Let's find a way to replicate the 355-360 cf seats??

Life saver! Thanks a ton James. This is why I love Fchat .

 

@INTMD8

Been doing a deep dive into 550 carbon sport seats because I think its history is tied with the 355’s as the cars share DNA. I’ll explain more later .

Anyways, I stumbled upon your old thread asking about the “carbon” covers on the side of the seat, which you were missing. Were you able to source a piece??

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/550-sport-seats-were-they-ever-offered-in-anything-other-than-carbon-fiber.546923/


I believe I’m the only person in the world who can answer your question (from that thread) correctly . Those that responded made good attempts though.

The part you are referring to (64347200) #10 is
actually a “carbon-kevlar” piece, which is a mixture of carbon (black strands) and kevlar (yellow) strands. This was only offered in “twill” weave. I believe carbon sport seats first appeared on the 550 in 98 and the first runs were just like ones on the 355 … made with carbon-kevlar … not pure carbon (all black).


This is why this part number also shows up on the 355 seat on Eurospares’ site … and actually the only option for 355s.

https://www.eurospares.co.uk/search?partNumber=64347200

If you want plain weave “carbon” covers, which came in later run 355 seats, one will need to look at 550 carbon seat part numbers for replacements as the 355 section won’t reveal them. Eurospares’ site indicates “carbon” in the description as a way to differentiate from “carbon-kevlar.” Those side covers were never offered in plastic or upholstered.

*The majority of 550 sports seats were made in plain weave carbon.

*The majority of 355 sport seats were made in twill weave carbon-kevlar.

Figured I cleared this up once and for all because if I don’t, know one will . Every now and then I do see cracked or missing side covers. Cracked because people over-tighten screws, damaged from shipping (if bought seats from someone), or just accidentally kicked. If replacements need to be ordered, hopefully this helps people order the correct ones.


Will post some rare samples of 550 sport seats in twill weave carbon-kevlar (very early batch).



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550 seats in plain weave carbon with cracked side covers. As mentioned, an odd but common enough occurrence that I do notice and I’ve seen hundreds of these by now .
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Here’s proof covers are carbon-kevlar (or carbon w/ different part no) and not the assumption they are plastic or upholstered.

https://www.eurospares.co.uk/search?partNumber=64347400


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So the later models of carbon seats that I have + you have is carbon-kevlar? Carbon seats is so nice

 

You are uncovering great info and pics! And yes, I was able to source the missing cover from eurospares (from 550 parts list like you mentioned) and thankfully it was a match.

 

Our late model 355 sport seats are “carbon,” not “carbon-kevlar.” So if you need replacement covers, you need to look for part numbers in the 550 section (550 sport seats)….at least as shown on Eurospares. $300 usd/piece. If you order from the 355 sport seats part list, you’ll end up with “carbon-kevlar” pieces because it doesn’t list “carbon” pieces.

On Eurospares or any other site, “carbon-kevlar” is not in the description at all. So unless pics are provided, it can be confusing. Which is why the assumption in the other thread was plastic or upholstered etc… However, “carbon” ones are indicated in the description. So those looking in the 550 section might presume there is an option to buy “carbon” or non-carbon, but it’s really just “carbon” (in description) or “carbon-kevlar” (not in description).

 

4-point harnesses options and ideas:

Anyone plan on running them? Anyone find period correct Ferrari harnesses?


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Ultra rare 550 World Speed Record Edition

https://www.amarisupercars.com/detail?vid=105880


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For 355 this is the only option for period correct Sabelt or OMP

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Interesting. Slightly different from challenge spec.



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NOS carbon-kevlar side covers. Pics sent to me from Eurospares. If you have covers cracked, I'd recommend getting what they have ASAP as once these are gone, you're done. This carbon-kevlar spec is very particular and I doubt anyone will find an exact matching fabric.


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Yeah other car I know like this from factory see image
also I think since Challenge cars have the OMP seats they need have the mounting points lower

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Since this car has the factory roll bar, it appears the harness hoops in the rear are mounted closer together. Hard to tell if it was actually done like that from the factory or done by owner. From what I've read so far, it doesn't seem like the 355 (non-challenge) was offered with a 4 point harness option.

 

Here's some cool info from of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personal Customization Programme:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/schumacher-pininfarina-and-paul-cayard-editions.529145/#post-144842963

Ferrari Carrozzeria Scaglietti Customization Brochure

Absolutely fantastic brochure detailing the personalization options for the following special Ferrari editions:

- Ferrari 550 Maranello "Michael Schumacher" edition
- Ferrari 456 GTA "Sergio Pininfarina" edition
- Ferrari F355 "Paul Cayard" edition


October 13, 1997 06:01 CET

FRANKFURT - Ferrari has launched a customizing program named after its car-body subsidiary, Carrozzeria Scaglietti. The first of three Ferraris already customized by Carrozzeria Scaglietti was shown at the Frankfurt auto show.

The program allows buyers to customize any car in the Ferrari range.

Customers will not be able to order special engines or transmissions, for homologation and emissions reasons. However, they will be able to order drilled disk brakes, roll-bar cage, racing seats and racing seat belts and personalized colors for the interior. The body can only be painted in standard Ferrari colors.

At Frankfurt Ferrari showed a metallic blue 456 GTA with chromed wheels and light magnolia leather interior.

It was built for Sergio Pininfarina. The personalization cost $12,000.

Ferraris have also been customized for race driver Michael Schumacher and Paul Cayard, the America's Cup skipper. Schumacher's red F550 Maranello has racing seats and four-point safety belts, a roll-bar and Fiorano racing suspension settings.

His customization cost $20,000.

