Seems to be. It is noted in the description the seats were re-upholstered. That’s fine as they wear easily in original form. However, the re-do looks a bit funny to me. Looks a bit puffy. Hopefully, the rear wing was vynl wrapped and not painted Seems to be “race” dirt all over the car. Needs a nice detail. The most important things seem to be there.
I appreciate the help Fatbilly. I would take you up on your offer, but I don’t think my car will be seeing a day of track under my ownership. Not going the full Challenge route anymore. I have something a lil different in mind. We’ll see what happens after I pay-off the Scud by the end of the year.
Noticed a few other things: 1. The car possibly has Euro Front and Rear Challenge bumpers. No side reflectors. Wider rear license plate opening. I much prefer this look as it lines up closer to Italian Spec. 2.Tail lights are still U.S spec (no amber turn signal in outter light) which is fine. 3. Car has two tone leather interior. Black and dark blue. Have never seen that combination before. 4. Carbon door cards are not original but a simple custom-made one. I’m actually curious what Ferrari officially included for door cards to clear the Roll Cage. Either way, I’ve seen better looking after-market options. 5. Brake rotors are original Ferrari/Brembo, but they are the drilled ones, which I do see as most common, but I happen to dislike. I prefer the slotted ones, which seem to be much rarer. 6. No mesh on engine lid. 7. Interior pieces definitely need to be de-stickied and re-done by Dave 8. Fire Extinguisher not original. None of the above are important. Just me being extra particular .
3. The car was most likely ordered with blue leather seats and dash trim. I've seen two-tone Challenge interiors in black/white, black/dark blue and black/beige combinations 4. The regulation manual permitted the leather trim and armrests to be removed but the door handles had to be preserved. Most teams fashioned their own door cards. Mine was raced with all its leather door trim and parts left in place. 5. The cross-drilled rotors were notorious for developing cracks. The teams complained bitterly about this during the Series as they needed frequent replacement and were very expensive. Today they're primarily found on static-displayed cars. I've only seen slotted GiroDisc rotors on F355 Challenge cars at the track. 6. Only the silver car has the engine lid screen. It's the only Challenge car I've seen with the screen in place. I'm sure there are others... Image Unavailable, Please Login My car #37 has its rear tow hook on the driver's side. I think it's the only F355 Challenge set up that way. In early 1995 when my car (somewhat of a prototype as it was the only F355 Challenge raced that year) was developed for the North American Challenge Series, the technical/regulation manual was still in its draft form. It works just as well. Also, they had a few 348 Challenge hooks still around and one of them wound up on the front of my car... Image Unavailable, Please Login It was used a few times during the Series. 8. The fire extinguisher is an SPA Design unit and was indeed used in several cars in the final couple of years before the F355 Challenge was retired from the Series.
Just realized F355 Challenge Roll Cage can work with OEM door cards. Great info Barry. Didn't notice most challenge cars did not come with engine lid screen or they were simply removed. The reasoning would be interesting. I think it is worth noting Ferrari/Brembo original rotors are aluminum (lighter. less rotating mass and unsprung weight) whereas after-market replacement such as as Girodisc are steel. Would love to know actual weight comparisons. Looks like you can find brand new Brembo rotors for $1900 a pair without the hats, whereas Girodisc comes in about $1100 with the hats. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Ferrari-348-355-Challenge-Brake-Disc-w-Pads-2-163316-/110825268647 Here's a nice link for comparisons: http://cocheferrari.edufast.me/ferrari-f355-challenge-brakes/
The cars I've seen have had the lower hood guard and screen removed as on mine... Image Unavailable, Please Login The screen doesn't weigh much and could have been retained. So would I, Ken.
I don't have a better picture, Tim. It belongs to an attorney friend of mine. But here's an onboard video I took that shows his car. The four Challenge cars I posted were on the track in the same run group. We pitted out in line with me up front and we arranged for each car to pass and get in front of me one at a time when we reached the front straight... I felt like John Rankenheimer doing this.
