The Ferrari 355: a close look at the performance of this classic sports car, technical data, characteristics, rival comparison, history, used prices

from classic to modern

CAR

The Ferrari F355 sports car, introduced in 1994, was the successor to the 348 Series.

Designed by Pininfarina, the emphasis was on smooth lines, while embodying a fastback style.

It was offered as the Berlinetta two-seater coupe, the GTS with a Targa-style top, and the Spyder convertible.

At launch, the Berlinetta was priced at $ 130,000, while the other two variants were priced at $ 137,000.

It used a steel monocoque chassis and tubular engine subframe, independent coil spring suspension throughout with electronically activated gas-filled shock absorbers and anti-roll bars.

The driver was able to control the firmness of the ride by choosing the appropriate shock absorber setting from Comfort or Sport.

In terms of aerodynamics, this sports car was equipped with a full body under the tray that prevented lift when driving hard.

Interestingly, the leather-covered seats were positioned so that the driver was close to the center position of the car. I had:

  • All-round superior rated ventilated vacuum actuated disc brakes linked to ABS
  • Power steering
  • Limited slip differential
  • Electrically adjusted driver’s seats
  • 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels
  • The body was constructed of steel and aluminum.

From launch until 1997, they were fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, which was the only one at that time.

In 1997, all three sports cars were designated Ferrari 355s, and the letter “F” was removed.

Also that year, and for the first time, they were equipped with a Formula One-style gear lever, positioned behind the steering wheel, and connected to the six-speed manual gearbox, and without a clutch pedal.

This addition raised the asking price by $ 6,000 and allowed gear changes to be made in a matter of milliseconds, leaving the driver’s attention focused on the road and not distracted by manual gear changes.

With the introduction of the 355 Sports Car Series, there was a change in nomenclature, with the first two letters referring to engine capacity and the third digit indicating the number of valves.

This change was intended to emphasize the introduction of five valves per cylinder in the 355.

When production ended in 1999, a combined total of 11,273 units of all variants had been built.

THE MOTOR

Each of the three 355 sports cars were powered by a 3.5-liter, double overhead camshaft, rear-wheel drive mid-engine, a V8 unit whose capacity had been increased from 3.4 liters, in the 348 Series. , increasing the diameter by 2 mm.

It developed 380 bhp at 8250 rpm and 268 ft / lbs of torque at 6000 rpm, which produced a top speed of 183 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

However, the main feature of the engine was the addition of a cylinder head containing five valves, which improved intake efficiency and increased performance.

Additionally, the compression ratio was raised to 11: 1, and some of the engine’s internal components were built with lightweight materials, such as the use of titanium alloy for the aluminum alloy connecting rods and pistons.

The two Bosch Motronic engine control units, which managed both the fuel injection and the ignition system, were upgraded from the M2.7 series in 1995 to the M5.2 version as of 1996.

Dry sump lubrication was retained.

The Ferrari 355 Berlinetta

This coupe was launched in 1994, and in 1999 4,871 Berlinettas were built, of which 3,829 were equipped with manual gearbox and 1,042 used the F1-style transmission.

The Ferrari 355 Spider

The 355 Spyder convertible was introduced in 1995 and featured, for the first time in a Ferrari, a soft top that was automatically activated electronically.

By 1999, 3,717 Spyders had been built, of which 2,664 were equipped with a manual gearbox and 1,053 used the F1-style transmission.

The Ferrari 355 GTS

This featured a Targa-style hardtop that could be stowed behind the seats or in the front trunk when not in use.

In 1999, 2,577 units of the GTS were produced, of which 2,048 used the manual gearbox and 529 had the F1-style transmission.

This was the last time Ferrari produced a Targa-style GTS variant.

COMPETENCE

Examples of competition for the Ferrari 355 sports car include the following: TVR Cerbera, Porsche 993 Turbo and Lotus Esprit V8. Ferrari performance:

SPORTS CARS FOR SALE

In the second-hand market, a typical price range for the Ferrari 355 Series was:

355 Berlinetta in good condition: $ 80,000 in excellent condition: $ 140,000 355 Spyder in good condition: $ 95,000 in excellent condition: $ 150,000 355 GTS in good condition: $ 60,000 in excellent condition: $ 100,000

Other classic Ferrari cars.

This marks the end of my Ferrari 355 sports car review

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