Cayard's F355 GTS has a number of carbon fiber inserts in the upholstery, carbon fiber targa roof and racing seats in black and yellow leather. The personalization cost $15,000.

Each Ferrari dealer will have a catalog of the program. But customers will be able to visit Carrozzeria Scaglietti's workshop in Modena, Italy, to discuss their requests.



The “tailor-made” programme by Carrozzeria Scaglietti The Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation programme was developed by Ferrari in order to offer its customers a chance to create a car to suit their own individual tastes and needs.

The Scaglietti kit system is a way of making each car that comes off the Maranello lines truly unique. The items can be applied to any car in the current Ferrari range (the F355, the F550 Maranello, the 456 GT/GTA) to give each one the look and the functional characteristics desired by the individual owner. All these items meet standard homologation requirements and are of traditional “Carrozzeria Scaglietti” quality.

The series of options created were designed to offer the Ferrari owner various ways of customising his car’s performance for racing purposes (drilled brake discs homologated for the F355, special ride set-ups for the F355 and 550 Maranello, 4-point seat-belts, homologated for road use, racing seats) or its looks (colour sampler for the bodywork, coloured brake calipers, carbon cabin trim, removable carbon roof, Challenge type rear grille for the F355, various upholstery and trim options) or indeed its dedicated equipment (luggage made to measure for each of the models, a golf bag for the rear bench of the 550 Maranello, a pesonalised car phone). There is even a special car-care line (a series of products designed to help maintain a Ferrari ).

From early October every Ferrari dealer and importer will be able to present the Carrozzeria Scaglietti programme to customers. Every customer request be analysed for technical feasibility as well as compliance with Ferrari quality standards.

Ferrari owners will even have access to a special ” Carrozzeria Scaglietti “Workshop at Maranello that will be equipped to carry out their personalisation requests. Staff will also be on hand to show off all the options available and assess each and every personal request. The Ferrari stand at the Frankfurt Show will display the first three personalised Ferraris created for three celebrity owners: Sergio Pininfarina’s 456 GTA, Michael Schumacher’s 550 Maranello and Paul Cayard’s F355 GTS.

 

In short. Introduction in late 1997 of new optional goodies. Scaglietti options start to appear on cars in 1998.

This goes back to my theory regarding new versions of the carbon seats being introduced in 1998. Only in Narrow and Large sizes. Standard sizing is 1995-1997 355's. The 550 only has TWO sizes. Narrow and Large. I'm willing to bet the 355 and 550 in 98+ cars uses the exact same carbon buckets. Both use the same narrow version and both use the same large version although there are upholstery/design differences between the 355 and 550 seats. However, most 355's were more likely optioned with Narrow seats and the 550's were more likely optioned with Large seats. I have yet to see a Narrow seat in a 550, but I'm sure I'll find one as time passes .

Recap:

ONE standard size for 355's between 95-97. TWO size options in 98-99 (Narrow or Large). Total of 3 sizes for the span of 355 production.

TWO size options for 550's (Narrow or Large). No "standard" size in existence. Here's proof.

https://www.allferrariparts.com/tbl11528.html

Both 355 and 550's are upholstered in Connolly. Ferrari moved onto Poltrona Frau with the 575.

 

4 Harness option was only available to the 550, not 355. It appears that harness has a pad with Ferrari logo, while the ones on the WSR version have a logo on the harness itself.

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3 things for the 355 pop out to me from the brochure.

1. Factory roll bar base in the brochure in not completely hidden under the carpet.

2. Gold calipers was actually a factory option! Don't believe I've come across one. I'm interested to see how it looks... either on the 550 or 355. Outside of Brembo Race Calipers, you never seed gold calipers on a Ferrari period. Just another cool feature our 355's have new Ferraris don't.

3. "Personal Dedication Plate in Silver." I've seen these blank on the dash on 1 or 2 355's and I've always felt it was the oddest thing. You usually see them reserved for Serie Fioranos with a number ... Ex. "23/100" ..... but a blank plate is ODD. It doesn't seem that plate can be bought either. So it appears it was an option, but owners simply forgot to put something on it or didn't know what to write in, hence blank. Perhaps it's there to put the owner's name or the owner's name for the car.

 

Blank Personal Dedication Plate on non-Serie Fiorano car. You learn something new everyday with these cars .

https://speedartmotorsports.com/collection/1998-ferrari-f355-spider/


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Factory-optioned Gold Caliper.


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Thanks Ken. It took me finding this thread to know what you meant on the car I sent you

 

In relation to the Gold Calipers, there was one 1998 F355 GTS in Nero ordered with carbon buckets, challenge grill and gold calipers from factory in Australia. So they do exist.

 

Funny how some cars got the puncture kit style toolbag and others got the shorter ones (like shown in these images).

When I got mine (tall type), it was pretty busted up. Took me over a year to track one down that was worth buying and it cost me a small fortune.

Now a set of matched luggage is next on the list.

 

So... a manual 550 with 18k mi with tan carbon sport seats (Large) just sold for $250k by a dealer who listed a similar car ... another manual 550 with 17k mi and standard tan interior , which is still for up sale asking $250k (both cars listed simultaneously) . No brainer which one sold first . Skip claims a manual 550 is $180k max. So the question is ... did the sport seats increase the car $70k in valuation?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165195699165?mkcid=16&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&campid=5336838664&toolid=10001&customid=kwwll11tys000k3x00004&nma=true&si=8kAse87tlaWkoqa6Hm6D7Kybaj0%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284523951521?hash=item423ef2f5a1:g:K3wAAOSwMtVhEr-q&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5336838664&toolid=10001&customid=kwwli0xefn000k3x00004