1996 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta

Did Ferrari ever really improve on the original coupé? No. This is a firm case of original and best – and this car has the most desirable spec, with the Motronic 2.7 twin AFM engine management system and a proper Ferrari H gate gearchange. In many ways it’s the last of a generation of cars that had been evolving since the 1950s, before things tipped over into computer control and a more processed, sterile driving experience.

Back in 1989, when Nigel Mansell took the chequered flag at the Brazilian grand prix, he did so with the aid of some pioneering technology – steering wheel paddles to control the gearbox. And it was the 355 that pioneered this technology on road cars, when Ferrari introduced it in 1997, tipping the 355 over that imaginary line. Today, it’s the original incarnation of the car that enthusiasts lust after.

Berlinetta sounds cool, huh? Sadly, much like panini, which is simply Italian for sandwich, Berlinetta means nothing more sophisticated than ‘little saloon’. It’s not often that Ferrari underplay things, but they certainly did in this instance. Looking at this stunning machine there’s clearly nothing remotely saloon like about it – it’s a pure, uncompromising sports car in the Maranello tradition.

It’s a Ferrari – it’s Rosso Corsa, which is a much more exciting term than plain red. Supercars come and go, some more outlandish than others, but the 355 still looks striking today, without trying too hard or resorting to shock tactics. The bodywork on this car is in absolutely stunning condition – almost better than it has any right to be after 26 years.

It’s clear this car has been cherished, cosseted and had its every need attended to. The gleaming red paintwork flows over its curves and sculptured air intakes like a molten lava flow descending a hill. It looks so fluid you have to stop yourself from checking whether it’s dripping off the bottom of the car.

People sometimes quip that ‘cars these days all come out of the same wind tunnel.’ Ferraris must be different then, because the 355 is the result of more than 1300 hours inside one, with the nolder profile on the rear of the car and fairings underneath that provide all the downforce required, without so much as a garish wing in sight.

The alloys are unmarked, the brake calipers peeping through the five-spoked rims look factory fresh and the air intakes, a large one on the door and a smaller version in perfect proportion underneath on the sill panel, should be in every engineering textbook as a perfect example of how to marry function and form – and create art in the process.

Many later cars came with a black leather, which is far more common, but this 2.7 has a beautiful Crema hide interior which, of course, is the only way to fly when you have a red Ferrari. It’s absolutely unmarked too, giving no clue as to how anyone racked up 38,000 miles in it – it looks as though it’s just left Modena.

Switchgear plastics in Ferraris of this period can degrade and become sticky, but no such problems are to be found in here.

The driver’s seat is nearer the centre of the car than the passenger’s and close to that iconic Ferrari H gate gearchange, with its gorgeous alloy gearknob sprouting proudly from it. Supercars have moved on from this – whether they’ve progressed is another matter altogether.

Cinquevalvole is cast into the alloy cam covers, proclaiming that Ferrari had managed to fit not four, but five valves (three inlet, two exhaust) into each of the flat-plane crank V8’s combustion chambers.

Atop the dry-sumped Paolo Martinelli designed powerplant sits the vast twin-plenum intake system, with an AFM on each bank, allowing enough air in for 375bhp at a screaming howl of 8250rpm, by which time you’ll have hairs standing up in places you didn’t know you had.Oh and we nearly forgot it also has a Nouvalari Sport exhaust system fitted just two years ago which no doubt adds to the symphony of that amazing engine.

Underneath, it looks as though the car hasn’t seen a wet road, with very little evidence of use beyond sunny days and summer fun. There’s the odd scrape on parts of the undertray, but that’s an occupational hazard in a car that sits as low as this.

There are unequal length wishbones at every corner of course, and the car comes complete with its original leather tool case (and further evidence of the recent camblet replacement).

This 355 comes with a highly comprehensive and detailed history file, showing the thousands that have been spent on keeping it as close to as-new condition as is physically possible.

The vendor says:

‘Inside there is a covering note showing the work we have carried out on it since buying it a couple of years ago. We carried out work on the heating and ventilation, and aircon system, requiring an ECU overhaul, stepper motor and re-fitting a flap plate, since the originals were not working.

‘We have also carried out the “de-stickyfying” of the vents and most of, but not all the switches. Everything in that department is now working. We also recently replaced the timing belts – a 15 hour job, although they are not due until later this year.

‘There is no bill as such, since all the work carried out over the past two years has been in-house, since we have considerable knowledge of F355s, having previously owned another.

‘This car has been “over serviced” throughout its life as can be seen from the very extensive maintenance bills from Ferrari specialists. It is absolutely ready to enjoy.’

Indeed, there are bills for many 10s of thousands of pounds worth of maintenance work, dating back to when the car was new, plus a full service history and a stack of old MoT certificates.

Recent work in March this year completed by Natton Garage in Gloucestershire includes new cambelts, meaning they aren’t due for another three clear years, replacement of all the gas struts, new NGK spark plugs, and the replacement of the heating and ventilation ECU.

The Ferrari 355 remains one of the best drivers’ cars ever built, and represents to many enthusiasts the very peak of the breed, before electronics and computer control swamped the driving experience and took some of the visceral edge from it.

And this 1996 car, with the original and best twin AFM intake system and H gate transmission, takes this a step further, as it’s the very pinnacle of the breed. In this condition, with this history, this is a unique opportunity to acquire one of the very finest sports cars ever made.

Interestingly in Goodwood Road & Racing the best sub £100 K investment cars to buy 2022 the 355 gets a mention please see the link below.

https://www.goodwood.com/grr/road/news/2021/11/the-eight-best-sub-100k-investment-cars-to-buy-in-2022/

Our estimate for this car Is £80,000 - £90,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’