348 vs SS vs Challenge $

Here's the way I see it. Feel free to update or correct as necessary:

The Challenge cars came as a specification designed for conversion to the Challenge series. Think of them as "pre-wired" for easy conversion to challenge specs. While Europe had its Challenge series, FNA wanted theirs, but given the times (1993/1994 economy) one could not guess the success of the program. That fact that just more than one-half the Challenge cars were converted illustrates the resistence to the concept. The $20,000 conversion outfitted the car to factory racing specs, not really a race car as much as a street racer. While intended as a spec series, other modification seems to have been allowed. However, any 348 owner could have had his car converted; it's just the Challenge cars were delivered in a state more along in the process. For example, there are the wheels and the exhaust systems, known now as Spider parts, but really they were SS and Challenge parts. Spiders being the last of the 348 model line merely benefited from the earlier technology. Later, special Challenge wheels were added - those gorgeous white Speedline 18's.

So there were 2 seasons 348 Challenge cars competed before being entirely replaced by 355's. They actually ran 1995 with both models. Then in 1996, they're done. So now what did they do? Some got converted back to street specs, others got pushed into garages to languish, a few kept racing in other series, such as SCCA.

Given the number of races they may have been in, most Challenge cars are probably not the thrashed PO junk we suspect. There are a few that have had rough lives - I saw one in Salt Lake City that was such. A certain few, like the Helms IMSA car and our 358 morphed into something else. It has been hard to find venues for these used Challenge race cars to compete in. Our 358 was modified for a single purpose/race. After that, who knows? We're still looking.

So pricing being what it is, figure the above into the equation. There are some cars out there that raced but are not Challenges. Some got converted back for street. There are some Challenges that never took to the track. This is another reason why the 348 line is so cool and interesting, at least to me.

 

It is my understanding that there were three (3) seasons that a 348 could run. 94/95/96. In the first two, the cars ran with stock 348 wheels. The white speedlines were introduced in 1996. In 1996 the 348s ran along side the 355s in two classes, one for each model. After that season, it was all 355s.

 

Could be. I need to check this with FNA. I am trying to run down the race history of our 358, so I'll be able to report on this. The 355 Challenge cars were introduced in 1995 here in the US but I am not sure when they raced their first series. There was one blended race season and the 348's were relegated to seek their own fortunes afterwards.

 

Here is an example of the time sheets from 1996 that shows both 348 an 355s. Also here is a picture of the same race with both models on track. 1996 was the overlap and last year for 348.
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How many of these do you have, these print outs I mean? I'd like to see a full set of the 3 seasons. The 358 is the Number 33 car near the bottom. It now wears No. 11. Given the very few 355's running, I can see why the race was blended. My comment above should be changed to note that 1996 was the blended year due to the slow addition of 355 Challenge cars. Very cool data. BTW, I met a kid claiming to be Paul Frame's son working in a restaurant in Indianna. This was after the criminal investigation of his financial dealings. I think it was that.

 

The challenge car represents a little different goal than the others. If you are one who enjoys "upgrading" your car with anything other than cosmetics, then collecting and installing the factory challenge parts represents a map to and a plan to do so: without reducing, and in fact enhancing, the value of the car, as well as increasing the driving enjoyment thereof. I'm reminded of one car in particular with some very tastefully done performance enhancements that the owner has had a great deal of trouble recovering any of the costs of the enhancements.
With that in mind, the challenge car represents a driveable project that's fun and good-looking from the start, yet with a great deal of upside. Not so the others. Therefore, I would be willing to pay a couple of thousand premium for one with none of the kit installed. With a complete kit, wheels, seats, cage, etc, probably another 4-5k.
The SS on the other hand is a complete car as is, with little room for value enhancement by modification. One with seats would probably command a premium of $4k or so, therefore worth a little more than a bone stock challenge car.
Just my 2c. So flame me.

 

I wouild think that the price to buy a good condition Challenge car is considerably more than a 348SS because there are what, less than 20 that were never raced?! So you are dealing with maybe 13 owners (if the number of 19 of 32 Challenges were actually converted and raced can be believed) who would take less than SS pricing for their cars. Not hardly. While I am not deluding myself that 348's are collectable, when there's only 32, let alone the possibility of 13 of something, the concept of market value sort of gets lost. Willing buyer, willing seller is in the definition of market value. I don't think you are going to find part 2 at that pricing. So, the specialty models of the line, Challenges, GT's (Europe), Competiziones (drool, Euro-bastards!) and Speciales carry the price premiums followed by the Spiders. Actually maybe the Spiders are still the higher priced model by a few grand especially in SoCal and FLA.

 

+1 Finding a "Willing Seller". There's always crap available. But, the key is finding the good stuff, and then being able to close the deal.

 

Aren't the 32, the tb? It is my understanding that the ts are counted separately in the 94s. If so, there are probably less SStb than 32, and if you take into account not raced, even less than CH not raced. Anyone know the answer?

 

All 32 Challenges are TBs. I think there are something numbering in the 30's for TB's that are SS cars. I can't recall how many of the 15 1994 SS's are what though.