355 Rear Bumper Appearance - Question

I believe that the early cars had solid panels. The later cars had slots as you described. I cant reacall when the change was made. Any model with a fully painted bumper would be incorrect.

 

Interesting observation. I had never noticed those differences before.

 

In most cases the US rear bumpers have the slots whereas the Canadian and other markets are solid. If the car you are looking at has the slots you can be 99% sure its a real Ferrari bumper. If it doesn't have the slots it may be a Canadian bumper which is stronger but heavier or it may be a non factory bumper. The factory bumpers have stamps on them that you should be able to see if the car is on a lift.

 

I don't believe this is correct. The early US cars had the solid bumpers.

 

I had a 1995 355 with US bumpers and it had the slots

 

My car is a US 1995 spider and has a slot line on the bumper but it's all one color. However, it may have been repaired that way by the previous owner since there was an accident that occured at the back of the car.

I'm glad you posted this because my car is being repainted red at the moment and I was going to paint the entire rear bumper red. I will know make sure it is "factory correct" and get a flat black line in there.

So happy I caught this just in time, I think my bumper is being painted tomorrow....
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I've owned 2 95 F355s and neither had slots. Both were US cars.

It might be a spider vs. GTB / GTS thing.

 

Actually, I do not have slots, I meant I have that horizontal line which is caved in so I called it a "slot line" but it's solid and does not have any holes in it.

However, it was completely painted green by the previous owner

 

Interesting. I have a 1997 with the US bumpers and it too has slots. I previously thought (from reading various replacement part-for-sale ads) that the '95-96 cars had no slots, and '97-later got them. But your car may disprove that assumption.

 

This subject has been coverd a few times in the last 5 years on here.
There is no formula some early and late cars have them, some dont. No one can put there finger on as to why.
Here in GB ( Euro) some 95-96s do but alot dont have the slots. Its clear it not an age related thing.

 

99 fiorano. Mat black slots

 

It might also be that my 1995 had its bumper replaced that is one of the reasons I traded it back to the dealer for a 1997 Canadian GTS with a full known and clean history.
Lots of good information being shared here.

 

95 Berlinetta flat black with no slots US car.

 

This thread just keeps getting more and more interesting

 

Just got back from the body shop, I was in a panic for no reason because my body shop guy already knew that it needed to be flat black on that horizontal concaved part even if the previous owner had it repainted completely.

I can't wait to get the car back to its original factory state.

 

Interestingly if you search Ferrari 355 rear bumpers on e bay you see many offerings. Looks like 95 has no holes after that yes. It also looks like after market parts have no holes

 

No, some 95s also had slots from new. A member of my local FOC bought his 95 17 years ago brand new. His has slots. My ex 95 spider also had them, my current later car also.

 

I just got back from a nice little drive and I can attest that mine (a somewhat early '98, Sept '97 build stamp) has the black slots above the license plate area.

 

I have a 95 and i do not have slots, but a buddy (member here) has a 97 and his does have the slots.

 

My '96 , has slots !

 

As another poster has stated, there was already a thread on this some time ago. The early cars was hit or miss with the slots and no slots. But do all the 96+ cars have just slots?

 

My '98 GTS has slots / matte black paint below the number plate.

Euro car.