- Final Targa Roof Ferrari
- Revolutionary Engine Technology
- Last Ferrari Built On Tubular Space Frame
If you are looking for the best way to become a Ferrari owner, look no further than the Ferrari F355. They represent a return of performance, in contrast to the dark ages of Disco era smog controls. The Ferrari F355 specs are very impressive and cutting edge for its time. Dial back the clock to the late 90’s. Every other V8 was at least 5 liters, and vis a vis a car much heavier than the Ferrari F355. Not only would you have a style advantage, you will have the only car that reaches peak power above 8,000 rpm. The sound and feel of a gated 6-speed shifter are worthy of even the most trivial of errands. Many purists agree that it is the end of an era in general because successors to the Ferrari F355 have chassis and other major systems engineered and produced by outside suppliers instead of in-house.
Ferrari F355 Engine
Computers were not fast enough to allow powerful cars to be clean-burning, so it took every trick in the book to make the F355 series a viable competitor on the world stage. It arrived for the 1995 model year with a 5-valve cylinder head. Titanium internals allowed for a compression ratio of 11:1, which was, without doubt, an astronomical figure for that era.
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Firstly, each cylinder had three intake and two exhaust valves. Therefore it allowed the 3.5 liter V8 to punch well above its weight class. Another innovation was the first single-clutch automatic transmission. Named after the racing series it was built for, the six-speed F1 “Formula 1” transmission forced a naming change from F355 to the Ferrari 355 F1 in 1997.
Ferrari 355 F1
The first variant to arrive was the F355 Berlinetta. Its graceful style shocked Ferrari Faithful with flying buttresses and a new six-speed manual transmission. Total production is listed as 4,871 cars.
Ferrari F355 Spider
It took the masters at Pininfarina 1,800 hours to sculpt the perfect convertible, and the F355 Spider arrived for 1996. It was the first Ferrari to have a powered top, and the early examples were manual-transmission only. The elegant body still looks current today, and they built no less than 3,717 examples. A majority are still on the road, so now its your turn to have some fun.
One of the most important Ferrari F355 Specs is inside the chassis of the F355 Spider. Remember how older convertible sports cars would be flimsy in the corners? This plague is known as cowl shake, and Ferrari engineers solved it by using computer modeling. In previous Spiders, building a convertible was always a sacrifice in performance. By comparison to the competition, when planning the convertible Ferrari F355 specs, engineers made sure to leave room in the chassis for extra reinforcements. The Ferrari F355 Spider chassis were stronger from the beginning, and it stands as a revolution in the world of convertibles.
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Ferrari F355 GTS
The third member of the family also arrived here in 1996 as the F355 GTS. A revival of the classic targa roof, the hardtop was removable and also stored behind the seats. In case of threatening weather, it could easily be locked in place without assistance from the passenger.
Ferrari F355 Challenge
In order to go racing, the F355 Challenge started as a $30,000 option for the Berlinetta. Initially, the transformation was done by your dealer, but by 1998 the cars arrived almost ready to race. Everything from the engine to the shocks had tamper-proof seals to prevent cheating and to level the playing field. Records show 108 Challenge cars were built, so dust off your helmet. Most importantly, the Challenge cars have proven themselves on tracks around the world, therefore they deserve a loving retirement.
The conversion process deleted every ounce of non-essential weight. Therefore, in challenge form, they can’t be registered due to lack of headlights, catalytic converters, mufflers, etc. They no longer meet Ferrari F355 specs on the street, but they do have VIN and production chassis. W figure most officers will turn a blind eye to your roll cage and 5-point harness.
Then & Now: Ferrari F355
Ferrari F355 Price
The Ferrari F355 price has gone up and down over the years depending on demand and options. If you are looking for a hardtop with a manual transmission in 1995, a well-equipped example would set you back $120,000. That equals $197,614 today, very close to the retail of the latest California T. The F1 transmission and targa top were expensive options, so a loaded 1998 GTS F1 was $148,375. Finally, the convertible was placed in the middle with a starting price of $120,000.
Ferrari F355 Specs:
0-62 MPH: 4.7 Seconds
70-0 Braking: 156 feet
1/4 Mile: 12.9 @ 110 MPH
Top Speed: 183 MPH
Horsepower: 375
Torque: 268 lb-ft
Weight: 3,270 lbs
Production Years: 1994 – 1997
Ferrari F355 Spider Specs:
0-62 MPH: 4.7 Seconds
70-0 Braking: 156 feet
1/4 Mile: 12.9 @ 110 MPH
Top Speed: 183 MPH
Horsepower: 380
Torque: 268 lb-ft
Weight: 2,976 lbs
Production Years: 1995 – 1999
Ferrari F355 GTS Specs:
0-60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds
70-0 Braking: 156 feet
1/4 Mile: 13.0 @ 110 MPH
Top Speed: 179 MPH
Horsepower: 375
Torque: 268 lb-ft
Weight: 3,268 lbs
Production Years: 1995 – 1999
Ferrari F355 Interior
“All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed.” General Kalashnikov was probably delighted with the interior of the F355. All things considered, the symmetrical controls and big air vents are features we would love to have in cars of today. No touchscreen to distract you, and most importantly it has everything you need. The factory radio is a normal DIN size, therefore you can easily add all the latest technology without breaking the bank.
Like most other 90’s cars, many of the interior surfaces are covered in plasti-dip. Because it was only guaranteed to last 10 years, it can be a nice bargaining point in your favor. If the A/C controls and center console show signs of peeling or scratches, you have two choices. The first is to order expensive replacement parts from the factory, or you can simply take an afternoon and scrape it all off. You will be happy without the period-correct sticky substance.
The best feature is hiding in plain sight. The seats are not equally spaced from the center of the car. The Driver’s seat is closer to the center than the passenger. When cornering, the driver is closer to the center of the Z-axis. This diminishes G-forces at the expense of giving your passenger a wild ride.Our dealers always have several to choose from, so click the link below to find your next ride.
[button color=”red” text=”white” url=”http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/results/ferrari/f355″ window=”_blank”]Ferrari F355 For Sale[/button]
Ferrari F355 Photos
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