What is the most collectible Ferrari challenge car?

My bad!

I will still stick with the 360, just cause I love the lines!

 

i was at the factory last month and interestingly the car they have there is tagged as a 355 challenge .. but on the back is badged 355GT

anyone know what a GT is?

 

i have a picture somewhere, i will dig it out ...

it had all the challenge bits, f40lm brakes, carbon wing, etc...

its in the factory museum (which is nice)

 

Maybe a car from the old BPR GT series or the car that ran at Lemans?

http://www.lemans-history.com/imagens/1995/1995_ferrari-f355-88_2.jpg

 

I have an old car magazine from the 90's that has a rear shot of what they say is the new 355 Challenge car. It shows an F1 gearbox and rear wing. I'll see if I can find the article and scan it. I think the back had "Competitione" or something like that on it.

 

Definitely the 355! Such great performance for the time, fantastic braking, timeless looks. With the straight race muffler on, a perfect heel-toe is one of the best sounds you will ever hear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoyJYsbnXU4

Here is a great one for sale (disclaimer: we are selling this car), former McCormick championship car, well maintained, lots of spares. 1995 Ferrari 355 Challenge - $58k - Jaffster

 

Here is that article about the F355 Competizione. Does this car exist? Interesting how it differs from a Challenge car. Wing is mounted differently, F1 gear box, etc.
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The text from the article. Does the F355 F1 have modes like road and race? Or was that something that came about later?
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The car in the factory had had its vin plate removed however i think I have the answer ... The car in the factory museum is IMO the F355gt comp ... It is badged on the back as a f355gt ... But the telling point is that on the article photo there is a picture of the f1 mechanism which appears to be unique ... Luckily I took a photo of the car in the factory and that too has the same mechanism. The car also has sportline Corsa centre lock wheels ..

 

Also .. Both cars have side shields fitted, slide race windows, side window fuel filler...
And the most telling is although factory car now has a standard carbon wing now set back ... The engine cover on the factory car has solid tell tale areas where a wing was once mounted forward .. And is different to the challenge cars

 

So to answer the question ....

If it counts the f355 gt competizone is the most desirable as it's a one off and the first road variant with an f1 gearbox fitted (though there are undoubtedly some mules ... This may be one)

I would have thought that's now closely followed by the 5 or so 99 spec factory rhd f355 challenges

Or

The one 355f1 challenge

Or

13 (I think, please correct me) 348 gtc rhd

The remaining of the 50 lhd

Then

348 challenge rhd (are their any)

348 challenge lhd

355 challenge lhd 98 spec factory cars

355 challenge rhd 96 spec

355 challenge lhd 96 spec

(Rhd is always a lower numbers run hence more desirable ... Also attractive to Far East market)

 

I am not sure of the numbers for the various 360 etc versions

Anyone know

 

It's a nuanced question. For example, does a 360 Challenge Stradale count? It's relatively rare, pretty hardcore, and it's streetable. So from that standpoint, it's going to be more desirable than a strict 360 Challenge. Easy to see by comparing asking prices for 360 CS cars vs 360 Challenge cars though I'm sure there were far fewer 360 Challenge cars produced.

For the 348 Challenge car, are we talking about a factory 348 Challenge, or a converted 348tb that raced in the Challenge series back in the day (and is fully equipped with OEM Challenge specific parts)? If the former, then does it include the full Challenge kit installed as they didn't come installed from Ferrari (the kits were a delete option)? For the 348 Challenge cars, the difference between them and standard tb (or ts) cars were relatively minor. For example, roll cage mounting points and harness mounting points came welded to the chassis. The cars also had a higher rev limit, aluminum brake and clutch pedals as well as a suede Momo steering wheel, and 348 Challenge script on the rear hood. But really, that's about it. So is it that much more desirable than a well sorted tb? Maybe, but probably only nominally so. But a factory 348 Challenge with the OEM OMP roll cage, headlight covers, OEM OMP kevlar/carbon fiber seats with original hardware, original Challenge tow hooks, Speedline Challenge magnesium wheels, original Challenge brake ducting etc etc installed . . . now that's a much rarer and presumably more desirable beast.

Interesting poll but there's some degree of apples vs oranges going on.

 

Agreed ... But it is an interesting subject ... I suppose people like ourselves make the info available and over time that sets peoples thoughts in motion and makes the prices long term

I think any competition Ferrari has an appeal over standard road cars ...

