348 Question

No idea, but here's a gratuitious photo of mine.
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Gratuitous jumping on the bandwagon photo

I've never seen a Serie Speciale as I think it was a North American market limited edition of 100. We had a UK market version, the Maranello Speciale limited run of....er....four. Never seen one of those either.

I have seen a load of Challenge cars and they have a host of differences all to do with racing. As far as I know they weren't road legal in the UK, although some people have converted them for road use since.

CG
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Sweet looking 348's!

 

I am guessing, but I imagine one of the reasons they never went to the USA might have been to do with the bumpers and the doors. The Kevlar used is so thin it's scary. Especially on the doors, even with paint, you can almost see through the skin. If you look through the rear bumper you can see daylight from some angles and the weave of the Kevlar.

We're having a 348 meet on the weekend here in the UK, if I get the chance will try and take some decent snaps of some of the differences.

 

Wow! That would be cool to see some pics. Would love to see the Kevlar upclose if possible.

 

A few various GTC pics until then:

(yes I know my discs are rusty, I'd just washed the car)
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Nice pics. Good to see your steering wheel is on the right side.

 

Yep. 2 of the 8 on this thread too!

 

The Competiziones all should be on the right side - Wasn't this a UK only special edition.

 

No they were European, not UK. We think there were officially 50 cars produced with 8 in RHD for the UK market. Rumours of another couple or so RHD in the middle east/Hong Kong do circulate, but difficult to track these down. In addition, some 348s have been made to look like GTCs with aftermarket changes etc.

But mine's a real one and I'm comfortable saying it's one of 50 or one of 8 RHD
CG

 

About time...

Better oil those rotors.

 

Is that a metal scuderia shield located on the front guard? I take it that the shield was placed on the car at the Ferrari factory as part of the package.

 

There were 45 "factory" challenge cars imported to the US only in '94. They were imported as street cars but had lighter fiber glass bumpers (minus 5mph bumpers) and some suspension mods. No carbon fiber, but I would imagine similar in handling to a GTC. I'm not sure the CH's would have past the 5mph crash test, but they were sold buy the dealer as a regular 348.

My guess would be none of the GTC were imported to the US because you would have to change the bumpers to make them legal.

The GTC was the only 348 to come with factory shields.

There was a Micholletto (sp?) built '93 GTC for sale in Denver I think on e-bay last month. It was not one of the original 50. They wanted quite a premium for it.


Edit: that's my '94 challenge not the GTC.
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List of changes on a GTC over a GTB:

- Different shocks/springs and rear suspension arms. Incidentally they are generally marked "GTC" by the factory.

- Carbon/Kevlar front and rear bumpers and doors. The entire door is C/K and the framework inside the door is some sort of fibre composite.

- The engine cover is lighter, I'm not sure what it is made out of but will compare it on the weekend to the other 348's attending. I think it's the underside not the slats.

- Wheels, specific to GTC, split-rims polished & lacquered 18" 8,5j front 10j rear.

- Special steering wheel, crossed flags, numbered 1/50.

- "GT Competizione" badging on the rear

- Carbon/Kevlar Euro. F40 Seats

- Minimal carpeting/sound deadening

- Factory Fitted Scuderia Shields - non recessed

- Some cars had factory fitted drilled alloy pedals. Seems the factory ran out at some point so later cars did not have these.

- Carbon/Kevlar sills

- Engine is same F119H unit fitted to the GTB/GTS/Spider.

So effectively they increased the track, dropped the weight, lowered and stiffened the car and shod it with much wider wheels/rubber. As the purpose of the car was an homogolation special, it allowed the 348 into GT/Le Mans racing with these mods. Obviously the race cars also had engine mods and brake mods. These could be fitted to a street Competizione and bought from the factory. Some of these parts went on to be used in the 355, ie the brake discs etc. There is a Competizione handbook available that details the parts and the mods made to go racing.

 

It's nice to see a 348 without those idiotic track mice. Man, if I ever get my hands on the idiot who thought up that modern marvel, I'd strangle him with a shoulder harness...

Somewhere we should summarize all the derivative 348 models. Is there a dedicated site for this? I know there are specific sites for specific models, well the Challenge cars, for one.

So we have Challenge cars - tracked and not - 45 total or just US (?); Series Speciales in 2 runs ('93 for 100 nominal cars and '94 for 15 nominal cars) - someone thought there might have been earlier cars in '92? Could have been '93 cars built in '92, I guess. Then we have Competiziones which are non-USA compliance cars (50 cars?).

So, what do you say? Are there more derivatives and what about fleshing out all the facts on them?