Mar 6

Mar 6 Guide: Ferrari 348 Spider, 348 GTB & 348 GTS

Ben Tyer

Ferrari Index

Ferrari - Ferrari 348 - 1990s Italian Cars - 1990s Supercars - Pininfarina

Background

The 348 had been one of the most highly anticipated models in Ferrari’s recent history.

Whereas the tubular-chassis’d Dino, 308 and 328 had been evolutions of one another, the 348, with its pressed steel monocoque, was the first clean sheet junior Ferrari since 1968.

Cosmetically, the 348 resembled a smaller, better proportioned and more curvaceous iteration of Pininfarina’s iconic Testarossa.

Such was demand that buyers queued up in droves to get their hands on the latest baby Ferrari.

When the 348 was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1989, the high end car market was red hot.

Interest had gradually built over the previous few years, but when the stock market crashed in October 1987, new buyers poured in as collectable and exotic motor cars came to be regarded as the latest high yielding asset class.

However, it was not to last.

By late 1990, the party was over; speculators deserted the market and traditional buyers began to feel the pinch as economies around the world contracted at an alarming rate.

While some of their rivals teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, Ferrari remained resilient despite a temporary slump in sales during the first half of the 1990s.

By this time, competition for the entry level Ferrari was quite different to the 1970s and 1980s.

Back then, domestic rivals Lamborghini and Maserati represented arguably the biggest opposition to Maranello’s junior range.

As the 1990s dawned, while Lotus and Porsche were still in the game, neither Lamborghini or Maserati offered an alternative to a model like the 348. Instead, a new generation of keenly priced and technologically advanced Japanese machinery had arrived.

In the face of improved alternatives, Ferrari offered a revamped 348 from 1993.

Earliest to arrive was the marque’s first two-seat convertible in 20 years: the 348 Spider.

Launched in February 1993, the 348 Spider ushered in a number of upgrades that were subsequently adopted on the existing Berlinetta and Targa variants which were re-named GTB and GTS respectively.

Engine / Gearbox

In the engine bay was the latest Tipo F119 H version of the original 3.4-litre V8.

It came with a higher compression ratio (up from 10.4:1 to 10.8:1), a bigger air intake plenum, new valve springs and new timing belts. There was also a more efficient exhaust system.

The Tipo F119 H engine had a peak power output of 320bhp at 7200rpm. This compared to 300bhp at 7200rpm for the earlier motor.

The same 238lb-ft of torque was produced, albeit a little further up the rev range (now at 5000rpm instead of 4200rpm).

Otherwise, the all-alloy dual overhead camshaft 90° V8 with its four valve heads, Nikasil-coated cylinder liners and dry-sump lubrication was unchanged.

It displaced 3405cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 85mm and 75mm respectively.

The improved Bosch Motronic 2.7 engine management introduced mid way through production of the original 348 was retained.

Another update on these latest 348s was a taller fifth gear ratio.

As before, transmission was through a transversely mounted five-speed gearbox, twin-plate clutch and limited-slip differential.

Bodywork

Cosmetically, the Spider, GTB and GTS were most obviously updated with body coloured instead of matt black lower body sections.

Other changes included a chrome instead of black prancing horse emblem on the rear grille and a front grille with nine instead of five vertical vanes.

New 348 Spider, 348 GTB and 348 GTS script was applied to the tail.

As per previous incarnations, these latest 348s used steel body panels except for the front lid and engine cover (aluminium) and the bumpers and aprons (fibreglass).

Radiators down each flank were fed by massive slatted air intakes. Pininfarina also incorporated a dummy grille at the front of the car which gave the 348 a strong family resemblance to other models in the Ferrari range.

Retractable headlights came with rectangular lenses.

The slatted theme continued on the engine cover and tail fascia. At the back, rectangular light assemblies were concealed behind a matt black grille similar to that of the Testarossa.

Body coloured wing mirrors were mounted on extended stalks.

To improve airflow, the door release catches were mounted flush.

The 348 Spider came with a manually-operated canvas hood that, when lowered, stowed beneath a vinyl tonnueau.

The 348 GTS had a removable moulded plastic targa roof which was given a vinyl finish and could be stowed behind the seats.

The 348 GTB was a fixed head Berlinetta.

Interior

Inside, the only changes of note were subtly redesigned door panels along with drilled aluminium clutch and brake pedals.

Leather upholstery was standard. Connolly hide covered the seats, door panels, instrument binancle, lower dash, centre console, transmission tunnel and upper rear bulkhead.

The upper dash was black vinyl, the headliner was cloth and the rest of the cockpit was carpeted.

The main instrument binnacle housed a 300kmh or 200mph speedo and a 10,000rpm rev counter. In between were smaller gauges for oil pressure and water temperature stacked one above the other. Additional read outs for oil temperature and fuel were located on the centre console.

Instrumentation was orange on black.

A three-spoke steering wheel came with a black leather rim.

The well bolstered seats were manually adjustable and a traditional open gate gear shift was employed.

Standard equipment included air-conditioning, electric windows and electric mirrors. The wing mirrors also had a heated element that was activated when the heated rear window was turned on (GTB and GTS only).

Chassis

In order to recover some of the torsional rigidity lost by having its roof removed, the Spider came with strengthened door gussets plus reinforced hinge pillars and shut posts.

Unlike its illustrious line of predecessors, the 348 featured a pressed steel monocoque assembly. It was the first road-going Ferrari to incorporate this type of unitary body shell and was designed from the outset to meet worldwide crash regulations.

At 2450mm, the wheelbase was 110mm longer than the 328.

Whereas its predecessors had used a transverse engine layout, the 348’s engine was longitudinally positioned and mated to a transverse gearbox. This arrangement enabled Ferrari to position the engine lower in the chassis. It also meant there was no longer any space for luggage at the back of the car.

However, by re-locating the water radiators down each flank and fitting a tyre compressor instead of a full size spare wheel, load capacity underneath the front lid was dramatically increased.

The 348’s engine and gearbox were mounted on a steel subframe which could be dropped out of the car for easy maintenance.

Suspension was independent all round via double wishbones, coil springs and gas-filled Bilstein dampers. Anti-roll bars were installed at either end.

Brakes were ventilated discs and the ABS was controlled by a Teves Mk2 system.

17-inch five bolt alloy wheels measured 7.5-inches wide at the front, 9-inches wide at the rear and were originally shod with either Pirelli or Bridgestone tyres.

A smaller 88-litre fuel tank (down from 95-litres) was located between the engine and passenger compartment.

Launch

The 348 Spider was unveiled at a launch event held on Rodeo Drive in February 1993. The 348 GTB and GTS followed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 1993.