1999 F1 355 Spiders vs Berlinettas

Greetings all,

Just wanted to find out everyone's opinions of F1 spiders vs berlinettas in terms of price/value. I initially started looking at 328s but the 355s have grown on me. I am aware of the increased maintenance costs and prices of the 355s and potential problems (valves, mainfolds, sticky dash, etc) but less knowledgable about the berlinetta models. Did Ferrari make more/less F1 berlinettas than spiders? Do they command a premium over the spiders? Any knowledge would help.

Looking forward to finally owning my first Fcar.........

Thanks

 

355 GTB > 355 Spider

Wait for it........

 

Maintenance will be a bit more on the spider do to the terrible half electric power top, they tend to fail or be problematic to some of the other Fratelli.

But the spider has always been known to hold up it's value above the GTS GTB.

 

The berlinetta coupe is more rare and therefore more difficult to find than the convertible. Check Ebay and you will see that convertibles dominate the market.
I checked out over a dozen cars which included coupes, convertibles and targas.
The berlinetta is a structurally stronger car than both the targa and convertible models....especially important if you intend to drive the car on the track.....or if hearing squeaks and rattles bothers you (it bothers me).
When I test drove several targa and convertible cars, I could hear the structure flexing at the front windshield header and the rear firewall area. Of course if you lower the ragtop or the targa top you likely would not hear the rattles.....and there is a lot to be said for top down driving.
It all depends on your needs and expectations.
As for price? Well it all depends on the cars condition and service history....... a well sorted car will cost you more and give you less grief.

 

The berlinetta is only "more rare" because there might be fewer of them in the marketplace. Spiders tend to trade more often because owners of Spiders *tend* to be more fickle whereas owners of berlinettas *tend* to be more purist.

However, it would be a misguidance to say that the berlinetta is a rarer car. Far more berlinettas than Spiders were produced. This is a matter of fact.

 

There were only 1,042 F1 Berlinettas produced (OP's question).

Most F1 cars were spiders. More Berlinettas produced overall, maybe, but still very few F1 Bs out there.

Absolutely agree about the owners.

 

If there are fewer berlinetta's in the market place, then it is a more rare car (to purchase).
There is no misguidance here, only the facts.

p.s. does anybody know the actual production numbers from 1995 to 1999 of coupe/targe/convertible?

 

In terms of longer term value, I think the 355 GTS six speed manual is what I would buy if I got a 355. Those are rarer, and there's a lot less to go wrong with a targa top. Also I like the extra privacy of the targa configuration. The few I've seen for sale seem to have asking prices below the Spiders.

I've seen far more Spiders on the market -- I agree with 348SStb's post, the Spiders change hands far more often. But open cars command a premium, all the way from the 246 to the F430, and from what I have seen the 355 is no exception.

In terms of immediate value, the 360 seems to be the "deal" right now -- lots of car, not much money. You do lose the classic Ferrari proportions of the 355, though, in return for better aerodynamics, so it's kind of a devil's bargain.

But you had the correct answer initially, in my unbiased opinion: 328 GTS is where you want to be in the long term. You can get a very nice one for $10K or more less than a 355.

 

Bullfighter...excellent points. No question that the 360 is the most "value" right now. It's just a bit out of my price range right now

328 is at least 10K less and absolutely less grief and much cheaper to maintain. Damn you.

I guess life can't be bad when you have to choose between two Fcars.

 

AND THERE IT WAS...