The car looks great. I just purchased mine about 2 months ago for 48K. It is a '92 speciale. I didn't realize that they only made 12 of them during 1992 so I will need to be more careful when driving it.
It's a nice looking car, but what the specifically omit is, if it was modified as a race car with all the Challenge accessories, how much track time does it have? And I don't mean driver's schools either. If it looks and smells like a race car, ... Frankly, I think they hurt the marketability of the car since the took away the SS features and grafted Challenge parts into it. The way it stands it is neither one or the other, but is an interesting car. I'm not sure how to value it, but I will take some of the modifications as suggestions.
Certainly looks like a track car. It appears to have most of, if not all challenge kit installed. The roll cage is missing the side impact bar. Problem would be it might not be street legal in all states! Certainly the full kit is worth $14,000 I think when new. If it has limited track time with 8000+ miles with the kit installed might not be a bad deal at that price. I was curious in the other thread to see if anyone knew this car or it's history. Does it have any challenge race history?
The original challenge cars were SS cars with the addition of the challenge kit. Minus the rear wing the car is in basic challenge trim.
Ok, so what is this car then? Is it a SS or Challenge? To me it looks like an SS that someone customized for their personal track use. That is because it is a GTS, not a GTB. I still think it is a nice looking car. I don't know what the heck I'd do with it, but...
Even though there was a 348 "factory" challenge, any 348 could be brought up to what was then SS specs and have the challenge kit installed and race in the series. That included tb and ts's (no spiders). In fact alot of the first 348 challenge cars were not factory challenge's and only about 1/2 of the factory challenge cars were raced. It is a nice looking car. Minus the rear wing it is in challenge trim. The roll cage is an earlier version without the side impact bar. In '95 I think the roll cages were changed. Also the front turn signal/fog light assembly was removed for brake ducts in the later series cars. The shoulder harness looks like a 2 in. belt. The challenge kit origianlly came with a 2 in. 4 point harness that was fairly quickly changed to a 3 in. 5 point harness. So if this one was raced it would have been in '94. No 348 were raced in the series with a wing. It's possible someone got a hold of an old 348 kit and installed it for show or track day use. I have some info on the '96 series, but based on above observation this was not raced in '96.
$48K for a Speciale is an incredible deal particularly if the car had a recent major and is in great mech/cosmetic condition. Drive it often - 348s are special cars!
Yes that was the one. It needed service but it is in great shape and has been a pleasure to drive. The night I picked it up and drove it home there were tornado warnings in the area - so my first experience driving it was in a driving thunderstorm and flooding. The car handled great and was much better in the rain than my Mercedes. It had a good service record, but it needed its 22K service so I had that done and the car is running like new. Did you look at it?
Seriously Jeff, be careful with that thing in the wet. Even with rain tires on, that thing can be a handful when the pavement is damp - too much torque dumping at once for such a little car. Ask plugzit how I nearly spun the black SS out in the middle of a boulevard while exiting a driveway through standing water at 50% throttle. LOL, u wreck it u buy it!
I was lucky - it was a Friday afternoon rush hour in Chicago so the traffic never went above 20mph. I also hadn't driven a standard in about 15 years so it was quite an experience getting it home. Right now it is tucked in under a cover in the garage waiting for all the snow to melt.
Assuming car has had recent service is the price in line? I've been considering a 348 as my first F car but also something with a more track style prep. already in place. Challenge car for street. I understand the compromises as far as comfort on the street but I also race a shifterkart for fun and love the feel of the road. NO problem. I've also seen a 91 348 challenge spec advertised for some time in the NYC area but the car is a euro import w/355 front & side panels. It may be a problem w/registration w/o title. I don't forsee a problem here in MD. with the 93 SS though. I would assume an ex race car though would go for quite less. Opinions are welcomed. BTW, I've been on F Chat for about 5 yrs, previously F1fan. I read everything I can on the 348/355. Thanks.
Technically no, realistacally yes. Even 348 challenge cars had street titles because they were all really converted street cars. So they can all be titled in 50 states. The roll cage and racing harnesses do not conform to DOT standards and are not legal in all states. The car in question may draw more attention and if stopped you may get a ticket?
I would think if records are available and service is up to date that the price is in the ballpark for this car with these mods. No one has come forward with race history so assuming no race history or heavy track use again the price is in the ballpark. Even though some of the cosmetic challenge trim has been installed in this car there is no mention of any mechanical modifications. The challenge race cars were supplied with solid suspension busshings and stiffer springs. More aggresive camber was also used. So this car may not drive/handle any more than stock if above mods were not made. Having an ex-challenge race car, I can say even with the suspension mods it still drives very well on the street. Slightly harsh ride, but much tighter. Amazing capabilities on the track though. It's an acceptible trade off for me.
Thanks Dr.T348. I spoke with the salesperson and he will be faxing copies of the services performed within last yr. Car was not raced and was orig. in San Diego area. Owner had options installed and tracked it a few times according to salesperson. It has had belt service and maintenance done. We'll see when I receive fax what else has been done and if suspension bits have been improved. If it checks may make offer. Thanks again.
Good luck. Looks from the pics like a nice ride. I did not notice any pics with the targa top on. Does it have one and will it fit over the roll cage?
The car also has a few of our carbon pieces..... not sure which customer this was for so can't tell when we sold it. John
