RE: Ferrari F355 GTB: Spotted

RE: Ferrari F355 GTB: Spotted

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
'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?
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]

 

Author
Discussion

PistonBroker

Original Poster:

2,406 posts

225 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
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 . . . ?!

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
A local business man had a British Racing Green 355 from new, can't remember the Interior as I was just a kid. Fell in love with that car cloud9

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
The last genuinely good looking mid-engined Ferrari to my eyes, although they were already on a downhill slope by that point. I like that colour too, much nicer than the usual red although I think I'd want yellow if it was me. smile

Fartgalen

6,630 posts

206 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Exterior colour would be fine for me. Don't think I could really live with the bobbar brown interior though.

daveco

4,122 posts

206 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
I think that is a better colour than the Ferrari red. It highlights the shape of the body far better and looks more 'classic' Ferrari because of it.

If I had £65k, I would almost certainly think quite heavily about possibly purchasing this at some point.

daytona365

1,773 posts

163 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
One of the very best recent offerings, without going hyperspace crazy. Imo.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
looks stunning, so much nicer than the new cars

i would have to get the interior re-trimmed in navy thou

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 19th March 11:32

tomtom

4,223 posts

229 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Sold my 355 3 months ago as I believe(d) we're in a crazy pricing bubble.

Keep seeing 355s around.

Wish I hadn't sold it.

frown

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
TdF and Crema, Rosso and Cuoio and this colour combo are my favourites. The 355 will definitely be one of those classic Ferraris in future, and although they're not rare enough to be worth mega money any time soon, they're surely a cast-iron investment.

87dazzler

18 posts

108 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
355 Is a simply stunning looking Ferrari. I'd have mine in Nero black with cream interior and red calipers just to set it off. Perfect! I miss pop up head lights!

0llie

3,006 posts

195 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Just lovely cloud9 Not really a fan of Ferrari's mid-engined V8 efforts, but this is perfect

SirSquidalot

4,039 posts

164 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
That is delicious yum

B10

1,225 posts

266 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
How nice to see one not in red and without that daft Ferrari badge on the wing.

Amirhussain

11,486 posts

162 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
lick

thiscocks

3,127 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Only let down by that steering wheel

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
360 looks prettier to these eyes I'm afraid.

Behemoth

2,105 posts

130 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Crema has always seemed an odd choice of interior to me. It is a peculiarly British thing. Rosso cars are much more likely to have black interiors in Italy & France and in the US, tan (beige in Ferrari parlance) is favoured.

mwstewart

7,553 posts

187 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
F430 for me anyday but I'm sure these are still great fun.

seanyfez

173 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
I was fortunate enough to own a dark grey F355 GTB with a burgandy interior - my wife and I disliked Ferrari 'retail red'. We used it as often as possible and were always complimented on the colour by people we met at car club events. I always felt that the colour helped reduce the jealousy of the small minded! It was later joined by a black Testarossa, which failed miserably to be as subtle due to the load exhaust and the need to hear that glorious engine.

Both sold a few years back to fund the second part of my midlife crisis!

I would happily buy the F355 back for £45k...



Edited by seanyfez on Thursday 19th March 11:39


Edited by seanyfez on Thursday 19th March 11:39

thiscocks

3,127 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
^thumbup