1995 Ferrari F355

The design of the Ferrari 348 was modified by the famous Italian design studio, Pininfarina resulting in the Ferrari F355. The Ferrari F355 was produced from 1995 through the close of the century, with nearly 2700 examples created, making it one of the most popular Ferraris of all time. When introduced, it was available in fixed-head Berlinetta and was later followed by a Targa and Spyder variant.

Mechanical Specification
The F355 was a 348 with design modifications and engine enhancements that included five valves per cylinder. With an improved DOHC engine, the F355 produced 80 more horsepower than its predecessor. The 380-horsepower engine drove the nearly 3000-pound vehicle from zero-to-sixty mph in just 4.6 seconds. Top speed was accomplished at just over 180 mph.

The 90-degree V8 engine had an increase in stroke by 2 mm over the 348's engine, reaching 77 mm. The connecting rods were forged in Ti6-Al-4V titanium alloy, the compression ratio was 11:1, and a Bosch Motronic 2.7 engine control unit was used through 1995 when it was changed to an M5.2 unit in 1996. The longitudinally mounted engine, designed by Paolo Martinelli, used a dry sump oiling system. A coolant heat-exchanger warmed the gearbox oil upon startup. The cable-operated actuation system that was used on the 348 was replaced by a rod-driven system on the F355 for more precise gear shifts.

In 1988, the vehicle became similar to F1-styled vehicles with the introduction of paddle shifters located on the steering wheel that allowed the driver to easily shift from gear to gear. Performance was further upgraded from its 348 counterpart with an improved suspension and chassis. The suspension was adjustable by the driver to accommodate all types of driving conditions. Ventilated Brembo disc brakes provided excellent stopping power. The body was created from steel and aluminum, which added rigidity while remaining lightweight.

The Ferrari F355 rested on a 96.5-inch wheelbase, had an overall length of 167.3 inches, stood 46.1 inches tall, and was 75 inches wide. It used a steel monocoque structure with a tubular steel rear sub-frame. The front tires measured 225/40ZR 18, while the rear used 265/40 ZR 18, both wrapped with Pirelli tires. Power-assisted steering was standard, but could be replaced with a manual steering rack setup.

Exterior Styling
The elegant shape penned by Maurizio Corbi at Pininfarina was perfected with over 1,300 hours of wind tunnel analysis and testing. It was the last in the series of mid-engine Ferrari models with the Flying Buttress rear window, a nolder profile on the upper portion of the tail and a fairing on the underbody that helped generate downforce.

Interior
The interior upholstery of the Ferrari F355 was done in Connolly leather.

Body Styles and Production
A total of 4,871 road-going Berlinetta examples were built with 3,829 fitted with the six-speed manual transmission. The remaining 1,042 examples were given the F1 transmissions. Introduced in May 1994, the F355 Berlinetta was initially offered solely with the six-speed manual. In 1997, the F1-style gearbox management system derived from Formula 1 made its debut, guaranteeing faster gear changes.

The Spider variant debuted in 1995 and marked the first time a Ferrari automobile had an automated manual soft-top that was powered electronically. A total of 3,717 examples were built, with 2,664 fitted with the 6-speed manual and 1,053 with the F1 transmission.

The GTS body style was also introduced in 1995 and was based on the Berlinetta but with a removable 'targa-style' hardtop roof, which could be stored behind the seats. 2,577 GTS models were produced, with 2,048 receiving the 6-speed manual transmission and 529 with the F1 transmission.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2005