Any 355 Challenge cars available?

Ferrari of Houston has one.

And for perhaps the upmteen time, no factory built 355C came with a title. There have never been, nor will they ever be street legal.

Dale

 

Well, as stated, the vast majority (if not almost all) of 355CHs do not have titles, so they cannot be registered on the street. A few were converted from street cars with kits. So, you're really looking for one of these very rare converted cars. Just be prepared for a long wait.

Can't imagine I'd ever want to drive mine on the street, though. Mine's a factory-built car, though, so I've never been tempted.

Anyway, I was recently offered in the low $60's for mine. Turned it down.

CW

 

See learn sumthang every day. I was just going by what Old Guy said when he told me that the only street legal challenge cars were the early 348s.

But you are 100% correct. While I can understand the naive desire to drive a race car on the street, reality bites doesn't it?

Dale

 

Well, it looks like the 355 sold

http://ferrari-maserati-houston.ebizautos.com/detail-1995-ferrari-f355-berlinetta_challenge_race_car-3185592.html

But they do have a 360

http://ferrari-maserati-houston.ebizautos.com/detail-2000-ferrari-360_challenge-race_car-3273493.html

Does anybody know anything about these two cars?

Dale

 

For uniqueness and bragging rights it's probably fun to take to the Club Shows and events..one chatter has driven across the country.

But everyday use, and the roll bar hazards are points well made.....

 

That car was run by FOH for Ken Rice of Enron(EBS) www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/enron/1913806.html

I should be driving that car soon.... great color.... white with blue stripes(NART). And it is my understanding(i spoke to them) there are several people who are driving them on the street.. the 1995 challenge can and has been titled.... many times. As for absolute legality????? well.... I suppose I come from the old camp of driving your car to the track... and getting some attention in the process.... additionally, and you cant put a dollar value on it, the girls(ha ha)... they simply love it. I'm immature that way.... and single incidently. Plus I am not aware that the 355challenge is truly competitive any more...good for track days but not outright competition. So a mix of street and track days would be perfect for me... perhaps some padding on the rollcage might help your head.... wrapped in lovely Alcantera.... I think you should find one and drive it on the street... make everyone jealous... plus it will show how manly you are.... throw comfort away and be a man.
Leave the soft riding 612, 430, 599s to those who have delicate bottoms....

 

Enjoy in good health.

Not to be a spoilsport, but you will need to run slicks to be competitive on the track. While I have seen Spec Miatas pull a small trailer loaded with slicks, I have yet to see someone pull this trick with a Ferrari. (Although, I seem to remember a pic of a 275 pulling a race car trailer.) Sooner or later, you'll find that you need to focus 100% on the track to be competitive.

Dale

 

mine is a challenge with a road set up. it's just fine on both the track and road, but is obviously a compromise (that i enjoy) on both.

it is much more exciting than a standard road car.

 

Well..they make great rally cars, and it's the only way to sort of experince what it is like to spend 14 hours in a car that's loud, hot, somewhat fast, and wonder what it was like to run LeMans or Sebring. I know, I've got this Walter Mitty thing down pat...there is no comparison, but it may be the closest I get to it. I drove this car from Columbia SC 958 mile to Toronto in one day, 500 miles in Canada for the International meet, 40 plus laps at Mosport, then back 958 miles in one day. It was a blast, and about half in the rain. Yes, that is Peter Klutt from Dream Car garage as we stopped by Legendary Motorsport, Niagria falls, and MoSport. Next year it's Road America! Let's get a Ferrari Challenge contengent to attend this event-one of the greatest tracks in America, and you too can experience it in an all Ferrari Event. Note I included a 355c picture just for your viewing pleasure.
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The 1995 355 Ch is the perfect combo of street car and race car. Here is a picture of me at Sebring ( Note the license plate.)
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I tried sitting in a 355 challenge at Pocono last month. Granted it was set up for a driver who is 5'6, but damn it seems tight. In fact i was not all the way in before i gave up and got out. Anyway a 6' who is more torso can fit safely in one with a helmet on??

 

i'm 6'1" plenty of room with the helmet on with the challenge seat in. a bit harder with a road seat.

i also don't have the roll cage.

http://www.pless.com.au/events/winton2003/Ferrar355winton2003.jpg

road registered. drive to a track day, blow everyone away, drive home

(except the full blown race cars, of course)

I usually drive on the Hoosier 'R' compounds on track days and Pirellis on the road.

