348 Serie Speciale - Coys Spring Classic 2016

The fourth digit indicates the engine fitted to the car - It does not denote that the car is a Speciale version.

So in this case:

"ZFFK" indicates that the car was manufactured by Ferrari with a F119D(L) Euro engine fitted.


"ZFFR" would indicate that the car was built by Ferrari with a F119G040 US-spec engine fitted.

There were 4 UK end of the line TB/TS cars (chassis No.s: 94421, 94621, 95304 and 95618), that were converted to a "Speciale" spec by Maranello Concessionaires prior to the GTB/GTS coming along, which had the lower panels painted in the body colour (the flat section of the engine lid was left black rather than being body coloured as on the GTB/GTS series), had a sports exhaust fitted, a challenge series steering wheel, a front spoiler lip, drilled aluminium pedals, and an interior badge.

The rear lights were the same as the standard cars, with the grille still fitted (the COYS site is incorrect in stating that the rear lights were modified), and from the pictures, I'd say they're wrong about the door cards being modified as those look exactly the same as the door cards on My 1990 348 TS).

The 4 cars were made into "Speciale" editions in an attempt to make them more desirable to buyers (Basically they weren't selling at the time and the GTB/GTS was on the way!)

Mechanically, apart from the sports exhaust, the cars were just TB/TS spec.

COYS are implying that these cars were special editions from the factory, but as far as I'm aware, they were actually dealer specials, not factory specials.

This car had 40,669 miles when it passed it's last MOT in November 2015 and they sold it for £70K - That's @ £15K more than for an equivalent standard TB/TS.

Technically, it is a recognised special version (but not a factory-special), but I can't see the modifications make the car worth that much more than a standard 348 TB/TS.

Somebody obviously bought into the whole "Speciale" part of it, but personally, I think they've seriously over paid for what's basically a very mildly customised 348 TB.

 

+1

The Speciale name could create confusion with the US Serie Speciale version. I don't think it was a coincidence, they choose to name it like this

 

Again, typical Euros trying to steal our thunder.

 

The idea of converting the 4 cars was inspired by the US Serie Speciale, but to be fair, back when these cars were modified, hardly anyone in the UK outside of Ferrari dealers knew anything about the US cars.

This was basically Maranello Concessionaires making 4 "Limited Edition" cars to shift old stock that wasn't selling and was unlikely to sell any time soon, especially with the GTB/GTS series coming out. Calling them "Speciale" just sounded better and more Italian than "348 TB Limited Edition"

 

The same for the US cars. However, I sincerely doubt that no one involved was aware of the US model.

 

They must have been, The dash emblem is the same used on the USA Speciale and that emblem was designed in the US.

Regards, Jim

 

Interesting topic to me since I was unaware of the four UK "Speciales". Thanks for the info, guys.

Is it true that the US Speciales were based on standard cars which were modified by FNA in NJ using parts sent from Maranello, presumably as an effort to jump-start interest in the model at a time when exotic car sales were in the toilet?

 

This is the story I read. Mostly that they were specified by FNA to move weak selling product. My guess is that the 1994 348's, Speciale II's, were in direct response to a soft market and the fact that the 355 had been spotted.

 

YES........Very true.

 

Thanks, Jim! Appreciate the real-world info.

 

The first 100 were us built, the MY94 15 cars were Maranello built

I did not know about the uk cars, interesting.

To be honest, we did have some factory guys come over and help.

 

As I stated in My previous post:

Maranello Concessionaires Ltd were aware of the US Serie Speciale cars, but hardly any of their customers, or Ferrari enthusiasts in the UK at the time were aware of the them.

I can pretty much guarantee that Maranello concessionaires didn't have four customers come to them and say: "I'd like a 348 Speciale please!". If they did, don't you think the customers would have requested the US style rear lights without the grille, to show off how their cars were more special than the standard UK 348's?

This was basically Maranello concessionaires doing the old dealership trick of taking old stock that's not selling, slapping on some easy to fit extras/options, and then claim it to be a special limited edition model.

All the cars really needed to complete the "Dealership Limited Edition Model" Cliché was to have additional stripes down the sides of the car with "Speciale" in fancy script written into a section of the stripe!

 

No way they would do this because then the cars would be confused with Porsche "Special Editions".

 

I have been searching but I don't find anywhere for Tires size of Pirelli P0 use on 348 Series Speciale... Please let me know, Thank you...