1985 348 design study | FerrariChat

1985 348 design study

Discussion in '348/355' started by boxcarracer, Dec 6, 2018.

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  1. boxcarracer

    boxcarracer Formula Junior

    Jul 29, 2005
    333
    Montreal
    Full Name:
    Luigi
    Found this pic on IG, quite interesting... wish it came with p.17!
    Interesting items include the front bumper, wheels, mirrors and what seems to be body colored rear grille. More pronounced door strakes too?
    I wonder how the 348 would be looked at today if this was the launch model?
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  2. S-T48

    S-T48 Formula Junior

    Oct 30, 2008
    571
    Stevenson Ranch, CA
    Very neat!
     
  3. Pangea

    Pangea Formula Junior

    Mar 27, 2011
    442
    UK
    Full Name:
    Nick
    ernie, itsablurr and boxcarracer like this.
  4. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    "page 17" is a picture of the standard 348tb from the same angle, in the paperback edition of the Enrico Benzing / Automobilia book on the 348.
     
  5. boxcarracer

    boxcarracer Formula Junior

    Jul 29, 2005
    333
    Montreal
    Full Name:
    Luigi
    A redesign in the look of the Testarossa should replace the built since 1975 Ferrari 328 GTB / S in the next year, reports the AUTO ZEITUNG in its latest issue. The new name is 348 GTB and features not only hinged headlights, side air inlets and strikingly ribbed door profiles. For the drive of the mid-engined coupe Ferrari uses the preserved eight-cylinder engine made of light metal, whose capacity was increased from 3.2 to 3.4 liters. This is mainly the torque benefit, because the power rose only ten to 280 hp.
     
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  6. itsablurr

    itsablurr Formula 3

    Dec 9, 2005
    1,006
    Carlisle, MA
    Full Name:
    Matt
    The 348 has a pretty neat design history, and the Enrico Benzing book on the 348 is an excellent reference. Clear influence in the original post pic that show some Testarossa in the light pods, and 328 influence with the wheels (likely more as a convenience in its current design iteration at the time).

    First time I've seen that early photo. Pretty cool! The 348 explored a couple of design paths for rear aerodynamic treatment. The most-often cited is the spoiler element located above the rear window, at the transition from roof to buttress wings, similar to the 308/328, which ultimately went away (can be seen in some cutaway drawings as well as pre-production publicity illustrations. However, in the pic above, it appears to show a development mule with what was early on described as a full rear wing, similar in execution to what was on the F40, but ultimately was abandoned on the 348. I recall that the reasoning was based upon a consensus that the 348 should not appear as a 'junior' F40, with the associated sporty and ostentatious aero elements but rather present itself as a more mature, restrained sporting design. I believe the Benzing 348 book touches on this phase in its design, but without the reference photo above.

    As another interesting note, there were design plans for a 'gt' turbo version of the 348, which ultimately never materialized to market. Spoken about in some period publications, and a concept sketch existed of the stillborn model on Ferrari's walls for some time.
     
    cnpapa24, boxcarracer and Pangea like this.

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