Ultimate 355 Restoration

I got it all figured out now guys.

I am going to purchase a 355 F1 Spider (97-99 model years), have it shipped to my place, and have Ferrari of Houston do a major cosmetic restoration.

That includes repainting the body to TDF Blue (tour de france), redying ALL the interior leather to saddle (or couio for you car buffs) and to get that new leather smell again, replace all the tires with rubbers supplied by Pirelli (heck yeah), replace the exhaust with a Capristo exhaust, and install Xenon headlamps, and a superior after market stereo system and security system.

SO what do you think. Anything else I can do? Im not a fan of those horrendous-looking challenge grills or fender shields.

Great!

 

does the car come with a pillow case of weed too?

 

Trunk full of Coke?

 

Yeah. Save yourself the headache and just find one in good shape to begin with.

 

Have to agree. Have you received a quote for the above? Not to mention the money, a repainted car will never hold it's value.

Why not wait till the right car comes along?

 

sound like this man doesn't want to have the headache of searching for the exact car in great condition, and would rather salvage a failing F355 and restore it to its once glorious factory state.

I say if he has the financial ability to do so, he's doing the Ferrari world a favor by preserving another 355 for us aspiring Ferrari owners (Read: Me) and I have no problem purchasing it at a reduced rate because it was repainted!


For the Restoration:

Make sure the carpet isn't torn or "shedding." A sun-faded dash can look horrendous. You might have to replace some glass due to road grime and shizat. Other than that, congratulations! Don't forget to post pics before/during/after restoration!

 

You are going to have a very difficult time finding a '97 model year car with an F1 tranny. They came out in '98.

 

Before you start on this journey just to get an idea of where you are going Find a really good, I mean restoration quality (it's the only quality level you will be happy with) body/paint shop and get an estimate of how much to do a complete job with a color change. It ain't gonna be cheap. And I don't dye leather but I would think you would be ill advised to go from a dark color to a light color, so you will need to start with a car with a light color interior.

There are a lot of 355's out there, quite a few of them good. Even including the time it takes to find one, you could be driving and enjoying it long before your restoration would be done and it would be a good deal cheaper. And as has been stated a complete repaint will somewhat diminish the value, that goes even more for a fully redyed/colorchanged interior.

 

If you can please post how much it is going to cost to do this. I have always fancied the idea of painting a 355 G. Alloy (I think only 3 or 4 G alloy painted 355's are in the US).

If you do not want to post that information, please PM me.

 

The paint alone is going to cost him between 8 - 12k. The interior, assuming that he has to change the color, another 6k - 8k. You'd better make sure that you bought it right.

Art

 

Spend the money, do what you want.

For the others, you may want to read this first.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42976

 

Let's not turn this into another flame thread.

 

Thanks Aura, I feel so filthy for having responded to this thread.

 

Sounds like a great idea to me- I'd love to be able to spec a car like a 355 just as I want it


Other things I'd consider;

Do the manifolds too while you're at it, then it's one less thing to go wrong!

Carbon fibre interior bits/door entry plates always look nice too IMO.

Navigation system would be nice...

And drilled brake discs with silver or red painted calipers would set off the exterior very nicely!

I also dislike the feel and appearance of the airbag 355 wheel. If funds allowed and if technically feasible, I wondered about fitting a 360 or 550 wheel. The wheel is, after all, your main interface with the car and what you see when you are driving!

 

I've only seen one. Owned by our very own TTG.

 

I agree, two months ago i put my 355 spider manual up for sale to get a 355 F1 spider. My spider is a Rosso Barchetta colour and that was only on the 355s in 1995. No matter what other 355s F1s i looked at the colours just did not cut it compared to the lush of the Barchetta colour, so i took it of the market.
I would like to create a 1999 rosso Barchetta F1 spider.

 

Just know that if all the stars align, and you can find a mechanically sound example in the first place, you'll have a car worth 90-105K (depending on year) with 110-130K into it...if done right.

DL

ps. AKAIK, a repainted car is a story car in the eyes of alot of buyers.

 

My experience with a re-dyed interior was that it did not impart a new leather smell at all. It was an annoying sweetish smell.

 

Rosso Barchetta was available throughout the run of the 355. I have a '98 GTS in that color.

 

Are you sure?? I know that they used another colour very much the same but metalic. I have done searchs and was led to beleve that it was only a 95 colour on the 355 spider.
NB, yep just looked at your car pic and yes thats barchetta but it is a GTS, now i am confused. I have done searchs on this very site and read that the rosso barchetta was a 95 colour only.I wonder if thats the 95 spiders only? Now that sh*ts confusing.

 

I am absolutely positive. Martin at Cavallino Motors knows the car, you can consult with him if you like. I also came across '96 and '97 Berlinettas in that color. I was not looking for a Spider, so can't comment there.