1999 Ferrari F355 F1 Spider 'Serie Fiorano'

The Ferrari F355 is now considered a modern classic, so beautiful, so well-engineered and so well received that it marked the beginning of the end of the old-guard "Ferraristi' philosophy that the only "real" Ferraris were ones with 12-cylinder engines. The Ferrari F355 Berlinetta and Targa GTS burst onto the world stage in the spring of 1994, with almost exactly the same dimensions as its predecessor the 348, yet it was virtually a new car, as its stunning coachwork indicated. Many hours of wind tunnel testing influenced the harmonious shape which incorporated an F1 style flat bottom with channeled air flow generating enough downforce to offset any lift.

The longitudinally mounted 3496cc V8 produced a stunning 374bhp at a spine-tingling 8250rpm. New electronically adjustable shock absorbers varied their stiffness within milliseconds to suit the road surface. Around Ferrari's 1.86 mile Fiorano test track, the F355 was two seconds a lap faster than the 12-cylinder, 512 TR and that level of performance combined with its sensational shape made it a worldwide success story.

The car presented here is no ordinary F355. A very rare model indeed, it is #94 of 100 "Serie Fiorano" examples delivered to the US market. It is believed that 74 cars were supplied with the F1 transmission and 26 cars with the 6-speed manual.

This car is a factory original LHD 1999 Ferrari F355 F1 Spider "Serie Fiorano". These unique cars were run-out special editions of the F355 produced by the factory in March 1999, and all were Spiders. These very special cars shared lots of componentry from the 355 Challenge race car. This included the Competizione-derived Fiorano suspension pack, stiffer springs, a thicker anti-roll bar, drilled / ventilated discs and competition brake pads, Competizione-sourced steering rack, altered ECU mapping, Challenge rear grilles, enamelled Scuderia shields, carbon fibre inserts in the sills, gear lever and centre console, an Alcantara-covered steering wheel, and a numbered plaque.

This striking example in Giallo Modena paintwork with Nero leather interior was first sold through Ferrari North America in Miami Beach, Florida. The first owner had the car only a matter of months when it was then purchased by an 'Apple' programmer in California. He used the car infrequently but maintained it fastidiously. He had the car serviced with Ferrari at the prescribed intervals (specifically 5,233 miles, 17,261 miles and 33,351 miles) and used the same dealership for diligent maintenance. This is all documented in the car"s extensive history file. He was so enamored with his Ferrari, that when he moved back to Nottingham, England in 2014, he brought it back with him and joined the Ferrari Owners" Club of Great Britain. The car is now fully UK-registered with the lights professionally modified (£1,600) for use on for UK roads.

Our vendor, who wanted the best F355 he could find, managed to persuade the Apple programmer to sell it and as soon as the purchase was complete, it was taken to Graypaul Ferrari in Nottingham on the 5th June 2015 where it was fully serviced (including replacement cam-belts) with 34,220 miles on the odometer. It is supplied with its original keys, handbooks, service book, leather wallet and tool-kit.

This must be one of the rarest F355 models available and would fit nicely into any collection of modern classics. It may also represent a shrewd investment as last year, the US auction house Gooding & Company, offered an F355 'Serie Fiorano' at Amelia Island and it sold for $198,000 (£161,752).