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2002 Ferrari 360 GT Berlinetta news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Chassis Num: 2008 |
The Evolution of The 360GT
From the 1980s forward, Ferrari devoted all its competitive efforts to Formula One. Rapidly developing technology and intense competition dictated that even wîth Fiat money behind Ferrari, the proliferation of competition designs in sports cars, prototypes and grand prix couldn't be sustained. Fiat's interest in the production side of Ferrari also limited the exchange of technical, material and production support which had characterized Ferrari's organization in an earlier, and decidedly simpler, era.It was an era of specialization that, even in sports car prototypes, saw major manufacturers like Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Jaguar and even Porsche develop short-term projects wîth massive resources behind them to conquer a single championship (or even a single race, i.e., LeMans) and then withdraw to reap the commercial benefits from their racing successes.
Rules and series, too, were Balkanized by national and regional promoters so cars that were developed and configured to specific promoters' ideas of commercially viable events and series had to be significantly altered to compete in other series.
Ferrari's decision made commercial sense, but that mattered little to committed owners who recalled the joy, pride and excitement of racing Ferraris. They cajoled, wheedled and importuned Ferrari to develop competitive sports cars and prototypes. They even offered to pay large (some might say 'huge') sums to guarantee the financial viability of a sports car racing program. And gradually Ferrari saw the value, not only in enhancing its image but also in generating revenue. A series of outsourced and half-heartedly backed Ferrari sports cars, the 512 BB/LM, showed there was potential, but it wasn't until the F40's success was followed by the creation of the Ferrari Challenge, a factory-backed racing series using specially prepared production based F355 Berlinettas that included appearances as support races at major professional races and a year-end championship runoff for regional and national championships.
The Challenge was a success and continued wîth the introduction of the 360. Wisely, Ferrari created a new class for the F355 Challenge cars, prolonging both their owners' investments and offering an affordable entry to aspiring competitors.
The 360 GT BerlinettaFerrari racers are nothing if not enthusiastic. Maybe it's a gene shared wîth Enzo Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. When offered a competitive Ferrari racer, they immediately think of making it faster and taking on even greater challenges. So it was wîth the Ferrari 360 Challenge cars. Based on the already technically advanced 360 Modena, the 360 Challenge was quick out of the box. Made some 240 pounds lighter through the increased use of high-strength composites and titanium as well as elimination of nonessential comfort and convenience features, it had specially developed aerodynamics for 50% greater downforce wîth no increase in drag.
The 3,585 cc V-8 engines were treated to similar refinement, ultimately increasing power to 425 bhp at 8,500 rpm. All 360 Challenges used Ferrari's paddle-shift F1 6-speed gearbox capable of clutchless gearshifts in 150 milliseconds. Carbon ceramic brake discs wîth 6-piston calipers provided retardation to match the 360 Challenge's speed potential. Ferrari's publicity describes the 360 Challenge as created for 'individuals who yearn for an even more pure sporting experience.'
Event that wasn't enough for some Ferrari owners. A few believed that 'some is good, but more is better.' For those few, Ferrari again turned to its Padu service center, Michelotto, to create a Ferrari 360-based race car that would be competitive in international FIA GT and North American Grand-Am series. There was no 'stradale' in Michelotto's race car. It was dedicated competition car that took the Challenge theme to the next level. Competing in the FIA N-GT category in Europe, the Ferrari 360 GT capture the 2001 FIA GT Championship. In North America, Ferrari of Washington captured the Grand-Am GT Championship in both 2002 and 2003 wîth a team driving 360 GT's.
This CarThe car shown here is Ferrari of Washington's 2002 Grand-Am GT Championship-winning 360 GT, chassis number 2008. Driven by Cort Wagner and Bill Auberlen, it captured five GT victories in a row, one of which, at Mount Tremblant, included a second-place overall finish. Its record continued throughout the first half of the 2003 season driven by Wagner and Brent Martini wîth GT wins at Miami, Phoenix and the Paul Revere 250 at Daytona while again capturing two second place overall finishes among the Daytona Prototypes at Miami and Phoenix.
Prepared and maintained by one of the best teams in the business and competing against the finest factory-supported teams and drivers, Ferrari of Washington's Ferrari 360 GT conclusively demonstrated that Ferrari's 360 had the performance and reliability to compete wîth the best production-based GT cars in the world. Its record stands out even among the greatest sports-racers and competition GTs in Ferrari's remarkable history.
Ferrari of Washington completely rebuilt s/n 2008 after the 2003 season including a fresh engine (a replacement 360 GT engine from Michelotto today costs $63,000) and gearbox. It has fewer than ten hours on track time since its rebuild and has been freshly repainted and correctly rendered in its as-raced livery. The only deviation from as-raced condition is the addition of a drink bottle and tube and the removal of 180 pounds of ballast required by Grand-Am to handicap its performance during the 2003 season. Its engine retains the Grand-Am spec intake air restrictors (leaving latitude for the truly power-obsessed to find new thrills.)
Ferrari 360 GT s/n 2008 is one of the most important, rare and valuable Ferraris of the mid-engine era, a national championship-winning Ferrari GT.Source - Gooding & Company
The introduction of the Ferrari 360 was a very bold and exciting introduction for the Ferrari marque. The 360 was a completely new vehicle featuring a new exterior design created in Pininfarina's wind tunnel. It served as a replacement for the highly successful, both in sales and in racing, F355 model. The F355 model had been derived from the 348 Model, featuring a new engine design among various other improvements.
