Those gearboxes were a seriously big deal when they came out. Bagging them out today would be like dumping on the wright flyer or the Hamilton Pulsar. I had no idea they were actually a standard manual gearbox with a few twinky bits added. Man have things moved on in the last quarter century.
Possibly the smartest and most accurate analysis I’ve read in this section regarding the 355F1 (apart from everything I’ve ever said, of course). Unfortunately, there are people whom laughably consider themselves proper enthusiasts and whom get a semi-on over the most lame detail of other Ferrari’s won’t understand or appreciate what you’ve said. Welcome, Dr. Kryten!
If I've learned anything in my advancing years, is that "Better/Best" is very subjective and often quite pointless to debate. Digital music is technically "better", but it doesn't stop me from hoarding vinyl records like a prepper. It's probably just coz I'm old. I remember the fanfare for the 355F1 well. You have to consider it for what it was, at the time. This dude seems to like the drive he had in one! That sound is so addictive.
So a previous owner put the shield on and it still looks good after many years? I am thinking of buying a 2020 Portofino that doesn't have a shield on it and am told it is practically impossible to put a shield on correctly.
You can get surface mounted stick on shields after market, but the original ones are actually recessed into the guards.
Its a great video, he's obviously well impressed, I love the lumpy/ aggressive idle. The 360 has this but to a lesser degree i think. I haven't ridden in a 355 so I'm guessing but someone will confirm. That exhaust note!! I love my 360 exhaust but the 355 sounds just that bit better, a bit more shrill. It's probably my favourite part of my car, the utterly addictive sound!!
Not quite. Ferrari now offer for 8K an unrecessed "hand painted" shield, which is actually a decal but underneath the clearcoat. Just another example of useless tat that newbies add to their new car order.
The automated clutch manual was invented by Citroën in the late 60's, later adopted by Porsche and called Sportomatic. Ferrari pioneered their use in F1, which was a big deal, because dog boxes are much harder to shift than synchro road boxes.
As promised here's a pic. These aren't flat stickers, they are slightly raised and have a soft feel to them. They've been on for many many years (car may even have come with them 18 years ago) and they still look new. Not sure if the previous owner put them on or not, but I can easily find out. Clearly aftermarket but I reckon they look fine. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting transmission for sure. https://www.total911.com/technology-explained-sportomatic-gearbox/
And before you ask, that front wheel belongs to a Ducati 996 that I fully restored. I'm looking to put the 355 into a similar level of quality. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mmm not especially, the Ducati was done almost 10 years ago now. It was a 3 hour per night deal for about 3 months + weekends. I've done a few but I've hung onto the Ducati and one other because they're special to me The 355 fits into that category too. I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity to get my hands on one. Running out of space in the mancave now I'm afraid!
Torque converter was a difference, but the microswitch gear lever was licensed from Citroën. nb. I should have said "adapted" rather than "adopted"
the sportomatic wouldn't have existed without Citroen doing it first with the C-matic. Also, it was Citroen intellectual property in high pressure hydraulics that made adaptive and self levelling suspension, plus paddle shift gearboxes possible.
