355 Finally...F40 Seats in my F355 GTB

I'm not going to get into the depth of the story but I finally got my car back a few weeks ago after 9 months at the shop. I took my car in last August to have a few things done including installing FHP springs, upgraded rear forks, steering wheel extension, Capristo bypass valve and my custom F40 seats. I had just finished a track day a few months before dropping the car off and after it went up on the lift at the shop it was recommended I have the engine out service done (found oil leaking). I had just bought the car 5 months earlier and thought I had another year or so before an engine out but figured it made sense to get everything done at once and get the car back in top form. Tons of delays for tons of reasons, but the car is back.

I had researched seats for the car for several months back in Feb of 2024 and concluded that F40 seats were the way to go for an OEM seat whose profile fits the F355 properly. @ShineKen helped me source a trimmer in the UK who could both help me source the seats and bring my design to life. I ended up hiring Gareth Judd (Judd's Coach Trimming) for the job. Gareth was an absolute pleasure to work with and went above and beyond trimming for this process. Between the hundreds of messages re design, the sourcing of authentic F40 seats via Ferrari Classiche, the sourcing of the proper Connolly leather, the shipping/freight/packaging/customs, truly a one stop shop. The entire process took about 3-4 months. I was anxious as I had not seen anyone trim leather on the F40 carbon buckets, but the gamble paid off. I went with beige Connolly (very lucky to get period correct hides via Gareth's relationships with Connolly) and beige alcantara on the inserts. We added cavallinos to the headrests and french style stitching. Not only did the seats come out beautifully but they fit the ethos of the car to perfection. OEM+ was the goal. OEM+ was achieved.

 

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Thanks very much. I was originally going the route of reproduction seats but decided to go for the real deal. I wanted that authentic yellow/green kevlar carbon look. It really adds to the overall aesthetic

 

It was 9 months between sitting in the factory seats and sitting in the F40 seats. The positioning feels similar but maybe an inch or so lower in the car. You really do feel like you're sitting on the floor which I love and is my desired sitting position...especially in a car that is already small in the cabin. Feels very race car

It is a 348 wheel which is what came with the car when I purchased it last year and I had the wheel retrimmed in alcantara. I love the wheel but ultimately want a 355 pre airbag wheel in full leather. I haven't been on FerrariChat in almost 6 months before yesterday because it made the wait for my car more difficult. But before I started my hiatus I recall someone found a trimmer in Europe that was making reproduction preairbag 355 wheels. Does anyone have an update on that? I'd very interested in adding one.

I should have mentioned that I did not end up installing the steering wheel extension I bought as it was too long and looked odd. I am still on the hunt for a proper sized extension but may hold off until I get the wheel that I want.

Yes it was, but separately and before the seats. I was a big alcantara steering wheel guy then I took delivery of my 911 S/T with a leather wheel and sort of fell back in love with leather. I now want a 355 pre airbag wheel

It looks great in both!