Vehicle Description
In the 1980s, Ferrari came to rely on the mid-engine V8-powered 308
GTB and GTS as its bread and butter. This, the spiritual successors
to the brilliant 246 Dino, soon became the best-selling model in
the company's history and did enormous good for the firm's bottom
line. As the 308 reached a decade in production, it evolved into
the 328, which was a brilliant car but it was beginning to show its
age. Ferrari wisely continued with the theme of a compact V8
mounted amidships for its subsequent "entry level" models.
Following the 328 was the 348, then the F355 which represented a
big leap forward in terms of quality, development and performance.
Today, the F355 is seen as a bridge of sorts between the old-world
Ferrari and the new, modern Ferrari. It was adored by fans and
journalists alike, but it was not without its flaws, so the formula
was even further refined for the next evolution of the theme: The
360 Modena. With the 360, Ferrari fully entered the modern age and
made massive leaps forward in terms of reliability and build
quality. Thanks to a partnership with Alcoa, aluminum comprised
both the body and chassis, while the Tipo F131 V8 was a glorious,
high-revving masterpiece in alloy. That V8, which produced 400
horsepower at a screaming 8500 rpm was developed with a great deal
of trickle-down Formula 1 technology. And while the output wasn't
that much higher than the outgoing F355, it was much more
tractable, reliable, and in combination with the drastically
lighter chassis, imparted the 360 Modena with breathtaking
performance. Throughout production, the 360 could be had with a
traditional gated six-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed
electro-hydraulic paddle-shift gearbox developed from Formula 1
technology. Thanks to that lightweight and rigid aluminum
construction, the 360 Modena was a genuine supercar capable of
190mph performance, with handling and precision to match. Another
benefit of the inherent rigidity of the platform is that is lent
itself well to lopping the roof off to create the 360 Spider.
Replacing the metal roof with a soft top took little additional
work for engineers, and the results looked just as gorgeous as the
berlinetta. The soft top itself is a brilliant piece of
engineering, disappearing beneath a body-colored hard boot in the
span of a 20-second mechanical symphony. With the top folded,
occupants can more easily hear the wail of that fabulous V8 and
feel the full effect of the magnificent performance and handling.
Comfortable, remarkably fast, yet docile and easy to drive at city
speeds, the 360 (in Spider or Berlinetta form alike) is a totally
usable, approachable modern Ferrari that provides a deeply
satisfying experience at a fraction of the cost of its newer
siblings. Our featured 2003 360 Spider is a beautiful example of
Ferrari's first truly modern sports car. This is a car that is
well-known to us, and it comes with a comprehensive service history
and is fully up-to-date and ready to be enjoyed. This 22k miles
example is a highly desirable six-speed manual spider finished in
beautiful Grigio Titanio over a rare and attractive light-gray
interior featuring Daytona-style seats with black inserts and
silver stitching. The bodywork is straight, very clean and in
excellent condition. Paint and panel gaps are consistent and in
very good order. A few minor blemishes affirm the mileage, but it
remains a very attractive and thoroughly usable example that has
been carefully and attentively looked-after. The interior is
beautiful, showing excellent leather trim, no "sticky" plastic on
the switchgear, and everything functions as it should including the
air conditioning and stereo. The clutch, gearbox and engine are
spot on and fully serviced. It has recently been fitted with fresh
tires on excellent original wheels, so it truly is a turn-key
example that needs nothing. With the robust nature of the Ferrari
market, this 360 represents an excellent value. These are truly
good cars that will reward careful maintenance with reliability and
a thrilling drive. This great example needs little more than a
twist of the key to enjoy, and comes in a very desirable
specification meaning it is not likely to drastically depreciate in
the near future. The sale includes books, tools, recent service
records and spare keys.