355 Live

1995 – 1999 · ~2,577 built

Ferrari 355 GTS

The forgotten 355 — targa roof, Berlinetta rigidity, the connoisseur's choice.

Silver Ferrari F355 GTS with targa roof removed, side profile

Live market · 355live data

Sold figures are last 12 months. For-sale figures are right now.

Full insights →
For sale now
18

0.7% of ~2,577 built

For-sale median
$172,503

Avg $165,417

Sold (12 mo)
4

recorded transactions

Sold median
$169,500

Avg $173,750

Specifications

Engine
Tipo F129B — 90° V8, mid-mounted, longitudinal
Displacement
3,495 cc (3.5 L)
Valvetrain
DOHC, five valves per cylinder (40 valves total)
Power
375 PS (380 hp / 276 kW) @ 8,250 rpm
Torque
363 Nm (268 lb-ft) @ 6,000 rpm
Redline
8,500 rpm
Transmission
6-speed manual (gated) or 6-speed F1 (from 1997)
Drivetrain
Rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Dry weight
1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
Weight distribution
42% front / 58% rear
0 – 60 mph
4.7 seconds
Top speed
295 km/h (183 mph)
L × W × H
4,250 × 1,900 × 1,170 mm
Wheelbase
2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Fuel capacity
82 L (21.7 US gal)
Boot space
~150 L front compartment + roof storage when fitted
Chassis
Tubular steel spaceframe, aluminium body panels
Suspension
Independent double wishbones, electronically adjustable dampers (sport/comfort)
Brakes
Vented discs all round — 300 mm front / 310 mm rear, ABS
Wheels
18" five-spoke Speedline (3-spoke Momo on early cars)
Tyres
225/40 ZR18 front, 265/40 ZR18 rear
Price new
~$137,500 USD (1996, US market)

Owners Perspective

What it's like to live with

The GTS is the 355 most owners come back to. It is the open-air car that doesn't drive like an open car. There is no scuttle shake, no extra weight worth complaining about, and the act of pulling the roof panel out feels like a ritual rather than a chore. If you want one car, this is often the answer.

What owners love

  • The body is the same as the Berlinetta with a rectangular cut-out — the chassis is essentially as stiff as the coupé. You don't pay a dynamic penalty.
  • Roof off, glass rear window up — this is the sweetheart configuration. You get the V8 howl behind your head with the cabin still calm at speed.
  • The roof panel is body-coloured and lifts out by hand in under a minute. It stows behind the seats. No power mechanism to fail.
  • Rarest of the three road bodies after the Serie Fiorano — fewer than 2,600 built worldwide.
  • GTS owners tend to be the quiet enthusiasts. There's a sense of having found the one most people overlook.

What owners live with

  • Same heat soak, variator rattle, header studs, and sticky plastics as the Berlinetta — none of that goes away with the targa.
  • The roof panel seal is a wear item. A neglected car will leak around the targa header rail; a properly maintained one is dry.
  • Slightly heavier than the Berlinetta and a fraction softer — measurably so on a track, imperceptibly so on the road.
  • Storage of the roof panel — there is a fitted bag, but it lives behind the seats and eats luggage space.
  • Market values are inconsistent. GTS prices have been catching up to the Berlinetta but historically traded at a discount despite rarity.

Build variants timeline

What changed, year by year

The 1994 – 1999 production run, in order. Three-spoke to airbag wheel, Motronic 2.7 to 5.2, the F1 gearbox, the Spider, the Serie Fiorano — when each spec arrived.

Read the timeline →

Transmissions

Manual, F1 & conversions

Gated 6-speed manual, F1 paddle-shift automated manual, and the increasingly common F1-to-manual conversion. Different cars to live with, different cars to value.

Read the transmission guide →

Buying tips

  1. 01Inspect the targa seals carefully — both the panel-to-body seal and the rear glass seal. Replacement is straightforward but not cheap.
  2. 02Check the roof panel for hairline cracks and re-paint. Many panels have been refinished; mismatched orange peel is the giveaway.
  3. 03Verify the roof storage bag and the fitting hardware are present. Missing kit is common and surprisingly hard to source.
  4. 04All the same cam belt, header, and variator inspection points as the Berlinetta — see that guide.
  5. 05Early GTS cars are 1995-only specification overlaps — there are 2.7 Motronic GTS examples but they are scarce. See the Engine Variants page.

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