Tuesday 17th October 2023

One-of-eight Ferrari 348 GT Competizione for sale

There are special V8 Ferraris, and then there are special V8 Ferraris...

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Poor old Ferrari 348 - it never did get much love. Replaced by the prettier, more capable F355 in the mid-1990s and made to look a bit old hat by the Honda NSX when it was on sale, the GTB, GTS and Spider are not really regarded as Ferrari’s best V8 sports cars. But this isn’t any 348 - it’s a GT Competizione. And that makes it very, very special indeed. Because before there were Pistas and Speciales, before even the 355 Challenge, the GTC was Maranello’s rare and raw road racer.

It was first seen in 1994, with 50 units built to celebrate an Italian GT2 championship in 1993. It was also, effectively, a final edition for the 348, and what a way to go. Every single one was Rosso Corsa, with a unique exhaust for another 10hp from the 3.4-litre V8 as well as a lower final drive and better gear linkage. The weight was reduced massively (think 200kg or so) thanks to the use of carbon-kevlar for some body panels and removing most of the interior bar the stunning F40-style seats. A new steering wheel was individually numbered.

In the chassis, the superb Speedline wheels were a little wider than standard, and the suspension was revised to accommodate, including uprated springs, dampers and rose-joints. (There’s a site dedicated to the Competizione, 348GTC.com, and it’s full of information. A great place to waste an afternoon…)

Even that didn’t get the GTC too much attention, because it was on sale at the same time as the then-new F355 for more money. Talk about a tough sell. In recent years, however, the 348 has become much more widely appreciated, thanks to its rarity, the purity of its driving experience in the paddleshift age and - we’re going to assume - the way it looks. It’s the 348 how it always should have been. 

This one is extra special as a right-hand-drive example. It’s believed there were just eight UK-spec GTCs like this, which is a tiny number even by limited edition Ferrari standards. Number 36 of the 50 was registered in September 1994 and has racked up an impressive 50,000 miles since, with plenty of history to support that. The cambelt was done last year at a Ferrari main dealer, for some evidence of the love that’s been invested on this 348 - at a cost of almost £5,000, too…

The exact price for the Comp is POA but, amazingly, 25 per cent of the UK GTC allocation is currently for sale on PH. Number 41 is a similar mileage and available at £225k, for some gauge on pricing. Or about what its Porsche 964 RS contemporary might cost, both unloved when new for being too hardcore and now revered for their focus and back-to-basics thrills. No pleasing some folk. Time to see what all the excitement is about…

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[pSyCoSiS]

That is rather nice and those wheels are splendid.

[TREMAiNE]

I had no idea these even came in RHD!

I'm not a massive fan of the 348s looks.
The standard car seemed to get slated for being a bad drive for such a long time - though opinions seem to have shifted somewhat in recent years.

For a 'cheap' Ferrari, I'd still take a 360 since 355s have appreciated so much.

I love the seats in this, though.

[WPA]

I had no idea they made these, I think I would still buy a 355 given the choice

[FestivAli]

My work has one for sale here in aus for 898k aud at the moment. I thought it was a bit much for a 348 but then I didnt realise how rare it was.

[Skeptisk]

I am surprised these are still relatively cheap given how rare they are. I remember one for sale about 15 years ago. I would have been very tempted but I was in Switzerland then and the car was in the U.K. Had I seen one in Switzerland I would have bought one.

[Katzenjammer]

I remember following one of these in Hillsborough, County Down, around 2002. Any time I drive by the street it drove into I still think of it as the 348 Competizione street

[Still Mulling]

I have a soft spot for these. When I was around 10 or 11, my dad took me to Talacrest and Maranello Concessionaires as a birthday treat. They had a RHD 348 GTC in stock and I revelled in being allowed to sit in it, absorbing the stats that the salesman was spouting to me. I felt quite honoured to have my pre-teenage keister in a vehicle rarer than than so many of the hallowed 250 heritage!

[Mark_Blanchard]

This looks a nice car. I drove the standard 348 and wasn't impressed at all. Heavy steering and some role in corners. It sounded good though.

[Wheel Turned Out]

For the ultra-wealthy Ferrari collector who has everything, a great find. I do think the 348 in general is aging quite nicely.

[Lord_Howit_Hertz]

Is this PH'ers 2manycars? I thought he loved this and was reluctant to sell out of all his collection (100+?)
as he got rid of his RHD cars, this was his favourite?

[helix402]

Needs some new tyres. I can see a 2013 date stamp on one.

[Neil1323bolts]

Love these I actually prefer it to the 355 ,looks wise anyway, for me it was a better looking/ smaller testarossa. This one is also rather special which makes me want it even more . Any idea of how much extra for this limited version?

[cholo]

Remember these being for sale at £35k

[Dohnut]

What a lovely thing.

Pop up headlights too!

[Filibuster]

The 348 is such a good looking car
Lookswise, I prefer a standard TB myself.

Also I think the 348 is a better looking car than the 355.

[Arsecati]

Neil1323bolts said:

Love these I actually prefer it to the 355 ,looks wise anyway, for me it was a better looking/ smaller testarossa. This one is also rather special which makes me want it even more . Any idea of how much extra for this limited version?

I came on to say the exact same thing - I've always thought them much better looking that the 355: I never really understood the overwhelming fawning over the 355 - just looks a bit 'plain' to me.

[Arsecati]

cholo said:

Remember these being for sale at £35k

I actually remember when these were low £20's, as there were a couple at around £22k and £24k I had my eye on once upon a time. But I was young, I would have been financed up the hoop to get it and the insurance would have put me on Pot Noodle sandwiches for years. Closest I've ever been to buying a Ferrari - they just don't rock my boat (a sentiment strengthened after the arrogance of their security when we stopped by the factory once, whereas Lamborghini and Pagani treated us like gods on the same trip!). Ahhhhh well!

[J4CKO]

Remember taking the little lad to the doctors and one of these pulled up, obviously just had some enthusiastic use as smelt hot and was pinging away, was dirty, the guy got out, didnt give it a second glance and went inside, I had a quick nosey and spotted the "Comepetizione" badge, Ferraris can be a bit flash and prissy, the owners can be a bit too fond of merchandise, I like the combo of well used, but grubby and an owner who seemingly wasnt all that precious about it

[Mabbs9]

I must be weird too because I much prefer the styling of these too the 355. Good to hear that a few others agree. I remember seeing a 205Gti really shifting on a wide A road. Moments later a 348 came spanking past going much faster. It really stuck in my mind.

[Leins]

Were these unloved when new? I don’t think they were particularly well known given the limited numbers

Simon Furlonger had at one for sale for a while about 10 years ago for what I seem to remember was about £90k

There was a great article in Evo many years ago where Dickie Meaden compared one to his own 964 RS