Ferrari 348: Where are they?

[gmarsh]

Where have all the 348's gone? There are 8 LHD cars for sale on the PH website (one at this weekends auction) and only a couple of RHD cars, and one of those is at the previously mentioned auction. Excluding the 'Competizione' model, only 488 348's of the 5 variants were officially imported, and very few seem to have been advertised for sale in the last 6 months or so, since I have been looking. Any ideas?

[gmarsh]

Thanks JaseB and R36vw. I am already a Ferrari owner and have a high regard for the 348(we all have our favourites),even more so when one of the classic car magazines last year did a comparative test with a 355 which was very complimentary and dispelled a lot of the negative crap which had been levelled at the car previously.

[gmarsh]

As a 328 GTS owner I have become a great fan of the 348 and would like to thank the owner of the 348 at the DK Engineering Showcase Day today (28/03) who allowed my friend and I to look over his fantastic low mileage car and take mirror to mirror measurements etc. and share ownership experience. Why are good RHD TS/GTS so hard to find?

[gmarsh]

Hi Jason, have emailed away from PH. Great to speak to you yesterday!

[gmarsh]

See the 1992 TB with 'recent clutch and belt' replacement sold for £40k today at the IWM auction. Still not many around and thought if history and condition OK, it may have sold for more?

[gmarsh]

Good to see a couple new ads for RHD cars coming to the market, a TS and a Spider, each at well known independents.

[gmarsh]

As a lucky owner of a 1987 328 GTS I completely agree with bqf that the 348 is a true Ferrari classic and it is great that they are now admired and becoming sought after. If I had the garage space and could find the right car, I would be very tempted. All post 348 Ferrari's are great cars, but I prefer the 'analogue' unassisted cars and I am sure that bqf, like me, would give up driving before owning an electric car!

[gmarsh]

I am no 348 expert, but rarely drive my 328GTs with the roof on as the 'experience' changes significantly as the cabin is well insulated with the roof on. As far as numbers are concerned, according to the Maranello booklet there were 261 RHD TS cars officially imported, compared to 130 TB's and 68 Spiders. The later GTB's numbered 14 & 15 GTS's. As far as "popularity" goes, I am sure one of the 348 owners on PH will be far better placed to comment than me, I'd be happy with any of them!