348 Challenge

I would like to know this also, ask Old Guy

 

In the states, at least, Ferrari didn't make any. The challenge cars were street cars which were converted using a kit that Ferrari sold. In 1994 they shipped 45 cars that already had roll cage mounting points in them and a few other goodies, but still needed to have the kit installed to race. I believe, the same was true in Europe.

Dave

 

There were 45 "factory" challenge cars in '94. 32 tb's and 13 ts's imported to the US. The cars came with some modifications, but were sold as street cars. In the 348 C series any 348 could be converted to race. I think there were around 50+ cars that raced.

There is a 348 C registry at www.redfcar.com.

 

Don't know about Europe, but the only "factory challenge cars" sent to the US were 94's as noted above, and these were street cars as imported as noted above as well. Most of the cars that were actually raced were earlier years modified with the factory supplied kits.

Dave

 

I don't believe there were "factory" challenge cars in Europe. I am pretty sure they were all converted street cars. The '93/'94 Euro model had 119H motor with 320 hp. The series began in '93 in Euro., but did not start in the US until '94.

There were 50 (I think) 348 competizione version made for Euro market, but they were street cars as well. Michelletto made a handfull of GT Comp cars that raced. I think there was alot of discussion about one that was in the US for sale for around 130 USD. Do a search and you can find the thread.

 

There were 32 tb and 13 ts "factory" challenge cars made in '94. All of those came to the US. I have not read or heard that there were any factory challenge cars made for the Euro market.

I know the Cavalino issue you are reading from. The "???" is because ANY '89 - '94 348 could be canverted by a dealer to run in the original "Challenge Series". After '95 all challenge cars have been made by the factory as special built race cars with guidance from Michilletto.

 

Richard, Just bumped into this thread, you and I must love these CH cars egually as much. Anyway a minor correction in the above, 95 355CH cars were dealer kit/assembled cars. From what I can find in my research is that the '97 and '98 cars were the only ones that were factory cars starting with nos. 107... thru 108... for '97 and IIRC 110... thru 112... for '98 for a total of just over 100 cars. I think there were some '96 Euro factory cars also but haven't found anything concrete on that. Regards, Vern

 

Vern, I guess I'm a little obsessed with the 348 C cars. Maybe the lack of information and knowledge about them. There is really no source, so I have dug around to come up with what I can. Maybe it helps that I own one?

Thanks for the info on the 355 C. I thought starting '96 they were built at the factory. Registered in memory bank.

I did go up to Road America to see the new 430 C. What an impressive car!

Richard

 

Richard, I think I would have to agree on the obsessed part too. When I bought my 348ss in '96 I was actually looking for 348CH couldn't find what I wanted at the time so I bought the SS instead. When the 355CH cars came up for sale(after the 360CH) I couldn't resist but, it had to be a factory car not the kit stuff. I found one that has great history to it and was in great shape. Yeah, there isn't much info on the 348CH. After all the research I did on the cars I came to the conclusion they were a marketing concept(because of slow 348 sales) for the US market kinda like the 348SS cars were. That is not a complaint by any means just an observation, I think they're are unique as are the SS cars. The euro comp 348(the road car they built 56 of not the Michelotto cars) was also a marketing concept like the SS car, the 348 was a slow seller even in the Euro markets. Which I think was cool it gave us tofosi some low volumn cars. Like I said before I think there were some Euro 355 factory cars but I was not able to confirm that, the US cars started as '97 cars(based on their serial Nos.) Regards, Vern

 

The street 348 GTC wasn't purely sold for marketing reasons in Europe. It was sold to homogolate the 348 for GT racing. Hence the serious use of Carbon/Kevlar all over the car. Changes that could only be used in proper racing (not customer) if 50 cars were made to meet homogolation rules. They also needed to be lighter to compete head to head with the 911's. Unfortunately they couldn't really match the performance of the 911's but still provided Ferrari with their first finish at Le Mans since 1982.

 

Good info to know, in all my research I never found any reference to that. I had wondered why they would go to the trouble to use carbon/kevlar doors, bumpers and sills. Do you know if the Michelletto race 348s(IIRC there were 13 cars) were taken from the 50 cars or were they additional cars to the 50? Do you also have a source for the info on the homogolation it would be nice to get this info to fill in the gaps on what I have. Regards, Vern

 

AFAIK they were additional, the 50 street cars were a requirement for the racing versions and the Michelotto's used some of the components of the street car ie the bumpers/doors etc as you've mentioned. Obviously they went a lot further but most of it was Ferrari supplied. I have a book here that lists all the parts available to turn a street comp into a race comp. Ferrari still stocks some of these parts including engine parts, modifying the block, brake components, cooling etc etc.

The book also includes plans to modify the frame for various fitment of racing parts including the roll over protection, fire system and jack lifting points, not to mention special pedal box etc. It's very much like the Challenge book. I think the most major changes on the Michelotto cars was the rear suspension arrangement using the F40 half shafts, I can't quite recall if that's included in the book but I don't think so. The engine mods are pretty much what I have heard was made to the Michelotto's so I suspect it's mostly Ferrari in origin. There was also a modified ECU available.

 

Oh, regarding the homogolation, I think there is a PDF on the Ferrari Owners website. It carries all the homogolation documents.

Finally I think some misinformation has been spread about these cars being a marketing exercise thanks in part to "Original Ferrari V8" as it mentions this in there. I intend to take that up with the author at some point as he lives here in the UK but I can see why the assumption is made as it was a) at the end of the model life and b) there is virtually zero information around about the cars and finally c) having never been shipped to the US there are lot less enthusiasts of the type you find around here who know so much about the cars.

I'm being serious, sure there is a lot of knowledge here in the UK but most of it is squirelled away and not posted on Internet forums. Which is a pity!

It was a pretty interesting point in history that seems to have gone forgotten. There is a bit of info on QV500 which is correct:

http://www.qv500.com/ferrari348p9.php

http://www.qv500.com/ferrari348p5.php

Most of the stuff mentioned above was Ferrari issue!

until this point:

http://www.qv500.com/ferrari348p8.php

and these which I don't think are strictly GTC, but certainly are Competition cars!

http://www.qv500.com/ferrari348p10.php

 

Thanks for the info that will help fill in the blanks. Regards, Vern