348 challenge spec (where the roll cage mounts were welded at factory)
348 challenge spec (where created with a genuine kit in period)
348 gt competizione


355 gt competizione
355 challenge 96 spec (where the roll cage mounts were welded at factory)
355 challenge 96 spec upgraded to 98 spec (with factory roll cage)
355 challenge spec (created from a genuine kit in period)
355 challenge 98 spec (factory cars)

360 challenge stradale
360 challenge
360 challenge n-gt michelotto
360 challenge n-gt (created using michelotto parts)
360 challenge n-gt (not sure about this did Ferrari do some factory cars)?

430 scuderia (not sure)
430 16m
430 challenge
430 challenge gt

456 speciale
456 challenge
456 challenge gt
456 challenge ???

Please update

 

I think we're talking about race cars here, and if so, then the Challenge Stradale doesn't count. Nor, with all due respect, do: (1) 348CHs that didn't have the kit installed and race in the Series; or (2) the many 430CHs and 458CHs that seem to have been bought as track-day cars but were never entered in the Challenge Series. IMHO what makes the cars collectible is their participation in one of the longest-running (and one of the few) one-make racing series.
With that in mind, I'd prefer (and have owned) an earlier former-Challenge Series 348CH race car to a Factory Challenge car that didn't have its full array of equipment and some race history, but would prefer (and ended up with) a Factory Challenge car with Series race history above all other 348s. I guess that's just where my priorities lie, FWIW.

 

I am with you ira, I finished up with a rather battered, but totally original f355 98 spec challenge car, which was sat in a barn an still owned by the guy who last raced it.

It's now street legal with very few modifications - headlights, indicators, handbrake (sort of), horn.

It came as a factory built car, all MHT needed to do was bolt on the rear wing and fit the seat !!

 

Here it is qualifying first in 99 Ferrari open, apparently according to the race organisers it was the first challenge car to do 100mph lap.

It was driven by john seale who has returned to challenge racing this year after a 10 year gap and is winning in a 458 challenge !!!
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Maybe the winning cars have the most value. I can't find any information on who won the North American championships over the years. Anyone?

-F

 

I guess I will provide an alternative view. I appreciate the cars with history but I would rather have (and do have) one of the cars that was never raced but factory equipped to do so. That's the best of both worlds as you have something that's full capable of being driven in anger but wasn't driven as hard as the race cars were. Maybe the right thing is to have one of each?

 

Now I am gonna have to agree with you also ... Having both would be ideal ;-)
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Now you're talking!

 

1993: Derek Hill - 348 Challenge Champion
1994: John Marconi - 348 Challenge Champion
1995: Peter Sachs - F355 Challenge Champion, George Robinson - 348 Challenge Champion
1996: Steve Earle - F355 Challenge Champion, Jim Kenton - 348 Challenge Champion
1997: Tom Papadopoulos - F355 Challenge Champion
1998: Tom Papadopoulos - F355 Challenge Champion, Steve Earle - Endurance Challenge Champion
1999: Steve Earle - F355 Challenge Champion, Steve Earle - Endurance Challenge Champion
2000: Steve Earle - 360 Challenge Champion, Christian Briggs - F355 Challenge Champion, Ron Adams - Endurance Challenge Champion
2001: Lucio Nicolodi - 360 Challenge Champion, Philip Shearer - F355 Challenge Champion, Kevin Crowder - Endurance Challenge Champion
2002: Darius Grala - 360 Challenge Champion
2003: Jim Kenton - 360 Challenge Champion
2004: Emmanuel Anassis - 360 Challenge Champion
2005: Emmanuel Anassis - 360 Challenge Champion
2006: Emmanuel Anassis - F430 Challenge Champion, Mike Louli - 360 Challenge Champion
2007: Mike Zoi - F430 Challenge Champion
2008: Roberto Fata - F430 Challenge Champion
2009: Mark McKenzie - F430 Challenge Champion
2010: Enzo Potolicchio - F430 Challenge Champion
2011: Enzo Potolicchio - 458 Challenge Champion, Christopher Ruud - F430 Challenge Chanpion
2012: Onofrio Triarsi, Jr. - Trofeo Pirelli 458 Challenge Champion, Damon Ockey - Coppa Shell 458 Challenge Champion
2013: Onofrio Triarsi, Jr. - Trofeo Pirelli 458 Challenge Champion, Marc Muzzo - Coppa Shell 458 Challenge Champion


Ferrari Challenge 20th Season display at Lime Rock Park 20 July 2013. The timeline on the display boards listed the champion drivers.
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