1993 Ferrari 348 Spider

One of just 75 UK-supplied 348 Spiders, this Giallo Fly example is one of a vanishingly small sub-set finished in this colour. Sold new by Reg Vardy of Tyne and Wear and first registered on 18 August 1993, it remains highly original and shows just 29,521 miles on the odometer.

Scuderia Ferrari shields have been applied to the front wings and the coachwork is complemented by a black soft-top hood. It sits on a correct set of 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels that are fitted with matching Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico tyres.

The cabin is trimmed in Nero leather, complete with custom ‘348’ branded black floor mats with yellow binding, and factory-fitted equipment includes air conditioning and electric windows.

It’s been serviced exclusively by marque specialists and main dealers too, and comes with the owner’s book pack in its leather folder, the original stamped guarantee and service history booklet, the complete original toolkit in its leather case, and both of the original keys plus a huge and fastidiously sorted folder of invoices and other paperwork.

It all adds up to a highly desirable example of this ever-popular Italian thoroughbred sportscar.

It’s great to see those iconic Pininfarina lines finished in something other than red. Don’t get us wrong, we love a red Ferrari as much as the next enthusiast but to see one in Giallo Fly makes a lovely change - and this one is a real beauty, isn’t it? It spent many years snuggled inside a Carcoon and the combination of low miles and careful curation has reaped dividends, hasn’t it?

With beautifully aligned panels, ripple-free flanks, and good shutlines, the panels form an excellent canvas for that delightful Ferrari Yellow paint.

And even the details withstand scrutiny; all four corners are clear of scuffs, the light lenses are bright and undamaged, the headlamps pop up on command, and the window glass is excellent.

The black folding roof is taut and well-fitting. It’s free of damage too, and rises and falls as it should. A leather tonneau cover hides it away when it’s down, protecting it from the sun’s damaging rays at the same time.

Hard-core track-day enthusiasts might prefer the coupé but everyone else will revel in the increased sensory stimulation a convertible V8-powered sportscar like this offers.

The alloy wheels, which are the correct five-spoke, 17-inch jobbies, are in a great condition with no dents, dinks, or scrapes. If we’re being picky then a couple of the centre caps could do with being replaced but that’s very much a job for tomorrow.

They’re fitted with matching Pirelli tyres too, in the classic P-Zero Asimmetrico pattern the factory recommends (#202). The rear axle wears 255/45ZR17 on the driven wheels and with the front wheels being shod with a pair of 215/50ZR17.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Black-painted brake calipers complement the Scuderia Ferrari shields on the front wings – and the fact they’re such a sombre colour adds to the car’s presence; despite the vibrant hue, this is a relatively subtle car and all the better for it.

If you liked the exterior then you’re going to love the Nero leather interior. With deep, heavily bolstered leather seats and the classic Ferrari open-gate gearchange, this 348 Spider offers all the styling cues we’ve come to expect of a modern-classic model. Every Ferrari’s cabin is a special place but this one’s old school charm is underpinned by its condition, which is excellent.

With regard to condition, the photos speak for themselves. The leather facings on the seats look to be excellent, as does the underlying foam. With no softening or damage, we imagine they’re as comfortable and supportive now as they’ve ever been and only gentle creasing betrays their age.

The door cards are good, as are the dashboard, minor controls, and instruments. The carpets are excellent too, and they’re protected by the fabulous custom-made 348-branded overmats.

The three-spoke steering wheel is as comfortable in the hand as it is charming to look at and the gear lever is tall and simple. Topped by nothing more than a modest round gearknob, it demonstrates that the true greats don’t need decorating with gaudy trinkets.

Even the sill trims, which are usually the first things to show damage as they protect the wide sills the driver needs to clamber over, are excellent.

The frunk is very nicely presented and is home to the wonderful Ferrari tool kit, which is stored in an elegant leather case.

As for flaws, the offside interior door handle is a bit scuffed (#192) and the rear of the nearside door card is a bit wrinkled (#235). That’s about it though.

The seller has summarised the Ferrari’s service history as follows:

• September 2020 and 29,202 miles - Kent High Performance Cars
• August 2019 and 28,920 miles - DK Engineering (inc. cambelts)
• May 2018 and 28,861 miles - DK Engineering
• September 2009 and 24,110 miles - Carrs Ferrari (inc. cambelts)
• August 2003 and 19,032 miles - Carrera Sport (inc. cambelts)
• June 2000 and 13,551 miles - Carrera Sport (inc. cambelts)
• May 1998 and 8,295 miles - Lancaster Ferrari
• March 1997 and 7,198 miles - Meridien Modena Ferrari (inc. cambelts)
• October 1996 and 7,085 miles - Meridien Modena Ferrari
• February 1996 and 5,944 miles - MHT Ferrari
• June 1995 and 3,778 miles - Reg Vardy Ferrari
• September 1993 and 840 miles - Reg Vardy Ferrari

That’s pretty impressive, isn’t it? But then, as you can see, the invoices and other paperwork has been meticulously collated and presented - it even looks like many of the jobs that have been undertaken have been photographed.

The engine bay clearly shows the 348’s largely analogue nature; there’s proper engineering under the bonnet and it all looks very accessible, in both meanings of the word. It’s in good shape too, but if you were to detail it few would accuse you of being overly fastidious.

The Ferrari will come with a brand-new MoT certificate and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Other than the beautifully presented history file, the seller tells us that “there are no stories to tell”, which is exactly as it should be when you’re buying a car like this!

Many classic car enthusiasts have come to appreciate the benefits of running a modern classic like this, not least because they offer the sort of safety, reliability, performance and driving dynamics that we’ve all come to value in our daily drivers, while still being sufficiently analogue to be easy to repair and keep us interested.

And, even after all these years, the Ferrari 348 still stands comparison with some of the greatest supercars ever built. As Henry Catchpole wrote in Evo magazine in 2015: “[it is] instantly obvious this car has some of the best steering, possibly the best, that I have ever sat behind.”

But, if you’re going to splash out on a Ferrari it needs to be the right one and this is most definitely the right one. With an impressive service and maintenance record, that unusual colour should help maintain its value - and now is a great time to buy before they continue their almost-certain inexorable rise in value.

As to that value, we estimate it will fetch somewhere between £55,000 and £65,000, which seems very reasonable to us given its impressive curation and condition.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Hockley, Essex. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.