Highlights
- Attractive Blu Swaters paint with tan leather
- Visceral F335, the last of the hand-built Ferraris
- Desirable 6 speed manual gearbox
- Driven less than 43,000 miles
- Comprehensive 2024 £21,000 mechanical overhaul
- Only 5 miles covered since cambelt change and full service
The Appeal
The F355 shares illustrious company. And yet, it still stands out. The last of the hand-built Ferraris, it bridges the gap between old and new eras and is one of the best-regarded of the ‘modern classic’ Maranello motors.
With sleek lines penned by Pininfarina, combined with Paulo Martinelli’s newly upgraded V8, it looks great. Naturally, it drives brilliantly too. Don’t just take our word for it: Evo magazine loves it.
This Spider combines the 3.5L V8 with the desirable 6spd manual box. Just 2,600 convertibles cars in this specification were built. The colour combination further dials up the appeal - in place of the traditional Rosso Corsa is the rare triple layer Blue Swater, also known as ‘Royal Ferrari Blue.’ Inside there is a lovely tan leather cabin.
Inside and out this is a very well kept car. It arrived in the UK in 2018 and has had just two keepers since. The very low mileage is supported by excellent service history. In 2024 alone nearly £21,000 has been invested in the mechanicals including full service, cambelt change and replacement clutch. It has only covered 5 miles since this work.
The vendor acquired the car intending to keep it and commissioned the service and overhaul. Due to overseas commitment, it is now for sale and that creates a great opportunity for the buyer. The car arrives on the scene with long MOT to February 2025 with no advisories. A collector-quality example of these thrilling cars.
History and Paperwork
- First registered in New York, USA in 1995
- Supplied by Ferrier New York
- Shipped directly to first owner’s vacation home California
- Imported into the UK in 2018
- Two registered keepers since arriving in UK
- Vendor acquired car and decided to commission full service and overhaul
- This is detailed below and was undertaken for limited personal use
- The car is now only for sale due to his overseas business commitments
- History file with some US invoices
- MoT in 2018 at 40,965 miles
- MoT in 2021 at 41,897 miles
- Current MoT valid until February 2025 with no advisories
- Cambelt changed at 40,073 miles
- Subsequently changed again in February 2024 as detailed below
- Vendor reports only 5 miles covered since this work
- £20,878 Bell Sports & Classic invoice dated 27th February 2024 for work listed below
- 42,649 miles showing on last MOT and now on 42,653 miles
- New dark blue hood
- Leather Owner’s Pack with manual and Service book
- V5c in only UK keeper’s name
Summary of work in February 2024:
- Cambelt replaced
- New water pump
- Wiring repairs
- Camshafts and timing reset
- New cam seals
- Cambelt tensioners
- Refit air intake pipes correctly
- Stripped and rebuilt handbrake mechanism
- Checked roof mechanism (note invoice)
- Trim repairs
- Overhaul front brake calipers
- Spark plugs replaced
- Rear upper wishbone bushes
- Oil pipe to oil tank replaced
- Left hand radiator overhauled
- Undertray fixing repairs
- Clutch release bearing
- Full clutch kit
You will see that only 5 miles have been driven since the car had a full service, overhaul and checks, new cam belt and new MOT. This mileage was driven by Bell Sports and Classic for testing. While the works were undertaken the owner had a career opportunity abroad and will not be living in the uk so reluctantly will be selling due to future lack of use.
The Condition
- Smart tan leather interior
- Clean tan carpets
- Well preserved condition
- The tan interior of the Ferrari has aged rather well
- Attractive Blu Swaters paintwork in great condition
- New blue roof with excellent fit and reported to operate manually
- Lights upgraded to UK specification
- Five-spoke alloy wheels
- Few signs of age or use across the car
This is a very well kept example of a 29 year old car. The Blue Swater paintwork is an unusual and rare alternative to the more common red and suits the F355’s style. Aside from a few stone chips there are few signs of use. Even the five spoke factory alloys are in good order with few if any signs of kerbing.
Inside the tan leather has only the very lightest signs of age, reserved to some minor but barely visible creasing to the driver’s seat. The dashboard and dials present very well and there is a high end Alpine CD. The blue roof was recently replaced and is in very good order.
The Mechanics
- 3,496cc V8 with 375bhp
- Desirable 6spd manual gearbox
- Well maintained car supporting the low mileage
- Reported to ‘drive beautifully’
- New cambelt at 40,073 miles and again in February 2024
- £20,878 of mechanical work in early 2024 detailed above
- This work included full service, clutch and cambelt
- Now showing 42,653 miles
- No mechanical or running gear advisories on current MOT
- No reported running or driving issues
The first keeper of this F355 bought it in Miami to use at their holiday home in California. It was shipped out there on purchase and spent its life in the sunny west coast climes before arriving here in 2018.
The car has been carefully maintained through its life. Highlights include a cambelt service 2,600 miles ago. It has been part of private collections since arriving in the UK so little used but properly maintained. In 2024, £20,878 was spent at specialists Bell Sport & Classic on a wide range of repairs, that are detailed above. This work included cambelt replacement, clutch kit and full service.
Opening the engine cover reveals a clean and dry bay, with no corrosion or drips. Looking underneath the Ferrari we can see further evidence of the low mileage and its previous life in a warm climate.
There is very little surface oxidation, and the chassis and floor pan are impressively clean and well preserved.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]