Highlights

Five-speed gated manual transmission
Advisory-free MOT until 23rd April 2025
UK-supplied example in right-hand drive
Rare and desirable original Blu Chiaro coachwork over Crema leather
Auto Italia magazine cover star
Original book pack, copious service history and accompanying invoices

The Appeal

As we all know, motor racing was Enzo Ferrari’s first love, and even after the great man’s death, Maranello would apply a great deal of what it had learned on the racetrack to its road cars. Unveiled in 1989, the 348 introduced Ferrari’s first transversely-mounted manual gearbox - a feature borrowed from its 312T F1 car. Styled by Pininfarina and endowed with the same prominent side strakes as its flat-12 Testarossa cousin, the new V8 Ferrari made quite the impression.

Such was its ambitious nature, early cars weren’t without their issues, but later 348s were well-sorted straight from the factory - and that’s exactly what we have here. This 1992 348 TS (Transversale Spider) was supplied new to the UK in right-hand drive, resplendent in the seductive Blu Chiaro and equipped with a glorious five-speed gated manual gearbox.

Complete with an advisory-free MOT, a substantial collection of service stamps, accompanying paperwork, its original book pack and tool kit, this Ferrari is a compelling proposition. It was once featured prominently in Auto Italia magazine and also subject to a Ferrari health check - both of which accompany the car.

The vendor assures us it’s “wonderful” to drive and ready to go.

The History and Paperwork

71,668 miles
MOT until 23rd April 2025
UK market car in right-hand drive
First registered in August 1992
Acquired by the vendor in March 2023
Original service book, manual and tool kit in its brown leather case and selection of service invoices and MOT test certificates dating back to 1995
Pre-Service inspection video from Ferrari here
Copy of Auto Italia magazine which features this car compared against a later 355

Very good service history, predominantly with Ferrari main dealers

We’re provided with the following service records:

29/03/93 - 724 miles - Maranello Sales
14/06/94 - 1,247 miles - Maranello Sales
30/11/94 - 1,300 miles - Maranello Sales
29/08/95 - 2,600 miles - HR Owen, London
17/06/97 - 13,595 miles - HR Owen, London
29/01/98 - 20,689 miles - Foskers Ferrari
17/06/98 - 24,995 miles - Foskers Ferrari
21/04/01 - no mileage recorded - Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars (cambelts)
13/08/02 - 35,459 miles - Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars (cambelts)
04/04/03 - 35,615 miles - Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars
19/01/04 - 38,226 miles - Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars
27/10/05 - 40,845 miles - Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars (cambelts)
25/08/06 - 47,543 miles - RSM Service
01/06/07 - 54,162 miles - RSM Service
30/07/10 - 57,743 miles - Terry Keys Motorsport Ferrari Specialist

Presumed period of storage:

15/07/16 - 58,410 miles - The Ferrari Centre (cambelts)
14/08/17 - 59, 092 miles - Migliore Ferrari Specialist
31/08/18 - 62,166 miles - Migliore Ferrari Specialist
28/02/20 - 66,352 miles - Dick Lovett Ferrari, Swindon (cambelts)
29/05/21 - 68,303 miles - Dick Lovett Ferrari, Swindon
08/04/22 - 70,631 miles - Dick Lovett Ferrari, Swindon
30/11/22 - 70,928 miles - Dick Lovett Ferrari, Swindon (cambelts)

We’re informed that this 348 TS’ most recent service was carried out in November 2022 at 70,928 miles by Dick Lovett Ferrari, Swindon. This included a major service, with an engine oil and filter change, the replacement of the cambelt, and a repair to the offside radiator. The total bill was £6,171.

Previously, the car was subject to a minor service in April 2021 at 68,303 miles, with an alternator rebuild. Before that, a major service was performed in March 2020 at 66,352 miles, including a major service with a cambelt change, refurbishment of the cam covers, a re-core of the nearside radiator, an air conditioning system refill, and the replacement of the brake pipes. Both these services were both were by performed at Dick Lovett Ferrari at a cost of £1,419.00 and £6,076.00, respectively.

The Condition

Blu Chiaro coachwork - previously refinished to a high standard
Crema interior - in very smart original condition
The targa roof panel and lower bodywork have been refinished in Blu Chiaro from the original black, as seen on the later 348GTB and GTS models
Refurbished five-spoke alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico tyres
The original cloth roof section also accompanies the car
Comes with an indoor car cover

This Ferrari continues to present exceedingly well for its age. Those ever-so ‘80s lines are as indulgent and exciting as ever, especially in this lesser-seen colour. How refreshing to see a Ferrari that isn’t red!

The paint presents very well overall, showing only light wear including touched-in stone chips on the front end, a few scuffs on the nearside of the rear bumper, some small bubbles behind the offside front wheel arch, large scratch on the rear left hand side bottom spoiler and light bubbling on the black nearside door mirror surround. Otherwise, we’re not advised of any other notable signs of age or wear. The alloy wheels look fantastic, having been refurbished in September 2022.

The Crema leather exhibits superficial wear in the usual areas, with light creasing to the driver’s seat bolsters, a few marks on the sill covers and some other slight age-commensurate wear elsewhere. As the photographs show, it’s still an exceedingly well-preserved, highly presented cabin that we would leave well alone. The rear window is delaminating slightly, but not adversely affecting the driver’s visibility. We understand the cabin electrics to be in good order and we note tall the controls, instrumentation and switchgear presents very nicely.

The Mechanics

3.4-litre quad-cam V8 producing around 316 horsepower
Five-speed ‘gated’ manual gearbox
Clutch replaced in 2021
Superbly presented engine bay
Ferrari health check video accompanies the car

While it may have been the ‘junior’ Ferrari with a V8 engine, the 348 was certainly no slouch. With 316 horsepower on tap from the firm’s excellent quad-cam naturally-aspirated unit, the 348 came with approximately 316 horsepower straight from the factory. We’re assured that this TS goes very well indeed, having benefitted from judicious service history, predominantly with Ferrari main dealers.

We’re informed that the car drives superbly, with no known faults or MOT advisories to note. As the above service history attests to, it’s been very well looked after and is ready to drive.

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