That's Frankenheimer. I do like the reinforced sidebar kit on the Hilfiger Challenge car up for auction. Mine never got that upgrade.
The rotor itself is aluminum or you mean the hat? I would think both Girodisc and Ferrari brembo have iron rotor and aluminum hat.
Source? Can't seem to find a definite answer. I only recall when looking for them seller mentioned they were lighter and stronger than Girodisc option.
I don't know of any steel rotors for automotive use (maybe some drag racing applications). It's not really a good option compared to cast iron. If there's any weight difference it may be due to casting/design difference rather than material differences. Here is some good info- https://www.apcautotech.com/getmedia/bd69395a-b65c-481d-93f7-b26b1bd0638d/Centric_and_APC_Technical_Whitepaper_B1-Warped-Brake-Disc-8-2018_1.pdf
This, from GiroDisc's website: Girodisc Front 2pc Floating Rotors for Ferrari 348/ 355 The Girodisc system is a direct replacement for the OE disc. No modifications are necessary. The disc will bolt directly to the car and work with OE calipers perfectly. The central hat section of our rotor is made from strictly U.S. sourced 6061-T6 aircraft specification aluminum. The disc is made from our own proprietary cast iron, poured in the USA and machined from start to finish in house at Girodisc. The rotor utilizes a curved vane design, developed in racing to act as a centrifugal pump to force cooling air through the disc. The rotor and hat have a floating mount system, which utilizes 10 high strength alloy steel drive pins, manufactured by Girodisc in the USA to our own specifications and cadmium plated for a long lasting corrosion resistance. These pins take the load from braking actions while maintaining the axial and radial float between the hat and disc. The pins are secured by class 12.9 cap screws with hardened washers. In order to keep the rotors from making noise when cold, the pins are mounted with anti-noise spring washers on the rotor side which allow the rotor to grow with heat expansion but eliminate the rattle and noise associated with floating rotors. This float also allows the rotor to self center between the pads. Once the Girodisc system is in place, simply replace the cast iron rotor when needed.
Interesting. I'll read up on the link some time. Drilled rotors aren't good for motorsport applications either, yet they are sold everywhere. However, you might be right. Will need to source more info since this is all exclusive 90's items. My GF just purchased an Abarth this week and it comes with a V-Maxx Front big brake kit, which seems to have high praise in the Abarth community for motorsports. It has 2-piece "high carbon steel rotors" . Was just reading up on this last night actually. https://www.tmcmotorsport.com/product/4915 My Abarth has Wilwood Big Brakes upfront, which has iron rotors. My Exige has AP Racing calipers with Girodisc iron rotors. My Rx-7 has Project Mu front big brakes w/ iron rotors. My Abarth Wilwood kit retails for about $950 The V-Maxx kit retails for about $1600. It is considered a premium choice in the Abarth community it seems. https://shop.500madness.com/fiat-500-brake-conversion-kit-v-maxx-big-brake-kit-330mm-pid2531
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login It appears that I have the Ferrari brembo slotted rotors and hats fitted to my car and not the GiroDisc system as I had thought. They were on the car when I purchased it in 2012. I'm not sure when they were installed but I have put ~9,400 track miles on my car since I bought it. It had 9,500 miles when purchased the car. I've changed the front pads twice and the rear pads once. The rotors are wearing minimally.
Image Unavailable, Please Login The GiroDisc rotors have fewer slots and vanes than the Ferrari brembo rotors... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes. All of the Challenge undertray components are there with all brake ducting and associated parts. Everything's there as mandated by the regulation manual.
Interesting. From the last picture you posted, I'm not seeing the ducts outlets like the ones I have. Not sure if there are different challenge rear diffusers. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ferrari-355-Challenge-RH-Rear-Brake-Duct-Panel-62976500/110963160937?epid=1454404707&hash=item19d5eb7769:g:MK0AAOxyhlJRbsUF
