1997 Ferrari F355 Spider equipped with the highly desirable 6-speed manual gearbox.

The current owner acquired the car in 2022 and at that time the odometer read 39,375 km.

The car has its original books, including a fully stamped service book. Lance Dixon Ferrari maintained the car from new through until 2003. Cavalli Motorsport then serviced the car until 2016. In 2019 the car was serviced by Prestige City Garage and the last service was completed by Sports & Classic Car Services in July 2022. This was a cam belt service and at that time the odometer read 39,381 km.

Today the odometer reads 40,903 km.

This F355 was produced in an era of ‘red Ferraris’, so it is so refreshing to have this car finished in Giallo Modena (colour code FER 102 D.S). And what a fabulous colour . . . it brings out all the lines on the car and creates a perfect contrast with the black soft top. For the anoraks out there Giallo Modena is also the colour of the city of Modena, where Ferrari was founded. Walking around the car you can’t help but being impressed with how well these F355’s have aged. They still have an amazing presence.

Whilst Ferrari F355’s are not super rare, finding a good example is getting harder and harder as these cars age. What we have here is an excellent example. The paint on the car is immaculate and it is hard to believe that it is almost 30 years old! It retains a strong depth of colour and deep gloss finish. You have to look hard to find any imperfections in the paint. The external trim is minimalistic, but all of the lights, lenses, badges etc are similarly well presented. The wheels are also in very good condition, with the only noticeable blemish being a very small mark on the left front wheel. The front wheels are shod with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres, size 235/40 ZR 18. These are date stamped 1317 (week 13, 2017). The rear wheels are also shod with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres but in the size 295/35 ZR18. These are date stamped 4919 (week 49, 2019). Both the front and rear tyres are in good condition.

The soft top on the car is in excellent condition and the mechanism to open and close it works well. The soft top tonneau cover is with the car, it fits well and is in good condition.

Inside the cabin everything is how you expect it to be based on the exterior presentation of the car. The seats present well and there are no rips or tears in the leather. They are comfortable and provide ample support. All the instruments are clear and appear to be in good working order. The switches on the dashboard and the centre console are not sticky as is often the case with Italian cars from this period. Even the carpets are in good condition.

It is very easy to find a comfortable driving position behind the wheel of a Ferrari F355. These car look fantastic but they are also ergonomically very good. They are also very rewarding to drive and offer exhilarating performance. This car is equipped with an immobiliser, so to start you turn the ignition on, then press the button on the remote control and wait for the red light in the middle of the dashboard to stop blinking. Then you turn the key further to start the car. It starts easily, even from cold, and then quickly settles into a smooth idle. The Ferrari F355 is often regarded as one of the best sounding Ferraris. The exhaust note is all performance and you can’t help but smile as you sit patiently waiting for the engine to warm up. When ready to go, you notch the gear lever into first and gently edge the car out onto the street. It immediately become obvious that this is a great driver’s car. The engine revs freely and it has almost instant throttle response. The gearbox is smooth and precise with just the right feel. It really just begs you to keep changing up and down because you can! The steering is surprisingly light and very direct. With electrifying performance on tap it is reassuring to know the brakes are up to the task and pull the car up efficiently and in a straight line. In summary, this car is an absolute delight to drive!

Obviously, we put the top down for our test drive to our photo shoot location. Even with the top down it is surprisingly quiet inside the cabin and you can easily have a conversation with your passenger.

The Ferrari F355 is what we consider a true modern classic. In our opinion it is one of best looking ‘modern’ Ferraris. It is a fantastic driver’s car and for us a manual gearbox is a must, yet this is also a car that could be used as a daily driver if one desired.

And yes, before you ask the car retains its original matching numbers engine.

Accompanying the car is a complete book set (minus the torch) including a fully stamped service book and the original toolkit.

Highlights:

• Australian delivered, factory right-hand drive, matching numbers example.
• Beautifully presented in a great colour scheme.
• Low mileage, with only 40,903km.
• Books, including a stamped service book and original tool kit
• All tags and stickers in place.
• Beautifully presented and drives superbly.