The 360 was the first Ferrari road car to have a complete aluminium monocoque chassis, which was constructed from sections welded together. It delivered a frame that was 28 per cent lighter than the 355’s but 40 per cent stiffer while also offering more interior space. This was helped by a wheelbase 100mm longer for the 360 at 2,600mm, while front and rear tracks also increased to 1,679mm at the front and 1,617mm for the rear.
Aerodynamics were a key factor in the design
The aluminium body panels were riveted to the chassis, while the Challenge Stradale made use of carbon fibre for some of its body panels, including the bonnet. Aerodynamics were a big factor in the design of the 360, which is why it has such prominent front air intakes that feed air to the radiators and out to the rear diffuser. Combined with its 15mm lower suspension, the CS provided 50 per cent more downforce than a standard Modena.
For the Spider, aerodynamics gave way to a style with a fabric roof that folded electrically under a painted cover behind the rear bulkhead. This cover had two fairings that sloped down behind the integrated roll-over hoops that sat behind the seats. To make the Spider’s body rigid, Ferrari strengthened the sills, front floor pan, windscreen frame and rear bulkhead. Ferrari’s engineers reworked the Spider’s aerodynamics so that it delivered just 10kg less downforce than the Modena coupe’s and the Spider’s Cd aerodynamic factor increased to 0.36 from the coupe’s 0.33.
The hood is very well made and insulates the cabin efficiently. Over time, the fabric stretches a little, which can lead to a little ballooning of the material at higher speeds. So long as the material is in good condition, this isn’t a cause for concern, but worn or ripped hoods will be expensive to replace. Expect to pay around £10,000 for a full replacement hood fitted by a knowledgeable specialist. Other hood problems are more likely down to a faulty sensor, which is cheap and easy to sort, though the car may need to be plugged into a fault code computer to completely sort it. Also look for scratches on the hood cover panel or signs of it being poorly resprayed.
Front end is prone to chipping
The aluminium bodywork is prone to stone chips in all of the expected places, such as the front bumper, sills, air intakes and around the wheelarches, so check these carefully. Also check that any protective plastic coating in these areas is not hiding damaged paint beneath. Look underneath the front bumper too for signs of damage from speed humps or steep driveways.
Although aluminium doesn’t rust, it does still corrode, so you need to check the paintwork all over for any signs of bubbling or a white powder. Look carefully around the front bulkhead and windscreen frame. A neglected car that has spent much of its life outside will need a full respray to fully sort poor bodywork.
Owner's view:
"The main problem was really that you couldn't take it anywhere! Empty car park? Somebody would ALWAYS park next to the Ferrari. It's a wide car so even parking in a 'normal' space the sides are vulnerable to dings! Park it in town - everyone wants a photo sat on a Ferrari! These problems were a blight on my ownership and in the end it only came out for an A-to-A blast or a 'give me a ride out in your Ferrari' outing!"
Tim Roebuck
