How can the 355 be lighter?

Who cares? Can you really tell the difference in normal driving?? Or are you a skilled enough driver to tell the difference on a track?

 

I have no idea about the specific question, but I can tell you that I have 2 mufflers for my 355. Standard and Tubi. I have to fit the standard to pass the inspection every two years. I reckon the tubi weighs about 10KG to 15KG less than the factory muffler. Next time I have both “in hand” I’ll weigh them. That is the easiest weight reduction you’ll ever get.

 

For the 355, Ferrari was quoting dry weight, as they have been doing since. Dry weight is no kerb weight and is not the weight of a car in running order; I wonder if the quoted weight for the 348 was kerb weight (it's the normal practice to quote kerb weight, the trick of using dry weight is ridiculous since a car without oil would not work more than a car witout engine).

 

There is no way a bone stock F355 is lighter than a late model 348. Period. Both cars being US models.

 

348 has 2 mufflers (25kgs each)

 

Relevant thread for reference:
95 Berlinetta weight reduction and modifications.

 

I'll warn you that CF or composite body panels is a dangerous rabbit hole, because 348/355 was before the stamped aluminum generation of cars. These panels are not consistent car to car, and we hand-hammered in to shape and place on the line. If you take 5 cars and scan them, they will be mm off here and there.

The biggest, obvious weight would be the creature comforts in the cabin - seats/padding, leather, sound deadening material. Then the trash stock muffler, cats. Take that out and I bet the car is 2,900lbs. but also ear-piercing.

 

A 355 Challenge weighs 2950 lbs and the car has 20 lb composite bumpers, light-weight muffler, light-weight battery, lighter wheels, cf buckets, and no carpet, radio, etc…

It’ll take more than just the basics to hit 2900 lbs.

 

I don’t know much about the 348. What is the listed weight?

However, I do know the 348 GT Competizione is 2800-ish lbs and no road-going 355 Ferrari made is near that. It has carbon-kevlar doors, which is the key difference as there is alot of weight in the doors.

If I had a 348, I would chase 348 GTC composite parts. Personally, I wouldn’t run the doors for safety reasons. The fenders are steel. You can run CF fenders. Your hood and engine lid are aluminum. Not sure where you can find quality composite alternatives for those.

 

You can attempt to modify this dry carbon 355 hood to 348 look. Hood weighs 9lbs.



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Info from the Ferrari owner's manuals:

Ferrari F355 (whether EURO or US spec is not stated; presume it is for EURO spec):
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Ferrari 348 EURO:
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Ferrari 348 US:
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So, it appears that the EUR 348 is about 130 lb. lighter than the F355 (presumably EURO) and that the US 348 is about the same weight as the F355. In other words, the F355 is 130 lb heavier than the EURO 348 and has about the same weight as the US 348.

I do not have any manual that states it is for US spec F355. If anyone has a manual specific to the US F355, please provide the weights.

 

A 3200 lb Berlinetta is a U.S Spec car.

 

A euro 355 Berlinetta has lighter doors (less reinforcement.) That’s about it. My guess is 40-50lbs lighter for a Euro car.

 

So, since the 355 is not really lighter than the 348, the question is more about why is the US 348 about 170 lb heavier than the EURO 348.

 

It would have to be the bumpers and doors. Heavy re-bars integrated into the bumpers. More reinforcement in the door.