The complete reference
The Ferrari 355 Buyers Guide
Written for people who want to know the car the way owners and marque enthusiasts know it. Every variant, every engine generation, the specs that matter, and a clear-eyed view of what running one costs.
The Models
Five distinct cars share the F355 nameplate — each with its own character, market, and checklist.
Berlinetta
1994 – 1999The purist's 355 — fixed roof, lowest weight, the stiffest chassis of the three road cars.
- For sale
- 65 / ~4,871
- Sold 12mo (n=11)
- $116k med
- Asking median
- $140k
- Asking avg
- $145k
Read the guide →
GTS
1995 – 1999The forgotten 355 — targa roof, Berlinetta rigidity, the connoisseur's choice.
- For sale
- 18 / ~2,577
- Sold 12mo (n=4)
- $170k med
- Asking median
- $173k
- Asking avg
- $165k
Read the guide →
Spider
1995 – 1999The first true Ferrari convertible since the Daytona — power roof, full open-air theatre.
- For sale
- 31 / ~3,717
- Sold 12mo (n=24)
- $92k med
- Asking median
- $126k
- Asking avg
- $130k
Read the guide →
- Imagery coming soon
Serie Fiorano
1999 (final production year)The 1999 swansong — Spider-only, ~100 cars, a special edition above the FHP option.
- For sale
- — / ~104 (figures vary by source)
- Sold 12mo (n=0)
- — med
- Asking median
- —
- Asking avg
- —
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Challenge
1995 – 1999Ferrari's factory race series 355 — stripped, caged, and intended for the circuit.
- For sale
- 1 / ~108 factory + dealer-converted cars
- Sold 12mo (n=3)
- $90k med
- Asking median
- $159k
- Asking avg
- $159k
Read the guide →
Section 02
Build Variants
The 1994 – 1999 production timeline. When Ferrari changed the spec — three-spoke to airbag wheel, Motronic 2.7 to 5.2, F1 box, Spider, Fiorano — and what arrived with each step.
Read the timeline →
Section 03
Transmissions
The gated 6-speed manual, the F1 paddle-shift, and the F1-to-manual conversion — three different cars to drive, three different cars to value.
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Section 04
Running Costs
What a 355 actually costs to own — routine servicing, the engine-out major debate, consumables, insurance, and a realistic three-year all-in number.
Typical year: $5,000 – $12,000
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Section 05
Known Issues
The weak spots every owner ends up dealing with — cracked headers, valve guides, variator rattle, F1 hydraulics, sticky plastics, Spider hood, and more. The PPI checklist.
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Section 06
Modifications
The exhausts, headers, and Y-pipes the community accepts as tasteful upgrades — and the dedicated weight and performance mods owners reach for when they want to sharpen the car.
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Further reading & viewing
Great 355 buyers guides on the web
Other people have written and filmed brilliant things about this car. The list below points to the ones owners and specialists keep coming back to. Got a favourite that should be here? Let us know.
Video · Barkaways
Ferrari F355 Buyers Guide
Long-form walk-around from the UK Ferrari specialist — what to inspect on a 355, the common faults, and what separates a good car from a bad one.
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Article · TBC
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Video · TBC
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FerrariChat, Pistonheads or elsewhere — point us at it.
Inclusion is not endorsement — these are pointers to content the community finds useful. Always cross-check anything you read or watch with a marque specialist before buying.