Identify a 355 Challenge by VIN / serial# ? | FerrariChat
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Identify a 355 Challenge by VIN / serial# ?

Discussion in '348/355' started by finnerty, May 13, 2010.

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  1. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #1 finnerty, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    Is there a record of which 355's were factory built challenge cars based upon VIN or serial #?

    A friend brought over his newly acquired 1999 355 GTB, and it appears to be a bit of a hybrid. I can't tell whether it started life as a challenge car and was later converted back to street specs or if someone just added some challenge elements to a street version.

    The interior is completely street, but the car has some (but not all) of the challenge elements --- lowered suspension height, challenge grill, very loud exhaust (but with cats & bypass valve), and here's the weird one --- it has a catch reservoir for the gearbox oil, but not the other 2 (P/S fluid & brake / clutch fluid).

    FWIW, the car is also a 6-speed (not an F1).

    I know there are several other elements that constitute the full challenge package, but I haven't looked deep enough to see what others this car may also have installed.

    This was one of those "blind purchases" so no other info about the car is known ---- hey, I wasn't the one who bought the damn thing.............:)
     
  2. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #2 finnerty, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    Also, if someone does have a "true" factory 1999 challenge 355, would you be kind enough to post a few pics of your engine bay for us, please --- so that we can make a comparison?
     
  3. ferrari 512 tr

    ferrari 512 tr F1 Rookie

    Nov 16, 2008
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    #3 ferrari 512 tr, May 13, 2010
    very good thread david
    lots of cars claiming to be challenge cars when they arent
     
  4. rydermike

    rydermike Formula Junior

    Mar 27, 2010
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    Mike Donohue
    #4 rydermike, May 13, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 285ferrari, May 13, 2010
    What's the VIN?
     
  6. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
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    Vince V
    #6 vvassallo, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    I always thought that a Challenge 355 (not the 348, however) is not a street car and has no 16 digit VIN. It does have a VIN, just not one that can be used to legally register the car for the street. At least in CA. ;)

    Let me see if I can pull some pix...

    Here are some sample VIN's
    ZFFPR41B000107993
    ZFFPR41B000104646

    I think the issue is the "B000" in the VIN that signifies this car is a track model, at least in the US. Every 355 Challenge I have seen advertised lists it for off road use, at least in this commie state.
     
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    #7 Rifledriver, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    Ch had no bypass valve. It did not even have a hole in the heat shield for a bypass valve.


    What kind of brakes and wheels did it have?

    Is the A/C cold? No A/C in a Ch car.


    Sorry to say but they are very different cars. If it really was a Ch it would be pretty obvious.
     
  8. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
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    #8 finnerty, May 13, 2010
    Understood.

    It certainly appears to be a street car that has had some challenge items (springs, rear grille) added as popular performance / looks mods.

    What baffles me though is why someone would add the catch reservoir for the gear box -- seems pointless unless the car was tracked often -- even still... seems pointless ? Although, it is leaking gear box oil excessively so, maybe some knucklehead thought it would be an easy way to keep it topped off --- scary as you wouldn't be able to gauge the proper fill level...

    I'll be seeing the car again this weekend, and with the owner's permission, I'll post some pics and the VIN.
     
  9. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 285ferrari, May 13, 2010
    VIN is 17 characters total - - - - No, the "B" signifies it as a Euro model...."A"- US, "C" - RHD UK, "D" - Australia, etc.....

    The US VIN's are different than most of the other markets. We use check digits, yr digits, etc within the VIN
     
  10. Llenroc

    Llenroc F1 Veteran
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    #10 Llenroc, May 13, 2010
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
    As Brian said it is fairly obvious to tell a factory CH from some hybrid. I own a '97 factory car and there is no VIN # to tell you that it is a CH but there are many pieces on the cars that are different from the road car version. The one that would be hard to duplicate are the seals on the ECUs, suspension control unit and the cam covers. I can also think of at least 25 parts on the cars that are unique to CH. The serial numbers range from 107... thru 111... and only '97 and '98 cars. Hope that helps
     

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