Hi Chaps New on this site, and new to Ferrari ownership. I've just got my first, a lovely f355 and I'm going through it just putting everything just right. A quick question for my more learned colleagues on here (and more relevant to Aussies as our market is a little different I suspect). The interior is in really good condition with the usual leather shrinkage issues been dealt with by the previous owner. The only thing is the leather on the seats is looking a little tired. Not bad, but not great either Is getting the seats reupholstered a good idea, or is it best left original (albeit a bit worn?). It has the 355 Challenge seats (carbon), which were a fairly expensive option - so I don't want to devalue it by not keeping it original - if even that's an issue? I ask this question in the Aussie area as I'm sure the local market has a different perspective than the American market. We tend to like things kept as original as possible down here. Thanks chaps. Look forward to participating on this forum.
G'day Andrew,I suggest you post some happysnaps regarding you enquiry. You'll find most of the blokes who've 355's will give you goodish advise. You'll have to watch out for the bunsen burner though.
Congrats Andrew...Please post some pics! ...As far as original seats go the best person to speak to is Adrian...
Hi Andrew, as Simon said we'd love to see your car. 355's are beautiful machines, its a great thing buying your first Ferrari. I'll leave tech stuff to the other boys. Welcome to the Jungle mate!!
Welcome Andrew. There are quite a few members who will be able to advise you on pretty much anything you need to know. Everyone here has experience as an owner, of many models collectively. Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the very special world of Ferrari ownership. Enjoy it in good health and be damned with the kilometers! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have you tried treating the seats with leather saddle oils ? I put the conditioner on the seats liberally and cover with plastic for a few days I would like to see the challenge seats as i have a real challenge and it only came with one seat that is red
Appreciate the replies fellas. Will post some pics soon. I don't have any that do it justice. Loving every minute of ownership. Have already given it a fresh set of front rotors, pads, bled brakes/clutch and given it an oil change (yes I'm the hands on type). Going over it from top to tail to put it back to as minty as possible (I'd give it an 8/10 as it is, and I'm a concourse guy!). If I see a rusty screw, it's being replaced If only I could get a new leather tool case and manual pouch for a decent price. None to be found. The interior is the one that gets me. To replace or not to replace. Personally I'm keen on the idea, but I don't want to do it if the general consensus out there is that a 7/10 original is better than a 10/10 new. Sometimes restorations can actually subtract value if not done correctly. That being said most people would look at it and say why bother... I'm that guy who takes wheels off to polish behind the spokes. I do intend on driving it, but I want it to look like a time capsule car as best I can. Thanks chaps.
Yes I've done that. It looks fairly decent, pretty good in fact, just not perfect. It's got wear on the bolsters and the usual dried out marks etc. OK I might be wrong (probably am?) but I was lead to believe that these seats were known as "Challenge" seats and were an expensive option at the time? Happy to be corrected of course: http://www.nsxfiles.com/f355/355_sale_4.jpg Mine are just like those above. Was delivered new from a dealer in Adelaide that I can see (Oz official car). Apologies if I've gotten that wrong. I'm a noob owner!
Which state are you in? A good leather guy can restore the seats to look like new. I wouldn’t retrim, never looks right
Those are expensive seats but not challenge seats which are carbon fibre with next to no padding and hugely uncomfortable I run normal 355 seats day to day and use the carbon seat for the track
I'm over in WA. From what I understand, those treatments largely use fillers and dies, and don't really last the test of time? I'm pretty picky... Yes I'm also concerned it won't be quite right, particularly if they don't use a correct type of leather. The original leather is quite course compared to some of the newer softer nappa type leathers. Cheers.
Have a chat to this guy, he might be able to recommend someone in WA or pull the seat and send it to him https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gpgWIpDkZ/?igshid=1u5bgbzcsuqo8
Welcome to the forum, the seats in your car are the carbon sports seats, an expensive option at the time. The seats could be ordered in different sizes depending on how big (fat?) the owner was. The 355 Challenge seats are a one piece, non reclining carbon bucket race seat trimmed in fire retardent material. There are pictures in this thread; https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/searching-for-omp-kevlar-carbon-seats-348-challnge.496708/ I would only suggest retrimming your seats as a last resort, as others have said, they rarely turn out right. The good news is that leather can be cleaned, repaired and and re-dyed with spectacular results - but if you go down that path make sure they use dye not paint to recolour the leather. M