https://bringatrailer.com/2018/03/06/why-we-love-them-ferrari-f355/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
“Why We Love Them” is an ongoing feature through which we reflect on some of BaT’s favorite cars from the past. Era, genre and country of origin aren’t as important as character, that hard-to-define something special which all the best cars seem to have, and readers should expect to see a bit of everything including sports cars, exotics, sedans, coupes, roadsters, wagons, 4×4’s and more. -BaT There’s a good argument to be made for V12, front-engined Ferraris being the ultimate expression of marque pedigree, following as they do the format laid out with Enzo’s first-ever self-produced machines–a bloodline that’s given rise to many of the all-time great sports, GT and racing cars and continues to evolve more than 70 years since its beginnings in shattered postwar Italy. On the other hand, mid-mounted V8 models have been Maranello’s bread and butter for decades, and in many ways these wonderful descendants of Dino have come to define the house that Enzo built with equal legitimacy to their 12-cylinder counterparts. Starting with the 308 GT4 and continuing through the 308, 328, 348, 355, 360, 430, 458 and 488, the “baby” V8’s have always represented their respective eras’ state of the art in engineering and performance, and though owning any one of them would be a dream, the current middle child F355 has been our favorite from day one. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 The F355 was launched in 1994 at the Geneva Motor Show, and was initially available only in Berlinetta (coupe) or GTS (Targa) forms, with the full convertible Spider debuting the following year. Whether true or not, the F355 has often been described as a hasty (albeit heavy) rework of the 348, necessitated as a response to Honda’s game-changing MkI NSX and its every-day usability. Changes included revised, wind-tunnel-tested (and even prettier) styling, a downforce-generating flat floor, the introduction of power steering, and a reengineered V8 now featuring five valves per-cylinder, titanium connecting rods, slightly larger displacement and much more. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 In more than one way it was a transitional model, being the last V8 Ferrari to feature a steel structure, the last to be launched without a paddle shift option, and the last to feature signature buttressed C-pillars as introduced on the very first mid-engined Maranello product, 1968-69’s Dino 206 GT. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 By this time paddle-operated sequential gearboxes had become dominant in Formula 1 (thanks to Ferrari’s pioneering 1989 640), and 1997 saw the introduction of the world’s first production car version of this system (not strictly the first clutch-less or sequential setup, but the first to utilize paddles). Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Called F1, the system utilized a single, conventional clutch and 6-speed H-gate transaxle, though both were now operated via computer-controlled electrohydraulics. Any 355 is a very special car, but we still prefer ’em with a click-clacking gated shifter and three pedals, if only for the added layer of mechanical interaction with that stupendous V8. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Coded F129B, the new 3.5 liter, 40-valve, quad-cam, flat plane crank unit revved to an extravagant 8500 RPM and made peak power of 375 HP just 250 revolutions before redline. At 107 HP per liter, it claimed the highest specific-output of any naturally-aspirated production engine on the planet at the time, including the McLaren F1’s S70/2 BMW V12. We think it’s the best sounding Ferrari V8 by far, which really is saying something. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Again, the interior was an evolution of what was seen in the 348, but it remains a stylish, functional place to sit despite the massive, early airbag wheel’s best attempt to spoil things. Coupes are the best looking, and though convertibles aren’t far behind and offer even greater access to the V8’s intake and exhaust music, it’s the Targa-topped GTS that offers the best of both worlds. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Regardless of your personal body style preference, the 355 has proven to be an enduring and timeless beauty, possibly among the prettiest Ferraris ever made–let’s check back in in 2030 and reassess to be sure. The above chart tracks BaT Auctions sales for F355’s, as found on our BaT Model Page here. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Handling was sharp, with quick turn-in, nearly 1g’s worth of mechanical grip from the four-wheel double-wishbone suspension, and in keeping with a new focus on comfort and convenience, power steering no longer meant wrestling with the wheel at low speeds. Despite its assistance, steering retained lots of granular, tactile feedback, encouraging you to push on further and further towards the limits, though it’s worth noting that many contemporary reviews reported that things could get tricky when pushing the envelope. Otherwise, the F355 was widely cited as the most viceless, easiest-to-drive-quickly Ferrari in years. Check out Tiff’s glowing road and track review above–the first time he ever drove a road-going F-car! Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 Performance figures included 4.7 seconds to 60 MPH, 10.8 to 100, and 183 flat-out. Challenge racers made for some spectacular single-model racing, and their mesh rear grille is a wonderful upgrade for otherwise standard road cars, allowing an enticing view of the engine straight through the back of the car much like on an F40 of F50. Why We Love Them: Ferrari F355 By the end of 1994-1999 production run, 11,206 F355’s had been made, including 4,915 Berlinettas, 2,577 GTS, and 3,714 Spiders. Our dream spec would be a 6-speed GTS in Blu Tour de France over saddle, and don’t forget the Challenge grille or Tubi exhaust. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
"...it’s the Targa-topped GTS that offers the best of both worlds." Well, there you go. Settled. Everyone can shut up about it now.
