For Sale 1989 348 TS "Challenge/Speciale"

Hello all,

After ten years of ownership, I have decided to offer my 348 for sale. Some of you here may "know" this car, either from meeting me or from when Fchat member Ingenere owned it (20 years). For the right person - someone who wants a performance-oriented Ferrari to DRIVE - it is a very special car. Car currently has 51,xxx miles.

First, all of the good stuff:

The car is, per the service records and Ingenere, the first car to receive Serie Speciale updates in January '92. The upgrades were offered to Ingenere as a sort of test run prior to the actual numbered SS cars.

F40LM Brembo brakes front
F50 brakes rear
SS carbon kevlar seats
Original Challenge series magnesium wheels
Challenge springs
Tubi Exhaust with test pipes
Full Schedoni luggage set with tools (missing one wrench) and manuals. Per the manual, the very brief (+/- 400 miles) first owner was Chris Cox of 250 GTO (and many others!) fame. It is essentially a two owner car, but technically three.
Most major updates have been addressed

Car was feature in Forza Magazine #77 in an article titled "Prescription For Passion"

Gearbox was rebuilt in 2009 by Alex Traverso in Phoenix. Components from a 355 Challenge gearbox were used, so the gearing is a bit shorter and more acceleration-oriented.
Clutch, triple seals, all clutch/gearbox seals are essentially new, installed maybe 1,000 miles ago, I can check and verify.

I have an uninstalled OMP Challenge-style wheel that will come with the car, as well as a spare fuel gauge send unit and a spare fuel pump. Original catalytic converters will come with the car.

Since I have had the car, the majority of the work has been performed by Abacus Racing (most recent) and LMN Motorsports, both in Virginia Beach, VA. If you have interest, I'm sure Rob at Abacus or Lutzo at LMN would be happy to talk to you about the car. Abacus ran a compression check the last time I had it in for fluids/shift cable adjustment/electrical troubleshooting (exactly one year ago) and everything looked good.

The not so good (but not really bad):

The car needs a major. It is running exceptionally well and is currently not leaking a drop. Fluids, etc. are done annually no matter their condition. I'm not all that concerned about it as I used Hill engineering bearings and did a complete major at LMN last time (2013). BUT...we all know what the schedule is, and it is certainly due.

When the SS updates were installed, the lower sills, top, engine cover, buttresses, doors, mirrors and bumpers were all shot with dual-stage paint. The font and rear quarters and the vented portion of the engine lid remained single stage. Why, I do not know. I had the front end resprayed in 2011 to get rid of rock chips, and the paint shop did...OK. There is some uneveness in the hood that is difficult to photograph. The car does not look BAD by any means and consistently draws compliments, but I am OCD (seriously) and if I keep the car I am repainting the whole shebang.

Carfax lists one issue, I was assured by Ingenere that this was due to an inept bellboy at a hotel who dragged a coat hangar across a fender. I had a PPI and have had numerous mechanics who I know and trust work on this car and none has ever seen any accident damage. Any that may have been is clearly far too minor to notice and as far as I know the frame is perfect. This can of course be confirmed by another PPI.

Tires are a bit long in the tooth.

Interior does have stickies and is showing it's age. It is not a bad place to be, but a little touchup would go a long way. I can provide interior pictures to anyone who is interested.

Windshield wipers, high beams, and speedometer recently decided to stop working. Not a huge problem for me as I don't drive it in the rain and I know the car well enough to drive by the tach, but I plan to fix those issues on my dime during a PPI...or if I keep the car, when I do a major in April.

So, that's about it. $52,500 as it sits. If you want a major, it will be a bit more, but we have very good mechanics with very good labor rates around here. If it doesn't sell, I'm going to go all-out and do a major, paint it Rosso Barchetta, have Universal Autosport french shields into the fenders, and spruce up the interior. It really is a great car, and to be clear - I do not HAVE to sell it. I'm just thinking it may be time to try something different.

Feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you. No brokers please, unless you are willing to pay my ask (and we all know how likely that is). I'd prefer members with more than one post contact me as well. Thanks!


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Beautiful car, GLWTS


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Thank you sir, it is a very fun, raw Ferrari! Certainly has that "big go kart" feel!

 

Who did the upgrades?

 

Nice car, post more pics!1

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Okay, so now I can only get $40k for mine

Good thing it's not for sale.

Btw, anyone who says they're "looking for a 348" and don't buy yours... well, they're probably lying.

 

Ferrari Of Scottsdale. I wasn't the caretaker at this point as I was thirteen years old, but I can probably put someone who wants all the details in touch with the previous owner

 

HA! Thanks!

I would be asking QUITE a bit more with the major, paint and interior. If there are no takers and I end up "restoring", I doubt you'll see it for sale again.

 

Any interior pics?

 

Keep it. You're going to regret selling it at some point down the road. I've had a lot of cars over the years and the only one that I truly regret selling is my former 348 Challenge.

Rosso barchetta would look awesome.

 

I'm just waiting for a day when I get home before dark to get a few. I owe several people a few anyway, so I'll throw them up here when I'm done.

 

I can understand why, your 348 is simply awesome! In fact, yours is the reason I bought the Challenge-style wheel. I still remember how good that car felt, even at perfectly legal speeds and G forces. To be honest, this one with the wheels, springs, and brakes, etc. is pretty incredible. The brakes will pull your eyeballs out, and the overall feeling of driving the car is, to quote myself to Zygomatic once long ago, "like walking Cerberus on a leash." It is not for the faint of heart and I have to say it is a vivid contrast to my 575. It is nice to have that option, no doubt.

I agree, Barchetta would be a fantastic hue on the 348...and the thought of properly frenched shields really excites me.

Dammit...

 

Some interior shots


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I wouldnt mind having those belts. Any idea if those are sourceable?

 

As far as I know, they should be, though they have a few years on them at this point.

 

Cool car. Is there any way to document the items that would in my mind make it a prototype? Interesting story that would make it more valuable to some collectors. Will never sell my 348 Challenge but also need to do a major. I hate for anyone to touch it. That is the issue.

 

I _totally_ understand. My car is running SO well I hate to even take it in.

As far as the prototype question, Ingenere could probably answer that better than I, though the work is documented with dates in the service records. To my knowledge there were no cars other converted prior to January '92.

 

OK here's what I have decided - if the car doesn't sell (at ask) before 5 April, I'll go ahead with the appointment I have at the paint shop to begin the resto/personalization.

I'm thinking people likely have a bit more than new Ferraris to worry about right now, and I'm not 100% committed to selling anyway.

 

Car looks great! I’d keep it and personalize! What would a ‘major’ run ($?) in a 348, if you do not mind me asking?

 

All depends on what it needs while the engine is out. Could be as little as $7,500 or as much as $15k. When I had mine, it cost me $15k.

 

Thanks! The last one I did came in right around $5300, and that included a few items that are not on the typical menu. We have better labor rates here than in many places, and of course not using a dealer for service is key...as much as I like FOW

 

So I had decided to keep the 348, but I started modding my 911 and I've decided to go full-bore with that

The car is about to go in for a major, but shoot me an offer if you have any interest in the car as is. Or with a major, either way. Thanks!

 

**** I want this

 

It can be yours