Is a 355 like this feasible?

I'm searching for a F355 preferably an early GTS car for about mid $60k's? Higher mileage (above 25,000-35,000) does not scare me or intimidate me. Am I capable of getting a clean (not wrecked or repainted) f355 (of any body variety) in this price range, or will I have to increase the budget.

 

Is it possible? Yes. But then again - it's also possible that a major earthquake will make Nevada and Arizona beachfront property one day!! Ha ha. Seriously, it is VERY unlikely that you will find a "GTS" that is decent in the mid-$60k range. Maybe a higher mileage Berlinetta but not a GTS. I could be wrong but I have never seen one. Maybe someone else has??

 

I suppose you have to. But it be worth it.

 

Pay now or pay later. Better to spend a bit more on a clean car now than spend money on fixing a Ratty car later. For that price your better off with a 348 GTS or possibly SPIDER.

 

Never seen such a car in my country. (Germany)
The Dudes are right! Keep your money or increase the budget.
Or take a stunning 348 Spider

good luck

cinquevalvole

 

I dont think the 355 was ever offered as a GTS or Targa, the 348 was & of course the 308. Do you mean a 355 Spyder, convertible? I think 1 of those start around $80k or so

 

Hi William,

look at my avatar above!
2048 355 GTS (incl. F1) were build & offered. Zero 360 GTS were build.

forza

cinquevalvole

 

Yes it was. 355's come in GTB, GTS, and Spider trim. The 348's were referred to as ts or tb. 348 Spiders were only offerred in 1993 and 1994, I believe.

 

Half of the production in 1995 was 348 Spyders only and half was the then new F355.

 

I stand corrected!

 

Please let me know if you do.....I purchased mine 6 months ago for approx $84K, '96, 10K miles, red/tan, private owner sale - I'm sure I got ripped, but the car is amazing, clean, well documented, and FUN! Good Luck.

 

I think you'll have less problems paying more at the outset, than getting a rock-bottom price which reflects the care & condition of the car. My theory is to pay the most at first and forget about trying to fix it up. The really nice late model F-1 355 Spiders are still over $100k. Go for a 348 at that price.

Dino

 

You did not get ripped off if the car you have is the way you descriped. Sounds like a beautiful car.

 

I met a guy at Cavallino last month who was selling his 95 GTS... blue on tan, euro model. He's asking 75k, but it looked like it needed some work, and I don't think the odometer was correct. I'm thinking about giving him a call in a few months to see if he still has it and would knock the price down a bit.... Otherwise the GTS's I've seen are always priced well above similar spiders and berlinettas. FoCF has a gorgeous titanium/bordeaux 99 GTS that I'd kill for, but they've got it listed at 115k.. way too much IMO.

-R

 

I think it will be very difficult to find what you are loking for. I just completed my search for a GTS and the car Robin mentioned is the lowest one out there that I know of. According to the Standard Catalog of Ferrari, the total production run for the GTS was 2,577 cars. I would guess about 25% of them made it to the U.S or about 650 cars. Finding a beaten down example might be like finding a needle in a haystack. I saw a high mileage Spyder (75K) go for 65K, but never a GTS. The advice to find a well maintained 348 or increase the budget sounds right to me.

 

I don't know about a GTS, but I know that there was a GTB that fit your description that was recently sold. It was a high mileage car (75K miles -- still not scared!), but seemed to be in very nice condition. One owner, all books records, all servicing done on time. In fact, it was discussed at F-Chat in-depth, when the eBay auction was proceeding. Here is the original link to the eBay auction, and here is the original link to the discussion on F-Chat.

That being said, cars like this (high mileage, good condition, low price) don't come on the market very often, so I echo the comments made earlier that trying to find one like this again would be like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack.

 

F355...mmmm...

 

Thanks for those figures. I have found some from a book:
"Ferrari by Pininfarina":

F355 GTB: 3829 (+ 109 Challenge)
F355 GTS: 2048
F355 Spider: 2664
F355 GTB F1: 1042
F355 GTS F1: 529
F355 Spider F1: 1053

F355 total: 11274
-----------------------

So we have a huge reservoir of parts in the future

forza

cinquevalvole

 

If you can stand it wait a year and get the 355.

 

Martin has a '98 GTS with 12k miles on his web site for $82.5k. See it here:
http://www.miamioffices4rent.com/cavallino/invent/1_16_rosso.htm

 

I know I will get flamed for this but I always hear this when someone wants to know about buying a car. "pay now or pay later". IMHO that statement is bull. Most of these cars are garage queens so I don't care how hard you try to find one in perfect condition. Chances are you will end up spending money on it anyway! These cars require a lot of maintenence and most people that don't drive them every day don't do it. I also think the typical 355 owner thinks their car is worth more than it is. IMO you should try to get one as cheap as possible that does not have major problems. When I bought mine I did all the research, had it inspected, ect, ect, ect. I still ended up spending $15K on it the first year. If I were you I would add at least 20% to whatever you are palnning to spend and put that money aside. Ok, go ahead and flame me now!

 

No flames from this end airbarton. Just curious to know what happened to cause the excessive bill in your first year of ownership. Was something overlooked during the PPI? Did the car just need a "major"? Seems like a large sum for a car was was well-researched.

 

That is the car that I bought

 

Congratulations! I think it's beautiful.