355 as a future collector car

In my opinion, when the 355 becomes a collector, the Spider will be the most desireable and the most expensive. I know you all think that I'm biased since I own one but history will tell you that Spiders or convertibles always fetch the most when it comes to collector cars.

 

I love the 355's now that I'm familiarizing myself with them and since my 348 got totaled, I'm considering a 97 Spider I found. Don't get me wrong but didn't they produce too many 355's to expect them to climb in value? I of course have very little to go on and again by no means am I knocking them.

 

Most people will say it will never be that collectable, since it will never be that rare (in our lifetimes). I think the GTS will be the most valuable over time, since they were produced in the lowest numbers. (I have a Spider)

 

I think that the 355 spider will go down as one of Ferraris greatest road cars. I think they will always be sought after, regarding prices, one can only hope.

 

If it ever does become a real collectible and start rising in value, my completely biased opinion is that the 95 GTS is the one to own!

FWIW, Wikipedia indicates that the GTS is actually the most rare of the 3 versions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F355

However, I do agree that convertibles always tend to do better value wise as collectibles.
The Serie Fiorano would probably be the best one to find & keep for a good long while...if you can find one the 10 or so manual 6 speeds - snap it up!!

 

Tony, I am sad to hear the news of your 348 - it is beyond repair?

 

With a total production of 3600 or so Spiders, I wouldn't say that too many Spiders were produced.

 

I'd say only Series Fiorano's would have a chance, if at all.

But I'm still keeping my Berlinetta forever!!!

 

Love the 355 but afraid will never be collectible.

 

I hope you are right as I own one, but I think the consensus is that none of the post Enzo era Ferraris (1988+) other than the true limited production supercars (F40, F50 and Enzo) will become collector cars as so many were produced. It does seem that the post Enzo era V8 Ferraris seem to suffer less long term depreciation than the post Enzo era 12 cylinder Ferraris. Whatever way it turns out it is a privilege to own and get to drive any of these cars.

 

I just don't see how a 348, 355, 360, or 430 will ever be collectable. They just made far to many of them.

Maybe in 50-75 years when there are only 3000-5000 of the left in running condition: maybe. But not in the lifetime of anyone with a drivers license today.

 

Funny how many people love the F355 but in the same breath say it'll never be collectible.

As counterpoint to the whole "there were too many produced to be collectible" argument...

Who knew the Dino (nearly 4,000 produced over the years) would be such a hot-ticket? Or take the "Boxers" of which nearly 2,500 were made (the same number of F355 GTS)? Heck, there were 1,400 Daytonas made - if you want one, you can find *plenty* for sale (4 on DuPont Registry right now).

Point is, plenty of Ferraris out there considered very collectible that had production numbers of the same order of magnitude as the F355.

 

Oh it will be collectable. It will go up in value.

Its not so much how many were produced, but how many people want them. The 355 is the last of the old-school Ferraris.

Look at the Porche 993.

 

Only Super Ferrari's will become collectible in the modern era. Drive the hell out the modern ones, blow them up & buy another one. In that order.

 

I am not saving my girlfriend for the next guy.

 

collectible is all relative...I wouldn't hold my breath for the 355 to appreciate any time soon. As for best body style, I'd have to argue the GTB by far has the best lines - the flow from the C-pillar into the body is what makes it. The Spider just loses that sexy flow of the body lines with no roof.

What else would you expect from a GTB owner?

 

I started a thread about this 3 years ago and it got kinda heated, but I still think the 355 is the next 993.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157787

 

+355!

 

Exactly. Its only going to be inevitable. The only thing stopping it is the $$$$$ maintenance.

 

Once again, once the major issues are addressed, headers, valve guides, sticky stuff etc., these cars are just as reliable as any other Ferrari. (In fact, I would bet as the 360 continues to age and approaches 15 years old as the 355, it will have as many issues.)

 

very true...typically it's the prospective buyers who harp on these things to get price down, but the potential 355 issues are known and already fixed in the top notch cars.

 

EXACTLY! This is why there should be two separate market prices for 355s... Those who have non factory headers (and not the QV London crap), updated guides (sorry 99 guys, you're not immune), and the cars that have not had these $$,$$$ upgrades.

 

I don't care if it is collectable. I have a daily driver version and one I don't drive very much. It is my favorite along with the 550. Both cars have the classic lines and appeal. I would love to have an F40... now that's collectable.

 

I think the economy and expensive maintenance is actually going to work in our favor over time. There are more and more ratted out 355's that people just aren't taking care of because people can't or aren't willing to maintain them properly. The low prices now are due to the fact that too many people used home equity loans, etc. to buy the cars and now can't afford them and can't unload or maintain them. Some (or many) of those will just go die a slow death (future barn cars) or be parted out because the parts are worth more than the sum of the car. Just look at the number of parts flooding eBay right now. Those parts are coming from somewhere. As this happens more and more, the truly good cars will start to rise to the top. I suspect this will take another 10 - 15 years but then we'll start to see the survivor 355's (well maintained) start to take off from a price standpoint simply because there won't be that many good ones still around. It's been named as one of the best Ferrari's by many so it's simply a matter of time before there aren't too many good ones around and then the supply/demand economics will start to shift. Collectable...hard to say, prices shooting up?...just about guarantee it.

 

i think we need to define or re-define the true meaning of the word 'collectible' in a classic car sense before casting valid comments.