1999 Ferrari F355

This remarkable specimen has an extremely low mileage of 26,000 with a perfect service history which both backs up the mileage and condition, and does not even have any of those ‘storage gaps’. The condition, as seen by us and by marque experts, is impeccable everywhere. It has had a series of what might politely be called ‘enthusiast’ owners: the second even took the trouble to hand write a short manual on how to start and drive the car to best preserve and enjoy it, while the third refused to bring the car into the rain to show it to prospective buyers, which the current owner tells us caused no little problem at the time…

He is the car’s fourth owner and has continued to maintain the car in the manner to which it has become accustomed, lavishing time and money on it, even when a cheaper, smaller repair would have been perfectly acceptable. This is, he tells, us, just how he treats his cars, which is a very reassuring thing to hear when you’re bidding on a used Ferrari.

The gleaming red paintwork has a tiny smattering of almost unnoticeable stone chips, which we think is reassuring. How so? Well, it means that the paintwork is almost certainly largely original, and originality is highly prized in the classic car world; we’d rather see a few signs of use on a pristine car than one that’s had a recent respray to hide any evidence of misuse…

Importantly, the roof buttress to rear wing join is in good condition, which the cognoscenti will recognise isn’t always the case, the targa roof seals tightly, and the alloy wheels are completely unscuffed.

The vehicle has been stored in a heated garage for years and comes with an indoor Ferrari car cover should the new owner want to continue the practice.

The interior – including the optional, and hugely expensive, carbon fibre race seats - was retrimmed in cream leather four years ago at a cost of well over £3,000. It has since covered under a thousand miles so is, as you might expect, still utterly perfect and absolutely gorgeous.

The Ferrari 355 is infamous for developing sticky interior trim but this example is only lightly affected; whether this is a result of good fortune or strategic restoration of any affected bits we don’t know but the trim is in fine fettle and much better than most. In addition, all the electrics work as they should, which is no mean feat in an Italian car!

The ‘flappy paddles’ for the F1 gearbox have been replaced with carbon fibre replacement, but the originals have been retained and are available with the vehicle should the new owner prize originality over aesthetics.

The V8 engine, which revs to a mighty 8,500rpm, is in good health thanks to a strict regimen of dealer and specialist servicing that includes at least two new cambelts over the years (most recently in November 2017 at 25,970 miles) plus replacement catalytic convertors (a known weak point), new engine mounts (ditto), and regular oil and filter changes. Being a later car, it’s also dodged the exhaust manifold and cylinder head troubles that plagued the earlier cars.

The car breathes through a £2,500 Capristo performance exhaust system that both liberates a few extra bhp and sounds incredible. The car has also had four matching Bridgestone tyres fitted less than a thousand miles ago.

Add in routine servicing and the sort of obsessive attention to detail that you want to see when you’re buying an older Ferrari and potential bidders should be reassured to see invoices for well over £20,000 in the past ten years alongside a fully stamped service history.

The car comes with a thick sheaf of old invoices to accompany a complete owner’s wallet crammed full of the car’s service history booklet, owner’s handbook, warranty documents and the original specification sheet for the car. It also comes with two keys, the genuine tool kit, and a Ferrari car cover.

The most recent engine-out cambelt service was completed by very well-regarded Ferrari specialists Keys Motorsport. They confirm that this example is one of the best in the country (and they see a large number), and that includes looking underneath, in the engine bay and across the bodywork and interior. There are no aspects of the car that let it down.

Please visit the ‘Records’ section of this listing where you will find a large number of invoices and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history.

Their engineering integrity meant that the Ferrari 355 never really went through the it’s-just-an-old-Ferrari stage, which means many tend to have been pampered and not neglected (however, there are exceptions to prove this rule). Even so, the service history on this example has left us speechless; every single niggle (and potential niggle, come to that) has been ruthlessly eradicated over the years at huge cost.

Which makes it an easy car to bid on because this single-minded fanaticism makes for a very safe place to put your money. They really don’t come any better than this…

Our guide price of £80-83,000 reflects the care with which this vehicle has been maintained but, as ever, the reserve is set at an even lower point.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen at The London Classic Car Show and here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.