1997 Ferrari F355 GTS

At a Glance:

+  Gated manual 
+  Right Hand Drive UK-market car
+  Rosso Corsa/ Nero
+  Cambelt service/£15,000 restoration 

A light restoration totalled over £15,000 & has only covered 221 miles since

Equipment & Features:

• Rosso Corsa
• Nero Interior
• Body-Coloured Roof Panel

History:

• 30/01/1997 - First registered
• 26/02/1998 at 2,850 miles - Service - Maranello Egham
• 24/04/1999 at 7,685 miles - Service - Maranello Egham
• 24/02/2000 at 9,732 miles - Service & Cambelts - Maranello Egham
• 06/11/2001 at 14,996 miles - Service - Talacrest Egham
• 05/12/2002 at 19,825 miles - Service - Carrs Ferrari Exeter
• 13/03/2003 at 21,352 miles - Service & Cambelts - Carrs Ferrari Exeter
• 12/03/2004 at 27,395 miles - Service - Carrs Ferrari Exeter
• 07/03/2005 at 33,373 miles - Service - Carrs Ferrari Exeter
• 31/10/2005 at 35,267 miles - MOT, first time pass
• 06/03/2006 at 35,547 miles - Service & Cambelts - Bob Houghton
• 27/10/2006 at 37,102 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 22/01/2007 at 37,309 miles - Service - Bob Houghton Ferrari
• 29/10/2007 at 39,286 miles - MOT, first time pass
• 09/09/2008 at 39,858 miles - MOT, first time pass - 
• 18/09/2008 at 39,877 miles - Service - Hollingworth Ombersley
• 26/10/2009 at 41,832 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 28/10/2009 at 41,876 miles - Service & Belts - GT Auto Burntwood
• 10/05/2011 at 42,737 miles - Service - Amari Service
• 11/05/2011 at 42,739 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 16/04/2012 at 44,202 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 24/05/2012 at 44,332 miles - Service & Belts - Grimaldi
• 10/05/2013 at 47,211 miles - Service - Grimaldi
• 10/05/2013 at 47,211 miles - MOT, first time pass
• 07/05/2014 at 50,232 miles - Service - Grimaldi
• 08/05/2014 at 50,232 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 30/11/2015 at 50,442 miles - Service - Amari Service
• 28/01/2016 at 50,444 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 01/04/2016 at 50,470 miles - Service - Grimaldi
• Recommissioning and Restoration Armani commencing 2016
• 23/01/2017 at 50,495 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 15/01/2018 at 50,557 miles - MOT, clean first time pass
• 23/01/2019 at 50,573 miles - MOT, 2nd time pass - N/S/F direction indicator not working (rectified)
• 22/01/2020 at 50,589 miles - MOT, first time pass
• 27/01/2021 at 50,607 miles - MOT, first time pass
• 27/01/2022 at 50,625 miles - MOT, first time pass  
• 26/09/2022 at 50,633 miles - Service & Belts - Grimaldi

More:

Unveiled in Maranello in May of 1994 and known as 'Progetto 129', the F355 had two initial versions; a berlinetta and, like this RHD Rosso Corsa example, a GTS with a removable targa top. The car's name, as usual, had a very specific meaning: the first two figures (35) indicated its overall displacement – in this case being 3,500cc – while the third (5) connoted the number of valves per cylinder. The F355's engine delivered around 380hp, 109hp per litre. Hydraulic tappets were used thanks to which adjustment of the valve play was no longer required, despite the engine revving to an amazing 8000rpm. It was equipped with a six-speed transverse manual gearbox. The gearbox was now rod-operated, not a cable mechanism as on the previous 348, while more emphasis was placed on aerodynamics with a neat rear spoiler incorporated into the body, and crucially, a flat undertray.

Viewed in retrospect, the F355 bridges the gap between old Ferrari and new; between classic, nimble, small V8s and the recent more powerful supercars. It’s the last hand-built Ferrari, but also the first to really embrace more modern technology.

This car is a later 1997 model, or a ‘5.2 Motronic’ car. When the car was launched, it was equipped with a more primitive Bosch 2.7 Motronic system that had two air mass flow sensors, two fuel pumps and two lambda sensors among other differences, all clearly visible in the engine bay.  The advantages of the 5.2 Motronic setup include a smoother delivery and idle, and they’re cleaner, too. The changeover happened for the 1996 model year to enable Ferrari selling the car in the US, and around the same time - due to US regulations - the Momo steering wheel was changed for an airbag-equipped design.

Presented in classic Rosso Corsa with Nero leather interior, this manual transmission UK-supplied car was subject to light restoration work in 2016 including:

• Bodywork detailing
• Engine bay detailing 
• Major service
• Cambelt change (The engine was removed for this work)
• Repair to all seals

This, plus some additional works totalled over £15,000 and the car has only covered 221 miles since this work was completed. Even though it had covered such little mileage, the car was subject to a further major service and cambelt change in September 2022 totalling near £3,500. The car has covered a mere 21 miles since. This recommissioning is fully documented and photographed alongside other documents in a bespoke history folder.