certain cars dictate certain colours. Lamborghinis really should be as lairy as possible, fast SEATs must be yellow and Championship White is the best colour for Type R Hondas. Arguably more than any of those, however, is that V8 Ferraris should be Rosso Corsa with Crema. Nero leather perhaps. That's just how it is.

There's something quite enjoyable though about searching out the smaller Prancing Horse products (or indeed the V12s for that matter) that aren't red. Some are just fantastic - see this TdF Blue 360 Challenge Stradale - and others are less successful. White F430 Spider anyone?

Then there's this. An F355 GTB in Grigio Titanio Metallizzato with natural leather (or 'Cuoio Naturale' for the full Italian). A manual, obviously. And it isn't it just one of the most stunning cars you've ever seen? Ferrari has arguably never matched the 355 for sheer beauty in either its direct replacements or any other model. Red with cream looks fantastic but this could be even better still.

What more do you need?

The 355's incredible good looks combined with a big dynamic improvement over the 348 have always made it a desirable Ferrari. The best 355s are now comfortably more expensive than the best 360s and finding manual, right-hand drive Berlinettas is not as easy as you might imagine: of the 44 on PH, there are 17 Spiders and of the Berlinettas that are still available just five are RHD manuals. This car was worth the LHD compromise...

Certainly £65K is a lot given where 355s were not long ago. It will perhaps be harder to sell than a red car but why would you ever want to? There won't be a manual, naturally aspirated Ferrari V8 berlinetta again and it would be surprising to see one so pretty in future either. Running one will of course take some sturdy financial commitment (see here for the 35 (!) 'common issues' associated with 355s from PHer Cactussed) but which car of this ilk wouldn't?

It's a special car, the 355, one that's now enjoying its time in the sun as far as Ferrari values are concerned. And if more practicality is required from a Ferrari that isn't red, how about a dark green 456? What a beaut!

---

FERRARI F355 GTB
Engine: 3,496cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 381@8,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 267@6,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: Probably a fair few
First registered: 1997
Recorded mileage: 39,754
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £64,990

See the original advert here.

Photos: Stephen Iles/Capture Photography, via Dick Lovett Ferrari

[Source: Autocar]

 

[PistonBroker]

If I managed to get a 355 I'd never sell it - or certainly hope to never have to sell it! - so no concern over resale here.

I liked them from the off, but it was probably Jay Kay's black car that first really stole my heart and, ideally, I'd go for TDF. Never been one for the default choice.

This colour combo will do just fine. Now, where'd I put that Lotto ticket . . . ?!