F355 Market

And also, did they check and measure all the valves to make sure they were all in spec or did they simply go off visual cues and leakdown and just attacked what the saw was the problem?

 

… or does none of this really matter because the car is a Red/Tan manual coupe, thus all is forgiven?

 

I would assume the minimum

 

I'm still trying to figure out how only 3 valve were bent with the timing off 40*. Bent intakes mean the cam had to be advanced so intakes would be opening at 56* BTDC. Intakes would be pretty wide open by then. Anyway, the hurricane was a no show and no trees fell on my garage so I would be looking for another 355 anyway, so it really doesn't mater to me.

 

We need to know what shop performed that belt service

 

Likely ways half a bank of valves were bent and not the entire bank:
-someone was quick to shut the motor down
-timing belt snapped or completely dislodged from pulleys allowing cam to remain stationary
-camshaft snapped at pulley leaving cam stationary (seen this on many 360s)
-tech bent valves when installing camshaft while it was out of sync with crank

 

Hey look. It’s Michael Jordan in his “look-at-me-Im-a-bumble-bee” Ferrari. (Starts @6:45)

 

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When I switch to rain tires, my car looks like a bumblebee too.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-ferrari-f355-10/

One more day left. I have concerns. This listing isn't bringing in the views. Normally, a manual coupe would easily bring in 20k+ views on BAT. Interest could possibly be declining or there might be too many distractions going on around the world at the moment.

 

This Z3 M roaster with S54 engine just sold for $40,500. I think there is still interest in the right cars.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-bmw-m-roadster-21/

 

Red 355 on bat sold for 135k

 

Looks like the market is starting to cool off a bit - the yellow gtb at an even 100k and a lower mileage red/tan gtb at 135k - that should represent the range at the top of the market tbh. If the red/tan had a fresh major and was a '95, maybe it hits 150, but that'd be the tippy top.

 

Not bad all things considered. $140,500 USD with fees, "timed out" for a major.

Seller unable to find manuals, toolkit, and right side engine bay cover. Engine has been reworked due to bent valves etc...transmission as rebuilt for damaged synchros.

Still strong money compared to a year ago.

 

Wait... rebuilt heads is bad but leaking seals is not? I think when folks rebuild the 355 heads due to seals they replace valves?

 

There are so few people ready to buy a 355 at any given time that I doubt single data points from auctions like this are hugely significant. Safe to say that over the past year the 355 has increased significantly in value.

 

Spring time is hotter as people look to splurge with bonus money. I expect a cooling. If one were selling March or April seems a better time.

 

I mean, that's all you get with 355's and BaT is pretty much all the money when it comes to cars in the same stratosphere as the 355.

 

We often discuss what “sorted” is. Valves, headers, stickies, and recent enough belt service. Did this car have any of this?

 

I find the confirmation bias on F-Chat hilarious. To quote John, "The market has spoken!" Poor buyer only paid $70k too much

 

You should have bought that car on BAT. That was a steal even without much sorted. Very clean car worth putting more money in.

 

Seems like a good buy given recent results.

 

Seems similar to this car that sold last May https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-ferrari-f355-berlinetta-2/ Basically same price ($500 difference). That car had a minor accident history and a 3 year old major.... Arguably the current car is a better car. Here is the BAT history at a glance for the gated "b".

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From a cosmetic perspective it was one of the nicest 355's listed on BaT in a long time.

I think some buyers might be spooked by the history of bent valves, transmission rebuild, etc.

Tool kit, manuals, right side engine cover were missing. Seller couldn't seem to locate them.

Major was done in 2015. Less than 1000 miles ago however...

I don't think the engine rebuild mentioned anything about updated guides either in the invoice. You would imagine they were done though.

All that said, I think $140,500 is a good number. I expected it to break $150k, but to a lot of buyers I'd say these items might have held them back.

 

You're probably right. I decided to stay on the sidelines for the rest of this year. I may regret that. The recent black GTB on P-Car that sold for $120k was tempting though.

 

I drove over and looked at the red one that went for 135500. It was a very nice car. I did not drive it. Paint appeared to be original. No Cracks in the buttress area. There were were a few small cosmetic issues but nothing glairing. I do think that the missing parts hurt it. As well as the odd bent valve history.
3 GTBs on BAT recently. 1 had tacky red seats, grey wheels and strange stripe. Next one was yellow with "custom" red painted engine parts. I am curious what the others would have gone for if they has not been "customized". Just always a bad idea.