Springs are 1/2 that of the challenge spec, and still about 3-4 times harder than road. the sound is to die for.

i recommend it to everyone.

 

This 355 challenge had everyones undivided attention each time she roared by at Pocono. It was in good company there too with a Diasio, Porsche Gt3 etc...But it was the 355 all lusted over.

 

Juan,

Fantastic photos! Love the 348 CH going past the crowd/falls... that is a picture I have had in my head for years. Perhaps we need to start a subcatagory for the elite, exclusive, yet uncomfortable 348/355 CH "street" drivers club. I dont think there is a better to F-car to drive on the street(read attention getting) unless you can get a F40,50 or Enzo. Those photos are getting me so excited about my car.....

 

One of the best times I have had with the 355 Ch on the street was last year in South Carolina. David Scott aka Juan and I spent the day blasting around Roebling Road race track. At the end of the day I was going to drive my 550 back to Hilton Head, NC which is about one hour north. The alternator had cooked itself, so I was forced to drive the 355 CH back to Hilton Head. David, myself and a 360 blasted up I95. We stopped at local gas station and you would thought two UFO's had landed in the parking lot. People were taking pictures and asking questions. They wanted to touch the cars. It was unbelievable. We got back on the road. The sound of the two cars was incredible. You could hear us from a mile away. The 355 was comfortable and a joy to drive on the open road. We got back to the hotel in Hilton head and I pulled up next to David Scott. I asked him, "David, do you have a headache?". He said "What!!". I said," DO YOU HAVE A HEADACHE?". Then he pulled his ear plugs out and then he replied "No!". So, I learned It is a good idea to have ear plugs on hand when driving a CH on the street. David Scott is a great guy and a hardcore Ferrari fan. We need more Ferrari people like him.


Also, I am 6'4, 200 lbs. The seat is bolted directly to the floor. I had to remove the rails and push the seat all the way back. The seat is at the lowest position.
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You're the man Gregg! That was a blast and it was great to see your black beauty on the Road. For this years Hilton Head Island Concours www.hhiconcours.com, the track event will be held at the newly reopened Hutchinson Island track that ran an IRL race in the late 90s-youi can walk there from the hotel, and take a ferry just right across the river to Savannah, also we will celebrate the first American Grand Prix-did you know this was held in Savannah GA? register here http://www.hsrrace.com/HSR/HSRHome.nsf/weblinks/EJEN-7AFUM9?OpenDocument.

 

Juan
I am going to try to make it up their again. It was a rock star weekend for me. I shipped two Ferrari's to Hilton head. I flew on a buddies twin engine plane directly into Hilton head. Tracked my car for a day and showed my cars in a concourse. Then won a award from J.W. Marriot. It was perfect.

 

A few random responses:

1. Yes, as Rob pointed out, 1995 355 CH all started as street cars, converted by dealers to Challenge spec. From 1996+, when cars were required to have OBD-II, Ferrari decided to keep the 1995 (OBD-I) motor for the Challenge series (more power, easier to maintain), and built all of the Challenge cars at the factory, hence no titles nor VINs. If you buy a 1995 355 CH, you should get the title with it. And some of us, ahem, have indeed gotten our 355 CH registered for the street, with a plate and everything - useful for driving to local shows, down to the gas station if one is too lazy to do the jug thing, dropping it off at the shop, etc.

2. If you're insane (like Juan-Manuel), you can indeed drive even a full race-spec 348/355 CH on the street. A good friend of mine drove his up to Montreal for the Grand Prix, three years running. Threw the rain tires on (Pirelli street tires), and off he went. No AC, horrible suspension for those Quebec potholes, and too loud to hear cell phones, nav systems, etc. But way, way cool. (for the record, we installed headlamps in the hotel parking garage that first year.) So, yes, it can be done!

3. Re fitting in one: I'm 6'3 and fairly hefty, but I share my 355 CH with my 5'10" and slim wife, so I needed to keep the seat on rails. With some clever tilting, my momo fat-ass seat is bolted to sliders, and I do fit, with full cage and everything (though the cage design does require the passenger seat to be limited to shorter/smaller folks).

4. Re going to the track, you can run R-compounds and just have fun - can stash your stuff in the trunk, like a regular street car, though I do recommend a full trailer rig. And, FWIW, I have seen a photo of a 355 with a roof rack hauling around 4 racing slicks....

vty,

--Dennis

 

Dennis, did you make Mosport? Sorry I missed you if you did, let's get ready for Road America!