An analogue supercar in not only concourse condition but also one of the most sought-after specifications? A big fat yes, please!
Feast your eyes upon this 1995 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta which is not only in better condition than David Beckham’s teeth but was also previously owned by esteemed blues singer and guitarist, Chris Rea. It’s now up for sale at Bell Sport & Classic, which oversaw a complete mechanical and cosmetic restoration and likely included new headlight bulbs.
This example is a one-of-one, thanks to its unique Blu Scuro Micalizzato exterior and Crema interior combo, and furthered by the six-speed manual box and the sought-after 2.7 ‘Motronic’ ECU factory upgrade. Its advert also states this to be a non-airbag car, making it perfect for anybody who can never make it more than a year without losing their no-claims bonus.
Let’s get nerdy: the mid-placed F129B engine remains stock, so the winning bidder will get a 3.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 which revs to over 8,000, delivering around 375bhp and 268lb ft of torque to the rear wheels. Though the aforementioned Motronic ECU is speculated to add as much as 30bhp to the F355, so you could in actuality be looking at a 400bhp, 1,350kg prancing horse with a potential increase on the standard car’s 184mph top speed here. How’s that for a charming pickup line at the bar?
Other notable traits include double wishbone suspension, along with electronically adjustable two-stage dampers and hydraulic power steering. This makes it just as adept at being a piece of artwork hung outside the Café de Paris in Monaco as it does an athlete on the series of hairpins and switchbacks on the mountain roads from there to Geneva.
The cabin remains standard, but the chaps at Bell Sport & Classic have done a fine job of giving it a second wind. The cream leather seats have seen plenty of TLC, as has the switchgear. So despite this F355 being the same age as the person writing this story, it’s in considerably better nick. See folks, taking care of your skin does help.
The managing director of Bell Sport & Classic, Tim Kearns, said: “This 355 represents the ‘holy grail’ for Ferrari collectors – a useable example of Maranello’s mid-engined masterpiece, in its purest, most intoxicating form. In terms of design, technical innovation, performance, and handling, the F355 easily eclipsed the competition when it was launched and still offers a beguiling and wholly immersive driving experience today.”
We’ve no idea what the pre-auction estimates are here, given that F355 prices can vary quite dramatically depending on several factors. Considering its condition and ownership history, however, our best guess sits north of £200,000 and a packet of Haribos thrown in to seal the deal.
