On Sunday took the 1998 355 GTS out for my 1st ever FCA concours event. Won 1st place in class, too bad my dad was not alive to see it. Used chemical guys Pure Carnuba wax (worked great). I used there black out product on engine and door sills (worked great too). I do not get a chance to drive it much. On the drive I realized just how amazing this Ferrari is; the handling is incredible, the faster you go the better the 355 feels. I hit speeds of 85. (Noticed many cops on NJ highways pulling over drivers). Great car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
The more I see this color on the exterior of Ferrari's the more I like it. What is the color of the car and the interior called? Have seen it on a 550, and it looked great.
85? Get it to 100 or 110 settles in and feels like it's ready to take off. Me and my wife hit just over 160 yesterday. Not a hitch and still felt like it had lots of room left. Slowed down to 80 we were laughing. Feels like your hardly moving. Fantastic win beautiful car
The color is Rosso Barchetta the interior is tan. Using the Ferrari serial # database I only came up with 20 355 GTS 6 speeds produced worldwide in this color; with this being the last.
Congratulations, your car looks amazing. Good to see a 355 take the title. I dont know much about concours events, but am i right in thinking they get marked by points for total originality? How many points did you get and was any taken of for the color coded roof?
Why would it be? It was a factory option and I'd wager the majority left the factory that way. To the OP that is a stunning car! Beautiful.
I simply asked the owner about concours point scoring. FYI here in the uk theres a high number of gts cars that have had the roof section Sanded and painted from the black textured finnish, although there are also some who are converting back. So i dont think your statment about the majority leaving the factory color coded is true, option or not. I was just wondering if the car above had had the roof color coded and if so did it affect the score. I was not posting a dig or to be nasty in any way, it was simply aasking a concours question, that i am sure has been askd about this in concours circles before myself. I am interested to know how many points did the OP get awarded for the car and was there anything he was down scored on. For example i have heard that a car with non standard black wheel valve caps are marked down. In our FOC magazine there are at times detailed articals regarding scoring. I was simply enquiring out of curiosity and interest.
Fair enough. I wasn't criticising either. I'm no expert on concours point scoring, but surely if something was a factory option and it left the factory that way it shouldn't be penalised? That'd be like penalising a car because it isn't red.
Yea, we just had our wires crossed mate Heres an example of how anal the concours crowd cam be, i mean seriously A hose clamp http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/206-246/329220-attention-all-judges-what-correct-hose-clamps.html Thats why i think the OP has done utterly fantastic to get 1st place, and with one of our much loved 355s.
That is utterly ridiculous. I like a car to look original on the outside, but am also fine with upgrading a few things to the owner's taste, as well as to improve performance / reliability. Hence, I guess, why I'll never enter those type of events! Nonetheless, I congratulate the OP. His car looks sensational. And getting Jerry Seinfeld to stand in front of it for a pic makes it even better!
Big congrats on the win! Great looking car and I am glad you enjoyed it visually and from behind the wheel. I have been considering the Chemical Brothers black out product and I was wondering if you had any before/after photos of how it worked on your car. Also, how long has the deep black stayed around? Thanks in advance!
A few years ago a friend convinced me to go along with him and enter my car for shts and giggles. When my car got "judged"... it was recieving nothing but compliments and and genuine interest from the judges about all the improvements and upgrades. The conversations went something like this.... Judge: - "These wheels look fantastic! They really update the car and make it look much more modern. Any specific reason you went with this style?" Me: - "Being the car had no traction control, etc... fitting lighter rims with wider tires really improves the handling and acceleration due to the improved grip and lighter weight." Judge: - "And they really make the car pop. I love them. Minus 25 points...." ... and that same convo repeated itself with regards to the carbon fiber console... upgraded brakes and calipers... euro lenses instead of orange, etc... I may have gotten the lowest score in concourse history. Was a fun day.... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Actually mine is Rosso Fiorano (colors are very similar). According to the Registry I have the only GTS in this color in the US. The only other GTS is in Munich and there are only 13 355's total worldwide (at least listed in the Registry).
