Hi I live in South Africa and I am looking at buying a RHD 355 Challenge chassis. As per the title it is a basket case. Been hit hard at the front and only has the chassis number, roll cage, brakes and shocks. It is in need of a nut and bolt restoration that will require a donor car. It has a 5.2 motronic engine with who knows how many hours on so that needs to be changed. Even the interior is missing. It is however RHD and road registered here in South Africa. I am fully appreciative that this is a massive project and that it needs to be done right and properly. My question is whether or not this is a viable project. I will be in for approximately $175k in the end. I am looking at it as a way of getting a very rare and special car that may not have the market value attached to it now but that I can own and enjoy for years to come. Just some context - I am a collector who is in this for the long term - I don't really sell cars and I use all of them. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Warm regards Mike
Hi Mike, welcome to the Forum! Congrats for your interest for 355 Challenge cars - it is a sweet spot in Ferrari history! Regarding the project, I would rather look for a good 355CH on the market - restoring such a car will be very time consuming and expensive - and it never may reach the level of a well preserved 355CH. - for 175k you may find a quite decent 355CH - and if for legal reasons you must have it RHD, you might do a conversion, keeping all the original parts. best regards from Switzerland David
Thanks David. Unfortunately lhd cars can no longer be imported into the country and our duties are pretty high. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
I also have no problem with the time frame. I want it for the long term Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Pm me the serial number so you can know the history of the car to make sure it is legitimate. Happy to help. Robb
If you are in this for the long run and are comfortable spending that much, then do it. It will be a fun project and at the end you will have a new 355 Challenge. You are basically just buying the serial number and the fact that is is registered in SA.
It's pretty much the way I'm looking at it. The problem is that I need a donor car to get parts off Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Do it!!! Remember Challenge cars were ment to be beat up, if they raced they crashed. Never seen a RACE car that was not crashed. Folded metal tells a story. Do make sure its a real challenge car or at least a 355 with race history. I'm not sure worldwide but challenge cars were 2.7 not 5.2 Robb should have the serial ### stuff
Hi Robb. It's chassis number 104513. It really is far gone though. Needs a donor car but I'm not sure where to find one Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Welcome. For me, sorry, dont buy this one you speak, search for anotjer one, also RHD cars pop up from time to time. Dont buy a big crash car! 176$ for a good street legal car is OK, but not for a crashed one. Keep us informed
That is my estimate of what the car will cost after restoration. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Dont worry about it I have 200k in 2 motorcycles, all fun would do it again in a heartbeat, must likely will. It dont have to make sense if its a hobby
Mike, a Euro F355 Berlinetta can serve as a donor car. That's the way it was done when these cars raced in the Challenge Series. Get in touch with Scuderia South Africa Ltd - Cape Town
It appears the Car was owned and raced in the challenge series only one year 1996 Ian Khan of GB Team sponsor was Ferrari UK / Maranello Concessionsires UK Ran as # 70 I think I have a photo... will look for race results... Robb
Here is the car (in red) in a battle at Brands Hatch 27 May 1996 Khan ending up winning the race. Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
Khan raced a different 355 in 1995. But in the OP's car, khan took a first and second in two of the three races 7/8 April 1996 at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit. Robb
Well, Mike, there you have it. It's a RHD F355 Challenge worthy of restoration. But remember... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_71w4UA2Oxo[/ame]
So I'm definitely keen to do it. The question is where I will be able to find a donor. I need a whole front section. Doors. Rear lid. Rear bumper. Rhd dash and console. Seats. A 2.7 Motronic engine with all wiring. Glass. And all the little parts. Do any of you know where I could begin to get all of this? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk