1998 355 GTS F1

Segall I am no expert but I can tell you I was in your shoes about 6 months ago. I was looking for a 355 for about 8 months when I found a 97 GTS 6 speed not F1 with 9500 miles. The car was in Boston and I flew up there and it was very nice but service had not been done in over 5 years. I went to ferrari of Boston and they had a 97 spider 17K miles but service just done and a warranty of 90 days. My point is I could have purchased the GTS for 75K but I paid 79K for a spider with an 8k dollar service and a warranty. The f1 Trans is for sure a nice option worth more than a 6 speed but a dealer warranty and fresh service was well worth the extra 4k. In reality its a personal choice but I just didn't like the risk after talking to a dealer. Finally there is a big difference between one owner and basically one owner. The service records are the biggest concern and a PPI.

 

Awesome car, best combo of body style and transmission IMHO...I'd bet GTS with F1 is fairly rare, worth a serious investigation (PPI, etc)

 

Having just purchased a 199 355 F1 myself, I can tell you that the most important thing you can do is research the car. Get as much info as you can, carfax, PPI, Ferrari service records, other records and then make an educated decision. We can tell you alot on hear but in the end, its your decision.

As you find out details, post them hear and you will find that the response will be incredible. Clearly not as incredible as ownership!

 

sage advice

"but a dealer warranty and fresh service was well worth the extra 4k"

 

I got mine just last October. Paid $89K, all services current, very good service history at Ferrari of Washington, 17k miles, 4 previous owners. Black/Cuoio, which I prefer to Red/Tan. Custom dealer ordered interior - black piping and stitching, Cuoio (not standard black) dashboard and air bag, and leather covered roll bar.

Photos:
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=623552&d=1194283944
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=628881&d=1195162006
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=643374&d=1197597154


$77.5K is very good price, Red/Tan is more popular, resaleable later.

F1 GTS is rarest body/transmission combination - just 529 made. F1's were only made in 1998 and 1999

Others: GTB 6 speed 3,829
Spider 6 speed 2,690
GTS 6 speed 2,048
Spider F1 1,127
GTB F1 1,042
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Stan, post a pic.

 

Two new photos posted, in addition to links in my previous posting to photos elsewhere in FCHAT

 

Ha! Only if you don't plan on driving it!

 

Very common to have the front nose resprayed, no big deal as long as it is done correctly-----Figure a minimum of $7K for the major...

 

I would also suggest to add the cost of replacing 02 sensors (4), CAT ECUs (3), and hyper-flow cats either on your to-do-list while you are doing the 30k or in the first couple years of ownship to ensure the 'check engine light' and 'slow down light' are staying off as those are the few common causes of triggering those annoying lights on your dash board.

 

If the cat ECU's are ok-----Silicone them up before they crack----Tube of silicone $-----3 new cat ECU's $$$-----The plastic around the inside of them WILL crack with the heat of the motor--The first time water gets into one---CEL!!!

 

Great data. And what's with that first picture? Why is that Italian pure bred sniffing around that junk yard bit.ch?

 

My 355 was "home' - Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini of Washington. Photo was taken last October, the day I took my second test drive in the car, before I bought it.

Obviously you recognize the Maseratis.

Two cars up is my Volvo V70R - a very special car.

2.5L 5 cyl two-stage turbo, 300 HP, 260 lb/ft torque
6 speed auto/stick with sport mapping mode
AWD,with computer controlled drive distribution-more to rear wheels when accelerating through corner (add oversteer), more drive to front wheels in opposite condtion
Computer controlled shocks, etc, to deal with acceleration, cornering, braking - 3 driver controlled settings-Normal, Sport, Advanced
4 wheel BIG Brembo disc brakes with ABS

All in all, an amazingly fast, nimble, stable, STEALTHY car. Certainly not a 355, but I'd take it against my old '85 308 GTS QV.

All the way in the background is a White Rolls Royce they had for sale. From FMoW's newsletter:

"2004 Rolls Royce Phantom

Here is a beautiful Rolls Royce Phantom, white exterior with Oatmeal interior. Loaded with every possible luxury option available, from electronic retractable blinds to stored umbrellas, this is the epitome of uber-fancy. " It was listed for $259K

 

I searched for over a year specifically looking for a '98 or '99 F1 GTS in Red/Tan. Really hard to find. Finally found one through the Fchat forum and purcahsed at as soon as I could. Ended up with a '99 355 F1 GTS with 16.5K miles & major service at 14.5K two years earlier. All maintenance and records. A few small things popped up after I purchased. Paid $87.5K last May. I probably could have held out to pay less, but because the car was so hard to find I snatched it up immediately.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The 355 F1 GTS are so rare I had to try to save this one

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169911

I hope it turns out as nice as judd10's.

 

Keep us updated on the progress Andrew...

 

Andrew - I would love to follow your rebuild. I know that I get a huge sense of pride in every little thing I do (clean up all sticky interior parts, brakes, etc.). I can only image how satisfying it would be to complete a project like the one you're undertaking! Good luck! Judd