348's...painted vs non painted lower body panels | FerrariChat

348's...painted vs non painted lower body panels

Discussion in '348/355' started by SWIFTVISION, Jul 31, 2007.

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  1. SWIFTVISION

    SWIFTVISION Karting

    Jul 22, 2007
    98
    Portland, OR
    So whats the deal with some 348's I see with the lower bumper and sides/rear painted to match the body color, while others is natural black? Is this factory done when they are painted? An option? Only on some years? Help this 348 newbie. Does one or the other effect price?
     
  2. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    The earlier cars i.e. tb/ts 1989 to 1992 had the black lower body panels and roof (ts). I think this was in keeping with the 328 and TR design which had the same flat black bottom and/or roof.

    The Series Speciale in the tb/ts variants came with the painted roof and lower body. The Challenge cars and the GTB/GTS followed the Series Speciale design too.

    Most owners repaint the bottom of the older cars as it makes the car look much younger. If you are angling for concours honors perhaps a black roof/bottom would better your chances a little bit. Otherwise do what you want- its your money.

    BTW, search the archive - there is tons of info available on fchat regarding such basic questions and also here: http://www.club348.com/models348/models348.html and here: http://www.club348.com/technical/Tech/348.html
     
  3. Lars_vet

    Lars_vet Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2007
    603
    On the open road
    Full Name:
    Lars
    Early 348s have the lower body black. BUT alot of early cars have had the lower part sprayed red..

    Actually, the early cars are red underneath the black from the factory.

    Price is allways a hard issue here...Im sure in 20 years the original early cars, with black bottom will be woth more..Dosent bother me though, I like my car just this way.
     
  4. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    +1
     
  5. potxoli

    potxoli Formula 3

    Mar 22, 2007
    1,716
    Washington DC
    Full Name:
    Eric B.
    #5 potxoli, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    agree. I think it looks very sharp and more modern with the trim painted. Most people don't believe me when I tell them my car is 17 years old.

    gratuitous picture of my '90 with bottom trim and targa top painted:
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  6. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Black sills were designed for heat transfer, as an early form of aerodynamic grip on the cars. The prevailing thought, at the time, was that heat from the road would radiate onto the sills and create low pressure suction points just inward of the sill. In so doing, this counterbalanced the normally unstable front end.

    The 348's early Delco alternator was also an attempt at early aero-grip idea. The cooling mechanism of the alternator included a funnel shaped suction housing. As air channeled through this device, it was thermodynamically cooled and then dropped near the black sills -- thus adding further to the low pressure zones.

    Folks that paint the sills 'body colored' do a dangerous disservice to the car's stability.













    .

    Oh yeah, I have some swamp land in Florida for sale too.




    :) HAHAHAHAH.
     
  7. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    #7 speedy_sam, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ^^ By comparison, my older looking, frumpier 348 ;) :) And yes I know the wheels are backwards. :p

    Gratuitous pic of course .. we have to show some semblance of keeping up the PAPster in posting 348 photos...
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  8. potxoli

    potxoli Formula 3

    Mar 22, 2007
    1,716
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    Eric B.
    man! I thought you were nuts there for a while :)
     
  9. Lars_vet

    Lars_vet Formula Junior

    Feb 25, 2007
    603
    On the open road
    Full Name:
    Lars
    LOL... great one!
     
  10. Bee Jay

    Bee Jay Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2004
    750
    Lompoc, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Bernard E. Jones
    Man, that looks just like my car. Painted top, nad black sills. I wonder why the previous owner went thru the trouble of painting the top, but left the sills black. Probably did not want to destabilize the car. No really, the black helps to thermodynamically transfer heat and keeps the car stable. This dude who lives in the Florida wetlands and races Ferraris explained it to me. He's gonna sell me a lot down there for my retirement. If I act now, he'll throw in a bridge. Your welcome very much.
    Bee Jay
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #11 PAP 348, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  12. BrianZuk

    BrianZuk F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2007
    4,607
    NorCal (Bay Area)
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    BrianZuk
    Looks a lot better with the trim painted, imo.
     
  13. VTChris

    VTChris F1 World Champ

    Aug 21, 2005
    13,259
    #13 VTChris, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. RobS

    RobS Formula Junior

    Feb 18, 2004
    281
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Rob S.
    I like non painted better !! More original and looks less like a 355 !
     
  15. Davidt

    Davidt Formula Junior

    Nov 18, 2003
    713
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Dave T.
    I do not think the Series Speciale came with a color matching roof in the TS version.
     
  16. vegas1

    vegas1 F1 Rookie

    Jul 28, 2004
    4,202
    Australia
    So when did the black cavallino badges on the front grille and rear grille become chrome badges as standard on the 348 ?
     
  17. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,596
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    In 20 years all these cars will be on their next paint jobs anyway.
     
  18. jeffwh

    jeffwh Karting

    Oct 6, 2006
    138
    White
    Full Name:
    Jeffrey
    Anyone know a good place in Chicago or Naperville to get a car painted? I need my spoiler and grill done.
     
  19. Davidt

    Davidt Formula Junior

    Nov 18, 2003
    713
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Dave T.
    With the Series Speciale in 92.
     
  20. Dr.T348

    Dr.T348 Formula 3

    Jan 8, 2004
    1,599
    Chicago NW Burbs
    Full Name:
    Richard T.
    #20 Dr.T348, Jul 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017



    You almost had me on that one.


    If you would just buy a black car. Gratuitous pic, of course.
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  21. potxoli

    potxoli Formula 3

    Mar 22, 2007
    1,716
    Washington DC
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    Eric B.
    Dr. T, where did you get the fog light covers? Did they come with the car?
     
  22. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    The required parts are:

    1 x 62971900 (right cover)
    1 x 62972000 (left cover)
    8 x 147499 bracket
    8 x 14641593 screw
    8 x 15914977 screw

    They're hard to find. Try contacting FNA dealers who used to run Challenge teams with the 348, and they might have old ones.

    We (Fchatters) could probably get somebody with plastics experience to mold new ones pretty cheaply.
     
  23. potxoli

    potxoli Formula 3

    Mar 22, 2007
    1,716
    Washington DC
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    Eric B.
    Thanks. It seems like all good things for the 348 are hard to find like challenge wheels and soft tops ;)
     
  24. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 20, 2003
    2,000
    Brooklandville, MD
    Full Name:
    Ira Schwartz
    #24 Ira Schwartz, Aug 1, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Daniel makes a good suggestion- virtually all Challenge race cars had the lights/covers replaced with brake ducts before too long (rules allowed this- see attached photos), so there may be some take-offs gathering dust with old Challenge teams.
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  25. dapper

    dapper Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    711
    Bristol, UK
    Full Name:
    Dave
    My sills were painted body colour by PO. I want them returned to black and would really appreciate if anyone have any 'close up' shots of where the black ended and body colour started, including with doors open so i can see the detail in there. Thankfully my targa roof panel wasn't done at the time but my engine grille was, I suspect that part will be a nightmare to 'correct'.
     

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