This 1998 Ferrari F355 GTB was sold new at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo in Portland, Oregon, and delivered to its first owner in March of that year. Finished in what is arguably the ultimate F355 color of Giallo Modena over black leather, this car looks absolutely stunning in person. This F355 has been under the care of five owners from new but has moved around a fair bit, including some time spent in Europe under Norwegian registration. At the time of cataloging, this car shows 22,771 miles and has recently been the subject of a thorough servicing by Issimi Mechanica, who had the engine out to replace belts, along with a list of other mechanical freshenings. The mid-1990s were really a rebirth for Ferrari in the design department, after years of less than inspired styling choices, the F355 is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cars to come out of the company since the Dino went on sale in 1967. When new, these cars were offered in 3 body styles, the Berlinetta like this one, a Spider, and a GTS with a removable targa-style top. To collectors these days, the Berlinetta and GTS are the cars to have, but for the true driving enthusiast, the hardtop reigns supreme.
The interior of the F355 is beautiful in its simplicity. A pair of comfortable, nicely bolstered bucket seats are separated by a console that houses storage, buttons, and the all-important stainless shifter protruding from its metal gate. Sitting in the driver’s seat, a pod with four deeply hooded gauges sits in front of you, with three more auxiliary gauges in the lower center of the dashboard. This car comes from an era before screens became prominent features inside Ferraris, giving it a timeless, classic look inside. The black leather-wrapped dashboard is in excellent condition- so frequently, these cars suffer from shrinking leather but it has been addressed on this car and shows like the day it came out of the factory.
Sitting right behind the passenger compartment is what sets the F355 apart from any other Ferrari- the screaming flat-plane-crank 3.5 liter V8. Although the base of the engine isn’t tremendously different from that found in the 348, the F355 features brand-new 5-valve heads that increase flow dramatically and allow for a redline of 8,500 rpm. Producing 375 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, the F355 is still fast today with a sub-5 second 0-60 mph time and a top speed in excess of 180 mph. But what it does better than almost any other roadgoing Ferrari is make noise- although it is relatively quiet and restrained at low RPMs, once the revs build the V8 noise turns into an F1 car-like shriek that to this day, is almost unbeatable at any price point. In 1997, Ferrari offered an F1 paddle-shift gearbox for the F355- the first system of its kind from Ferrari, the F1 gearbox quickly became the go-to choice for buyers. But ask anyone who has recently driven an F1-equipped car back-to-back with a manual gearbox example and the choice is easy. The classic gated manual is the only choice for F355 ownership and makes the driving experience just that much better while also significantly cutting down on service costs. Additionally, this car recently underwent an engine-out timing belt service at Issimi Mechanica as well as an oil change and replacement post-cat 02 sensors, meaning it is ready to get in and enjoy.
It is easy to fall in love with an F355 by just looking at the body, but the appreciation for the car only grows once you get behind the wheel. This example is in excellent condition overall and when combined with the outstanding color combination, it truly fulfills the role of 1990s dream car.