The 360 Ferrari Modena used a lightweight aluminum chassis which improved structural rigidity by more than 40% and decreased weight by 28%. A very impressive result considering its dimensions increased by 10% over its predecessor. The chassis was suspended in place by an independent suspension with adjustable double wishbones. Mounted mid-ship was the F355's V8 engine capable of producing 400 horsepower.
The 360 Modena was available in either coupe or Spider convertible configuration. The 350 Modena was quickly joined by a Challenge model used to compete in the Ferrari Challenge Championship. When the end of the production run was in sight, a Challenge Stradale version was launched. This version had a more powerful engine, new body kit and carbon fiber disc brakes.
The Ferrari 360 GT was created in conjunction with Ferrari tuner Michelotto. The result was a vehicle that was around 200 pounds lighter than the 360 Challenge. Improvements to the vehicle included suspension upgrades, larger Brembo brakes, and a large rear wing. The 3.6-liter V8 engine was tuned, resulting in an impressive 430 horsepower. The engine was mated to the six-speed sequential gearbox. In racing it did rather well, scoring multiple class wins in the FIA's N-GT class in both 2002 and 2003. The highlight of its racing career was in 2003 at the 24 Hours of Daytona when it scored a second overall victory, proving its endurance and speed. Stiff competition from Porsche's 911 prevented the 360 GT from scoring a class victory in the 24 Hours of LeMans.
The first seventeen GT racers were built in 2001 and 2002 using modified Challenge cars. A second series of twenty units were created from the ground-up in 2002 and 2003.
The next iteration of the 360 tuned by Michelotto was the 360 GTC introduced in 2004. It weighed 2425 pounds, similar to the Ferrari 360 GT and the minimum dictated by class rules. It had the bodywork of the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale with a new, larger rear-mounted wing. It was equipped with six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston units in the rear. The 3.6-liter engine now produced 445 horsepower at 8,750 RPM.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2008
The 360 Ferrari Modena used a lightweight aluminum chassis which improved structural rigidity by more than 40% and decreased weight by 28%. A very impressive result considering its dimensions increased by 10% over its predecessor. The chassis was suspended in place by an independent suspension with adjustable double wishbones. Mounted mid-ship was the F355's V8 engine capable of producing 400 horsepower.
The 360 Modena was available in either coupe or Spider convertible configuration. The 350 Modena was quickly joined by a Challenge model used to compete in the Ferrari Challenge Championship. When the end of the production run was in sight, a Challenge Stradale version was launched. This version had a more powerful engine, new body kit and carbon fiber disc brakes.
The Ferrari 360 GT was created in conjunction with Ferrari tuner Michelotto. The result was a vehicle that was around 200 pounds lighter than the 360 Challenge. Improvements to the vehicle included suspension upgrades, larger Brembo brakes, and a large rear wing. The 3.6-liter V8 engine was tuned, resulting in an impressive 430 horsepower. The engine was mated to the six-speed sequential gearbox. In racing it did rather well, scoring multiple class wins in the FIA's N-GT class in both 2002 and 2003. The highlight of its racing career was in 2003 at the 24 Hours of Daytona when it scored a second overall victory, proving its endurance and speed. Stiff competition from Porsche's 911 prevented the 360 GT from scoring a class victory in the 24 Hours of LeMans.
The first seventeen GT racers were built in 2001 and 2002 using modified Challenge cars. A second series of twenty units were created from the ground-up in 2002 and 2003.
The next iteration of the 360 tuned by Michelotto was the 360 GTC introduced in 2004. It weighed 2425 pounds, similar to the Ferrari 360 GT and the minimum dictated by class rules. It had the bodywork of the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale with a new, larger rear-mounted wing. It was equipped with six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston units in the rear. The 3.6-liter engine now produced 445 horsepower at 8,750 RPM.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2008
Ferrari announces that it is putting into production the 360 GT, aimed at racing customers.
The car is based on the 360 Modena Challenge car, of which 300 have been built to date. It will be available in two versions: one conforming to the FIA regulations for Group N-GT and another complying wîth rules for the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest/Le Mans.) It will be produced in limited numbers. The 360 GT will be fitted wîth a 3586 cc V8 engine, capable of putting out around 430 horsepower.
The 360 GT thus joins the range, alongside the 360 Modena Challenge, which has been so successful over the past few years and which continues in production for those wishing to compete in the Ferrari challenge. In 2002, around 180 owners will take part in this series on race tracks around the globe. A model based on the Challenge car won the 2001 FIA N-GT Championship.
The 360 GT, developped by the Corse Clienti department, will be sold through the Ferrari dealer network.Source - Ferrari
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe car is based on the 360 Modena Challenge car, of which 300 have been built to date. It will be available in two versions: one conforming to the FIA regulations for Group N-GT and another complying wîth rules for the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest/Le Mans.) It will be produced in limited numbers. The 360 GT will be fitted wîth a 3586 cc V8 engine, capable of putting out around 430 horsepower.
The 360 GT thus joins the range, alongside the 360 Modena Challenge, which has been so successful over the past few years and which continues in production for those wishing to compete in the Ferrari challenge. In 2002, around 180 owners will take part in this series on race tracks around the globe. A model based on the Challenge car won the 2001 FIA N-GT Championship.
The 360 GT, developped by the Corse Clienti department, will be sold through the Ferrari dealer network.Source - Ferrari
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 2002
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