1996 Ferrari F355 Spider

The Ferrari F355 is now considered a modern classic, so beautiful, so well-engineered and so well received that it marked the beginning of the end of the old-guard "Ferraristi' philosophy that the only "real" Ferraris were ones with 12-cylinder engines. The Ferrari F355 Berlinetta burst onto the world stage in the Spring of 1994, with the Targa GTS and Spider being launched in 1995. With almost exactly the same dimensions as its predecessor the 348, yet it was virtually a new car, as its stunning coachwork indicated. Many hours of wind tunnel testing influenced the harmonious shape which incorporated an F1 style flat bottom with channeled air flow generating enough downforce to offset any lift.

The Ferrari F355"s name is derived from its 3.5-litre V8 engine and five valves per cylinder - as denoted by the "Cinquevalvole" inscription on the rocker covers. This longitudinally mounted engine produces a stunning 374bhp at a spine-tingling 8250rpm. The con-rods are titanium alloy, the clutch is housed in magnesium alloy, and the Bilstein shock absorbers use electronic sensors to provide active damping. In 1994, the Ferrari F355 was a technological tour de force. Around Ferrari's 1.86 mile Fiorano test track, the F355 was two seconds a lap faster than the 12-cylinder, 512 TR and that level of performance combined with its sensational shape made it a worldwide success story.

The car presented here is a UK-supplied, right-hand drive, 1996 F355 Spider, fitted with the more desirable manual gearbox. It was delivered new through H.R. Owen (Ferrari) of London on the 30th September 1996. It's accompanied by an original and fully stamped-up service book showing 16 stamps from both Ferrari and marque specialists (including numerous cam-belt renewals), plus MoT data which verifies the current mileage of just 23,378 miles. Amongst numerous invoices for servicing and maintenance, there is one for a recent cam-belt service carried out on the 2nd March 2017 (at 23,267 miles) at a cost of £2,024.80.

This lovely Ferrari is finished in the rarer paint colour of Giallo Modena complemented by Black hide with yellow stitching. This car has obviously been well-maintained and presents, both mechanically and cosmetically really well. Our diligent vendor is a member of the Ferrari Owners" Club of Great Britain and certainly knows his cars, being a former racing driver and now a professional driving specialist, so it is no coincidence that this F355 is in the most sought-after spec and in such fine health. Small details like a full set of keys, original handbooks in their leather wallet, factory stickers still in situ, and a complete Ferrari tool-roll, help support this dutiful ownership.

Just 454 right-hand drive F355 Spiders were imported into the UK by Maranello Concessionaires, and only 315 had the six-speed manual gearbox like this car. This is a simply a superb example of one of the most revered and sought-after Ferrari models of the modern era.