As some of you may have seen on other threads, we are trying to get market feedback for the ideas we're working on. Would you be interested in having a lightweight 355? The full package could include (all carbon fiber): - Bumpers, front and rear - Hood - Decklid (available with glass over the engine) - Light buckets - Door skins and interior - Rocker panels - Dash board - Console Panels - Door Sills - Center Console - Airboxes - Undertray - Side mirrors - GTS targa top - Possibly the rear fenders for the 355 Spider There is a lot of weight to be lost on the 355 - from the iron-heavy light buckets to the chunky dash and it's brackets.
355 aspirational - have a 348 so some of the lightweight body pieces might suit my car. Exterior stuff for the 355 - going to make it more aggressive a la the 360CS or just direct replacement? Cheers Kevin
Hey Kevin. We're going to offer both straight-OEM looking pieces, and Ryalex pieces that are a little more aggressive with some sharper lines on the front and rockers (like the differences between a regular 360 and a CS).
I would be interested in most or all of the interior pieces - particularly those which tend to turn to goo in the 355. I'm more into it for aesthetics than weight loss, so finish quality and price are most important to me. I guess in order of desirability: Center console panels (around A/c, mirror controls, etc). I realize this is difficult because it must allow for backlighting. Show me something clever! Button facings a plus. Center tunnel Radio Trim Instrument Trim Door panels including door release pulls Door Sills eBrake handle I guess it is worth mentioning that almost all of those pieces are already available from Ferrari since they were used in the 1999 Serie Fiorano 355s. However, the full set from Ferrari is over $10k when FCI priced it for me. I know enough about carbon fiber design and production to think that you could do that same set for $3-4k and still be pocketing a substantial profit. I love carbon, but I wouldn't be soaked for it. At the right pricing, I would be interested in some of the exterior pieces as well, starting with airboxes. My car is a 98 spider if you're keeping track.
I'm planning to sell my bad boy Ryan so I'm not planning on any mods, but if this were a keeper, I suspect the following would be my responses: Would you be interested in having a lightweight 355? - Yes The full package could include (all carbon fiber): - Bumpers, front and rear - Maybe (assuming matching paint) - Hood - Maybe (assuming matching paint) - Decklid (available with glass over the engine) - Maybe (assuming matching paint) - Light buckets - Maybe (need to see how they would look) - Door skins and interior - ? - Rocker panels - Yes - Dash board - Yes - Console Panels - Yes - Door Sills - Yes - Center Console - yes - Airboxes - Definitely yes - Undertray - Yes - Side mirrors - Yes - GTS targa top - n/a - Possibly the rear fenders for the 355 Spider - n/a
Thank you for your feedback so far. Vik, thanks for breaking things down as well. For the door skins and interior, this means that the whole door both inside and out is CF, like an F40 door, although with a little more details and handles on the inside (like a stradale). We already have a good number of interior pieces here: www.ryalexdesign.com/products/355.html
Hi Ryan, Interested in the interior bits.... Wondering if you do shipping to Malaysia and how do I go about paying for it? AMEX/VISA ? Cheers, Iskandar
Hi Iskandar, you have a PM about the shipping costs to Malaysia. Yes, we take Visa, AMEX and Mastercard.
How about corbon fiber air vents. If you are going with the whole interior, I would like to see someone reproduce those. The center would at least fit the 348 as well. For the $1000 Ferrari wants per set (and they still have that rubber coating) I think you could make a nice set that would go with Alcantara covered dash!
I already have all the interior bits in carbon, so I would love to have someone address the front facia. Stock is too flabby and almost ruins the look of the car. I would go with a 512M look. I know purists will be offended by this, but, the car would look absolutely perfect.
I would be interested to know what the weight savings are for the stock panels vs. the CF. The hood is already aluminum, not sure how much you are going to save there. The fenders are also very small, maybe 5-10lbs a piece. The doors would be a big saving as well as the bumpers. (and the light buckets changed out for lexan and projectors) Those would seem to me to be the most cost-effective for someone looking to go faster. Just my thoughts, Scott
I think a lightweight 355 is perfect. The major improvement of the 360 over the 355 was the lightweight chassis that substantially reduced weight. If the 355 can shed some of its own flab, it would be my Ferrari of choice.
I closed my CF sales operation and removed myself from this venture - however, I think that the Coffings at Valence USA have continued to move forward with it making some pieces. Contact them for more info!
What are the weight savings? Can you adjust the balance of the car car for a more evenly distribution from front to back?
