One to Buy: 1 owner 13,000km 1995 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
Although the Ferrari 348 ranked among the best looking vehicles of its generation, razor sharp on-limit handling meant the car’s ultimate performance was difficult to unlock for mere mortals.
After a little less than five years in production, Ferrari replaced the 348 with a heavily revised new model: the F355.
With all the 348’s foibles addressed, the critically acclaimed F355 re-established Ferrari at the top of the junior supercar market, a position it held throughout the new machine’s 1994 to ‘99 lifespan.
Initially available in fixed head Berlinetta and targa-topped GTS trim, a drop head Spider joined the fray in 1995, Meanwhile, customers could personalise their new machine with a far greater array of optional extras than seen on previous models.
Set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s St. Moritz sale on September 16th is one of the most desirably configured F355s around: chassis 101231.
Specified in the stunning colour combination of Argento with Nero upholstery, chassis 101231 was ordered at Ferrari Switzerland by its one and only custodian on May 3rd 1995. Since then, it has accumulated a little over 13,000km and remains in superb original condition throughout.
As a desirable manual transmission Berlinetta variant of arguably Ferrari’s most highly regarded V8 model, this superbly equipped F355 would make an ideal addition to practically any collection of Maranello’s finest.
Reprinted below is RM Sotheby’s description:
Estimate: CHF150,000 – CHF200,000
Chassis No.: ZFFPA41S000101231
A stunning example of Ferrari’s landmark Nineties supercar
Finished in the timeless combination of Argento over Nero
Cherished and sparingly used by just one owner from new
Odometer reads just 13,294 kilometres at the time of cataloguing
As the excess of the 1980s gave way to the following decade, Ferrari found itself under fire from all quarters—not least Japan, which entered the affordable supercar fray with Honda’s spectacular mid-engined NSX. While the F40 was unassailable, the technically gifted Honda made Ferrari’s mid-range offerings—in particular the 348—look almost ordinary. Not only were early iterations lacking in the power department, but they also suffered from poor usability—something the Japanese had addressed in spades.
Ferrari’s response to the growing threat from the Far East was the F355 Berlinetta, a replacement for the outgoing 348 that aimed to appeal to customers who demanded class-leading performance in a package that was also a pleasure to drive.
Launched in May 1994, the F355 was a product of Maranello’s long-standing relationship with Pininfarina, with styling attributed to the carrozzeria’s Maurizio Corbi. The finished product wasn’t just muscular and well proportioned, it benefitted from more than 1,300 hours of wind tunnel testing that improved aerodynamic performance and helped engineers tease an impressive amount of downforce from the new design.
Beneath the attractive bodywork lay a stroked 3.5-litre Tipo F129B V-8 engine that took direct inspiration from the Scuderia’s Formula 1 programme. Increasing displacement from 3,405 cc to 3,495 cc, the new variant featured five-valve cylinder heads that allowed the engine to spin to an impressive 8,500 rpm, contributing to a total power output of 375 horsepower with 268 pounds-feet of torque. The jewel of an engine made history for having the highest specific horsepower per litre of any production car to that point.
The drivetrain was completed with a six-speed manual gearbox, while independent front and rear suspension featured unequal length wishbones, coil-over shock absorbers, and anti-roll bars. Though the car was the last Ferrari to be hand-built at Maranello, it was also bristling with technology, with clever suspension that could be switched between “Comfort” and “Sport” settings thanks to electronic control servos. For drivers who demanded the purest driving experience possible, the power-assisted steering that made the F355 that much more usable than its predecessor could be replaced by a manual rack.
The F355 Berlinetta was a resounding success, selling more than 11,000 units throughout its production life and becoming the stuff of legend in the process. From posters pinned on bedroom walls to video games such as F355 Challenge, Ferrari’s landmark supercar became a cultural icon of the 1990s.
The consigning owner was one of many to be charmed by the F355 Berlinetta, placing an order with Ferrari Suisse and taking deliver of his car—chassis 101231—on 3 May 1995. Beautifully specified in Argento over a complementary Nero interior and with a desirable manual gearbox, this spectacular supercar has remained in his care since leaving Maranello. Cossetted throughout its life and used regularly yet sparingly, its odometer read just 13,294 kilometres at the time of cataloguing. This time-warp, one-owner example is offered with a set of Ferrari manuals, and received stamped inspections from Modena Cars SA in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
The opportunity to acquire such a low mileage Ferrari F355 Berlinetta only comes around once in a blue moon—and for such a car to have had just one owner since leaving Maranello is almost unheard of. Chassis 101231 presents a special opportunity for serious marque collectors to acquire a spectacularly well-presented example of a landmark model, finished in a timeless colour combination of Argento over Nero.
