Are Challenge Cars Street-legal?

I agree, I think the '95 Challenge cars that can be titled are/will be the most desirable of the 355's, the last factory built race car that could be driven on the road.

 

Not exactly sure but it must have been metal fatigue and with high magnesium content...pow. Your car is not nearly as stable on three tires as it is on four

I went to a seminar by HRE a couple of years ago where they discussed heat cycles and metal fatigue and revealed that there are wheels manufactured and used for one race only and then discarded. Got me thinking. I clean my own wheels and inspect the brake rotors as well after attending a Brembo seminar where the engineer said that cross drilling was the worst thing you could do for the longevity of a high performance steel rotor.

 

In the US, model year 1995 355 Challenges were all street cars converted by Ferrari dealerships. Which means they all came with a title (or had one available, if you bothered to do it with the MSO).

That in turn means you could legally title and register the car, whether it was before it was converted or afterward.

Now, if you do have a '95 355CH, that doesn't mean it'd necessarily pass INSPECTION in your state. Or you could just drive it on the plate and run the risk of being caught without an inspection sticker (for those states that allow registration regardless of sticker status).

So, hypothetically, I may have registered my 355 Challenge and drove it around on the street, to/from events a few times (with my helmet on!). As ridiculous as it was, it was pretty fun. Hypothetically, of course.

(BTW, it's being checked out by a potential buyer on Thursday, so all I may have left are these fun memories. Hypothetically, of course)

vty,

--Dennis

 

Me too

But unlike some cafe cruisers on the other side of the country, I like the wing, proper CH suspension, correct seats etc. (Roll cage removed BTW Rob)

Is it a limo to drive on the road - NO

Is it quiet, comfortable and subtle - NO

Is it fun - ABSOLUTELY!
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Pity yours is so slow on the track...well, with you driving, anyway.

Really? You LIKE the wing? Aesthetically?? hmmm

 

You two have some pretty Challenge cars down in Aussie. Enjoy those things.

 

Yep, really slow - it's an age thing

1 35 David Rocci 2011 458 Italia 1:05.4327
2 49 Claude Giorgi 2010 458 Italia 1:05.5597
3 39 Paul Van Loenhout 2008 599 Fiorano 1:05.7230
4 4 John Millard 1997 F355 Challenge 1:06.2945
5 11 Frank Russo 2007 599 Fiorano 1:06.8277
6 9 Anthony Ridolfo 2008 F430 F1 1:06.8878
7 43 Andrew Haythorpe 2011 458 Italia 1:07.2558
8 53 Benham Bordbar 2008 F430 1:07.7620
9 17 Shaun Hayes 2009 430 16M 1:08.8728
10 7 Max Warwick 2007 599 Fiorano 1:09.2429
11 44 Guy Galati 2007 430 F1 Spider 1:09.8389
12 22 Colin Capewell 2009 430 Scuderia 1:09.9144
13 18 Ray Dodd 2008 599 Fiorano 1:10.1639
14 24 Darren Bilsborough 1994 348GTC 1:10.3270
15 15 Rob Smith 2008 F430 Spider 1:10.4658

 

Sorry - obligatory track day pic
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How many of those cars were on slicks?

What track? Whose home state?

 

He just jealous 'cause he doesn't have a wing.

M

 

It was a choice, dopey.

 

Fixed it for you.

M

 

yes...but still a choice

 

3 of the first 4

The first 4

 

Well, there you have it, then.

 

There are street legal 355 Challenge cars !
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Awesome! I get to see one quite often, obviously, but two in a row? Imagine the sound!

 

Hi All,

I'm about to buy a F355 challenge car with a title! My goal is to use it on the street with rare/occasional track run.

Going through the list of things, the car doesn't have:

-- headlights
-- horn
-- parking brake
-- muffler (it's straight pipes with tips)
-- 4 pt seatbelts

The car will be registered in a state where there are no inspections required but it will be driven primarily on the east coast (NH, MA, RI, NY, CT).

Has anybody had experience with a CH car and being stopped in any of the above states because the car features (enumerated above) do not comply with the local DMV regulations? I've studied some of the state laws and for example in MA headlights are required if vehicle is to be driven between 'one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise' so that may be ok...

Thoughts?

 

I know of a registered & street legal 430 Challenge car

 

I restored and owned a F355 Challenge road legal car from 2001-2004. than traded for the 360 CS
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Technically, it only needs to meet the requirements of the state in which it's registered, and using it in another state means that the secondary state should respect that. BUT, as you write, it'll be registered in a state where there are no inspections -- eh? There are states with NO inspections required? Note that there are a couple of different points to be made there too: (1) just because you can get away by sneaking an inspection sticker (cough cough, NH), doesn't mean that the state doesn't have an inspection requirement; (2) even if the state does NOT have an inspection, that doesn't mean the car doesn't have to comply with that state's regulations (e.g., headlights, etc.).

Let's say that you register the car in, oh, Montana or South Carolina. If you're bombing around the Northeast, a cop may well be required to respect that registration, and may not be able to give you grief about not having a horn, but you'll still get a going-over with a fine-toothed comb.

I'm in the process of selling my 1995 355 CH (with title!). I've driven it on the street a few times, mostly on the weekend to-and-from car shows. A good friend drove his 355 CH (street registered) all the way to Montreal for the Grand Prix (we installed his headlights in the parking garage in Montreal). So it *can* be done.

I wouldn't worry about the horn (though you might find yourself in need of one), or the seatbelts, or the parking brake, in terms of police bothering you. Not having working turn signals will be a big issue, and the headlights, as you noted. It's not that costly/expensive to reinstall. The straight/open Challenge exhaust sounds *AWESOME*, and you should be *OK*, as long as you're not an idiot with it.

Good luck, and keep us apprised!

vty,

--Dennis

 

I have a 95 CH. I have driven it many times on the street with no issues. I do live in Florida. A State with no inspections. I "had" lights and turn signals on the car.I don't anymore. I still drive it on the street. It also has straight pipes. It is loud. I have had no problems at all.

My best advice is to drive slow on the street and respect all the laws. You will be fine.
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Yes, actually the car will be registered in Montana -- looks like you can send Montana almost anything (a title, or a bill of sale) and they will send you back a title. Given the car is more than 10? years old I am sure they allow permanent registration so there's no yearly update to the sticker or things to worry about.

How do you guys attach a rear plate to the car? I was thinking of having one of those dealer pouches? with the transparent plastic window and having that hang from the back lid but not sure of it yet.

Once again -- the goal will be primarily to drive it on the street (very lightly, respecting laws, etc.) with occasional track use. In fact, I think the car is currently set up for aggressive track use (very low, etc.) and the first thing I am doing is getting a shop to raise the suspension a tad, change camber/etc. and balance it again.

 

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