Collecting Cars F355 TdF Berlinetta
Discussion
It's Le Mans not TdF 
Pedantry over the exact shade of blue aside, it looks absolutely lovely, my ideal spec too.
One area I would investigate if I were serious about it would be the provenance of the seats. Something in the dark recesses of my memory says that the carbon seats weren't available until much later in the 355's production run; this one's a 95 so one of the early ones (note, it's not a 96 like the CC listing says - they even include a high resolution photo of the original warranty card stating 1995...). Don't take my word for that, but it's the one thing that stuck out to me.
edit: I see it's got carbon sill kickplates too. Not uncommon as a retro-fit in recent years, as the originals had a bad habit of rusting, but again I don't think factory fit on the early cars.
Pedantry over the exact shade of blue aside, it looks absolutely lovely, my ideal spec too.
One area I would investigate if I were serious about it would be the provenance of the seats. Something in the dark recesses of my memory says that the carbon seats weren't available until much later in the 355's production run; this one's a 95 so one of the early ones (note, it's not a 96 like the CC listing says - they even include a high resolution photo of the original warranty card stating 1995...). Don't take my word for that, but it's the one thing that stuck out to me.
edit: I see it's got carbon sill kickplates too. Not uncommon as a retro-fit in recent years, as the originals had a bad habit of rusting, but again I don't think factory fit on the early cars.
Edited by tomtom on Tuesday 19th October 18:07
You are right to pick me up on the colour!
Interesting you say that as the reason I referred to it as a unicorn is that I also did not think that the carbon seats were available until quite some time after 1995 so we are probably correct on that. Albeit since they are Ferrari seats that may only matter for those wanting the most pure of provenance.
I also picked up on the age point not least because I don’t think any 1996 cars have the pre airbag wheel and surely only a handful would be a 2.7.
Think I prefer Le Mans to the TdF….
Interesting you say that as the reason I referred to it as a unicorn is that I also did not think that the carbon seats were available until quite some time after 1995 so we are probably correct on that. Albeit since they are Ferrari seats that may only matter for those wanting the most pure of provenance.
I also picked up on the age point not least because I don’t think any 1996 cars have the pre airbag wheel and surely only a handful would be a 2.7.
Think I prefer Le Mans to the TdF….
tomtom said:
There we go then, research into provenance done. Thanks.
So they were offered as an option from the start of the 355 run?
I don't know offhand it they were an option on the very first cars at the end of 1994 but certainly from the beginning of 1995. Then, as now, they weren't cheap!So they were offered as an option from the start of the 355 run?
jtremlett said:
don't know offhand it they were an option on the very first cars at the end of 1994 but certainly from the beginning of 1995. Then, as now, they weren't cheap!
Good info, thanks. In my head they weren't offered until the Fiorano packs towards the end of the run. Every day's a school day!Erm, they said Sports seats were original. The carbon seats are referred to as race seats generally. So I’m not sure what they confirmed!
Edit - coming from Aston mainly where sports seats are standard and lightweight are the option, I’m getting a little confused. A google shows sports seats in this case as the carbon ones.
Edit - coming from Aston mainly where sports seats are standard and lightweight are the option, I’m getting a little confused. A google shows sports seats in this case as the carbon ones.
Edited by Upperworks on Wednesday 20th October 09:07
tomtom said:
Upperworks said:
Just noticed seller says his were factory fitted. Ferrari nerds, let battle commence! (I have no idea)
If jtremlett's told us they're original then that's good enough for me!Interesting to note the the current high bid is (just) above the asking price in December 2019 with two days to go.
Upperworks said:
Erm, they said Sports seats were original. The carbon seats are referred to as race seats generally. So I’m not sure what they confirmed!
Edit - coming from Aston mainly where sports seats are standard and lightweight are the option, I’m getting a little confused. A google shows sports seats in this case as the carbon ones.
In this case the two terms are used interchangeably. Unlike Aston(?) and Porsche there weren't really any seat options at the time, other than the standard seats or the carbon ones. On later models, eg 360 onwards, you'll sometimes see the carbon seats referred to as 'sports seats' as opposed to the standard seats (which may or may not have the 'daytona' trim)... Clear as mud? Edit - coming from Aston mainly where sports seats are standard and lightweight are the option, I’m getting a little confused. A google shows sports seats in this case as the carbon ones.
Edited by Upperworks on Wednesday 20th October 09:07
Upperworks said:
Colour aside, this is a very similar spec to my car, even down to having carbon seats added, so watching with interest, not that I’ll ever sell mine.
That is a sensational colour and makes such a nice change from rosso corsa. It's a shame that even to this day, buyers don't have the balls to spec much other than red, black or grey.
What is your car's particular shade of green called?
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