What every 355 and it's owner should have, based on 15 years of ownership

My list, for what it's worth (in no special order):

1. A cheap vinyl shower curtain. To put over the engine and under the engine cover when washing your car, so you don't get (much) water and soap on the engine. Saves a lot of time washing your car.

2. A spare tire. 355's didn't come with one, just a can of fix-a-flat. Factory spare very rare and expensive. I wrote a thread how to make a spare for your car from an (inexpensive) Jaguar S-type space-saver spare a while back, search FerrariChat for that thread. It will give you peace of mind...

3. Bosch wiper blades. Original blades are the old-fashion kind that has lots of (ugly) metal support links. Bosch are very clean looking, just a smooth blade with no links. A slid-in replacement, visible from both inside and outside. Keep the old ones for when you're judged at Pebble Beach

4. Skid Plates. Under the front, mine are sacrificial plastic, ever time the (low) front end scrapes on my driveway or on a culvert I'm glad I have them.

5. Trickle battery charger. Don't need an expensive hard-wired unit, just pick one on Amazon and order the (usually optional) cigarette-lighter plug. When your car is sitting in your garage, plug it into your cigarette lighter in the center console, you can close your door on the wire without problem (weatherstripping allows it).

6. Windshield shade. My leather dash top has not shrunk at all - a common problem I read about - every time my car sits in the sun I use the shade to protect it.

7. Allen wrench. The place to connect jumper cables is in the engine compartment (battery is well hidden in wheel well). Unfortunately, that point is under a metal cover that can only be removed using an allen wrench. Figure out what size wrench you need and keep one in your car, just in case you ever need a jump-start.

8. Convex outside mirror. The stock passenger-side outside mirror on a 355 is flat, and all but useless. There is an old thread on FerrariChat for how to buy a Kia mirror (just the convex glass part, not the housing) and, with a little grinding by a glass shop, it will fit over your flat mirror (using double-sided tape). Makes a HUGE difference. Find the thread, it will change your life - it changed mine. Get over your repulsion at using a Kia part on your baby... you'll be grateful the first time you have to change lanes.

9. Dr. Paintchip touch-up kit. Front bumper gets lots of road-rash on a 355. Regular touch-up paint leaves a blob. Dr. Paintchip kit won't get you 100 points at any concourse, but it will make a nice improvement. Google them for their website.

10. Capristo exhaust. An indulgence, as the stock sounds great. But the Capristo is insanely great. As Mae West said, "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."

11. Cleaning products are like religion and politics - everyone has their own opinions. I use Zaino wax (check their website, not in stores), Lemon Pledge on the engine and interior plastic, Macquire's leather conditioner and shampoo. But again, chacun a son gout...

There you have it, from someone who has owned his 355 GTB for fifteen years. As well as, over the years, a Lotus Elan, Super Seven, Aston DB-6 (never ran), Jaguar E-type, Mark II, XJ6, Marcos GT, Porsche 911, Triimph Mayflower (never ran), Ferrari 328 GTS, and a VW 21-Window bus, most of which were my daily drivers...

 

I'm a huge fan of F&M! Giuseppe has done the major service on my 355 and annual maintenance ever since. I'm on the Westside (Brentwood) and would be great to link up some Friday - maybe meet at F&M?

 

Can't make this Friday, can we try for next time your in 355 in West L.A.? Maybe just hang with Giuseppe...

 

If you do a search in FerrariChat for "kia mirror" you'll find this (instead of glue, I used double-sided tape). This is so worth it!:

Convex passenger mirror for 355
I posted a request for some place to buy a convex passenger mirror for my 355 some time back and no one knew of one so I made my own. After looking for a mirror that was close to the shape of the existing mirror, I found that a Kia Sophia mirror was close:
part number SP0 0K2AC69123A
Only $26

I had to take off the plastic frame off the mirror. The mirror is a little large. I made a template of the existing mirror from paper. I took the mirror and the template to a local Glass and Mirror company. They modified the mirror for $23. I glued the mirror on to the existing mirror.

 

I could probably make an April 25th lunch, but not the May 2nd...

 

Hi TrojanFan,

I could make April 25th, probably, but can't make May 2nd... thanks!