So I was tormenting myself looking at 348 listings again and came across a Giallo 1992 348tb (For Carbon: ZFFRG35A0N0091981 ) Ferrari 348 | eBay (No affiliation and no endorsement, just using it as an example because I like Giallo 348s) My understanding is that a 1992 would have had black sills from the factory and therefore this car had its sills repainted, so I was just wondering how people feel about that these days. Did the respray of the black sills to colour diminish the value? If you bought a 1989-1992 car with coloured sills, would you change them back to black? Personally, I think I'd change back to black. No idea yet how much that would cost (any ideas?), but I'd factor that into a bid if I was really shopping. All the best, Andrew. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I was looking through all the pics and was wondering what you're on about - I was thinking you meant door sills! As in the bits you see when you open the door. Now that I've worked it out, I actually prefer them to be body colour as in this case. If I owned an early 348 it's one of the first things I would do if it hadn't already been done.
It seems that most yellow 348s are monochromatic which I prefer. But black lowers look good too. The one in the garage is a '92. Not sure about the other one. 1992 Ferrari 348 ts - LHD German market car with 35,000 miles from new Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sorry, I might be struggling with the nomenclature there. What would you call that bit? And does this mean I need to snap up an early 348 to try to "rescue" it from you? Actually, if I one day bought a GTB, I would paint the lower section of the car black. They look good. All the best, Andrew.
When I got my 348 I couldn't wait to get the sills returned back to black, IMO they looked so 80's colourmatched, in 201x they look much better satin black! Be careful though, later model 348's were colour matched from factory so should be that way.
Ppppppttttttttttt!!!!!! The black lower rockers are ugly in my opinion. I painted my lower rockers, front and rear bumper, engine lid, and removable top the same color as the rest of the car. It looks so much better.
definitely get them repainted to match the body colour....the black sills makes the car look and seem much higher than it actually sits.....doesn't make sense at all.....
I like the look of the care all one colour. But I have a question (a smart-ass one at that ). For all those nero 348's, do they paint their lower rockers a red or yellow? j/k....
Black helped keeping that area 'clean' from road stains. Prefer the black, but honestly not a big deal either way. Both look good to me: Talking about my former Mondial T that had same combo.
Early 348's just have to have black rockers. Mine's always been like this and its going to stay like it.. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My white 348 had the black rockers and I finally changed it to all white last year. Car looks much better, IMHO. Kai
It has to be colour coded for Me! - For some reason the black lower panels make the car look cheaper. That's just My personal opinion! - And this is My new toy! (The paints not faded BTW! - The camera just doesn't seem to reproduce the red very well in sunlight!) : Image Unavailable, Please Login
The rockers look much better when painted IMHO. As a case study, the E36 BMW, when introduced in 93 had black lowers panels as well. BMW got it right and made them body colored from 95 through the end of the E36 run in 99. Ferrari did the same thing as well around the same time. Perhaps a thread title change is warranted as well. Paint 'em I say.
There is a reason the factory changed it to colour coded on all subsequent cars from 93 onwards......it looks much better
In the US we call those "rocker panels" or "rockers" I assume because in the old days they were sacrificed to take the brunt of large rock impacts to the body/doors. I vote for body-color on all 348's, as the black rocker makes the car look like an off-roader but I have a 355 so I'm biased. Looking to get one soon Andrew? Fingers crossed for ya buddy.
I think they both look good, but the black lower does "date" the car, as does having a black top on a TS / GTS. Having both of those painted body colour makes the car look so much more modern it's amazing. It also makes it look more like a 355, which has to be a good thing.
I'd like to get one soon, but in all probability won't yet be able to afford one of my own in the near future. I need to get a move-on with some other things first. There is that as well. However, as aforementioned, I don't feel the same way about emulating the original design by making a later car look like an earlier one. All the best, Andrew.
i prefer original cars. if you dont like the look, buy a later model. my´94 Spider was all red originally.
My vote goes for the 'all one color' concept. Black lower panels break up the lines too much and look dated as well. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Can't say I get too excited about owners having the rocker panels body coloured when they were supposed to be satin black, it's their car so their choice, at least it can easily be reversed if the next owner wants to do it, so no biggee. Painting the Targa roof is slightly different in that once that stiple finish has been flatted back and painted it's finish can't be reverted.