1998 Ferrari F355 Spider

- California Car
- Modena Yellow
- Gated 6 Speed
- 3.5L V8
- Recent Service

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1998 Ferrari F355 Spider on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 140 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to the Ferrari's accident-and-damage-free, low-mileage Carfax history report, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“This fast, feral, glamorous new car puts Ferrari back on the most-wanted list.” – Car and Driver, March 1995

Car and Driver went on to rave: “The F355 is Ferrari's replacement for the 348, and although it's based on that car's layout, it is a generation ahead of the 348 in every way. Still, there's no mistaking it for anything other than a red car from Maranello when you first approach it. After hunting for the door handle (it's hidden under the intake duct) and opening the door, the impression is heightened. On the other side of a wide, flat door sill is a low, leather-wrapped seat and, in front of it, a handsome three-spoked wheel with a big yellow prancing-horse badge sitting atop an airbag. Alongside the seat is the traditional metal gearshift maze—now with seven slots—sprouting a polished steel shaft with an alloy ball at its peak.”

And as to the F355's performance: “A tachometer redlined at 8500 rpm suggests a peaky engine and a dull, off-song response to the throttle at low revs, but that isn't the case. In fact, the F355 pulls willingly almost from idle, with no snatching or shuffle. It'll run easily with traffic at under 4000 rpm, accelerating steadily and acting as well mannered as a kid's pony. The only impediment to gracious around-town cruising is a throttle pedal with some initial stiction in the movement. This makes smooth shifting more difficult than it need be. A pity, now that the car's transmission oil is warmed by an engine‑coolant heat-exchanger, and the shifter moves easily almost from the start.”

(The full Car and Driver review can be found here: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15140902/ferrari-f355-archived-test-review/)

Offered here is a 1998 Ferrari F355 in stunning Modena Yellow over black. Manufactured in November of 1997, this California example shows 32,536 miles on its odometer, meaning the Maranello-born Italian sports car has traveled fewer than 1,500 miles per-year on average since new. Just as satisfying, the car's condition is close-to-new in nearly every respect, and it has just been recently serviced. Included in the sale are a binder with historical maintenance documents, the original owner's manual, and a handsome, Ferrari-logo-embossed leather case.

The original Modena Yellow non-metallic body paint (Giallo Modena 4305 D.S.) retains a virtual showroom-new finish free of any significant flaw. The gloss is uniform across the car's beautifully sculpted panels nicely emphasizing the rear-side air intakes, lower-front black grille, ventilated rear decklid, and notched rear valance. The Ferrari crests on the front fenders seem to have been made with this color in mind. And the car's yellow brake calipers add to the overall theme. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) The black fabric top and included black boot cover are free of wear marks or other defects. Cabin glass and lighting lenses (including on the pop-up headlights) are clear and free of cracks. All factory badging—including the prancing-horse grille and hood emblems, “Ferrari” rear-deck insignia, prancing horse emblem and “F355 Spider” designation on the rear valance, and Pininfarina emblems ahead of the rear wheels—is properly in place and in excellent condition. Factory 5-spoke alloy wheels with Ferrari center caps are mounted with Bridgestone® Potenza Z-rated performance tires, 225/40 in front, 265/40 rear.

Inside, the Italian design is a triumph, true to Ferrari's legendary racing heritage. Black leather upholstery in a classic horizontally pleated pattern covers the seats, with additional leather trimming the doors, dashboard and console. (The driver's seat back shows some light wear from use, and the seat cushion has a correctable split seam.) Hard trim items on the console and dash are carbon fiber. Cabin carpeting is black with Ferrari-logo protective carpet mats. The stock, leather-covered, 4-spoke steering wheel with prancing horse center emblem fronts full Veglia Borletti® analog instruments including 200-mph speedometer, 8,500-rpm-redline tachometer, oil- pressure, and coolant-temperature gauges. The center dash also includes a clock, fuel-level gauge, and oil-temperature gauge. All instrumentation is set in carbon-fiber panels. An upgraded Kenwood® audio head unit is mounted in the factory-radio location. (The leather and vent on the right hand side of the dash are slightly de-formed due to heat exposure.) The console is host to the gated 6-speed transmission shift lever topped with a bare-metal ball showing the shift pattern, as well as a host of controls for mirrors, windows, lighting, door locks and more. The crossed-flags emblem of Pininfarina and Ferrari flags on the console symbolizes one of the most recognized partnerships in sports car history.

Under the rear engine cover, the high-revving, 3.5-liter V8 commands a typically stunning Ferrari engine bay: clean, complete, and free of modifications. Every Ferrari engine inspires respectful compliments, and this F355's engine (number 27986) is no different. Viewed from below, all chassis protective panels remain properly in place. The exposed lower rear-engine and transmission surfaces are satisfying visual focal points.

All of the car's manufacturing, build, and identification tags remain in place as mounted at the factory.

While the more than 140 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around present this '98 Ferrari F355 Spider in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

Every Ferrari automobile is a special achievement. Experiencing the exciting performance of these special sports cars is a joy available to only a fortunate few. At least one such individual is reading this right now.