1997 Ferrari F355 Spider 6-speed

OVERVIEW

SBX Cars is proud to offer for sale this 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider showing just 16,472 miles on the odometer at the time of cataloging. Finished in Giallo Modena over a black cabin, this head-turning mid-engine droptop has spent the majority of its life in California.

The Ferrari F355 is the stuff of childhood bedroom poster dreams with those timelessly gorgeous lines. Slotting between the quaint and classic era of V8 Ferraris and our current crop of 200 mph modern supercars, the F355 is a just-right exotic. 

Development involved some 1,800 hours of wind tunnel testing. The 3.5L F129B V8 leaned on Ferrari’s V12 F1 program for the five-valve heads that, along with titanium con rods, helped achieve a redline of 8,500 rpm. The F355 also owned the specific output title of the time with 109 horsepower power liter. 

It was as incredible then as it is today, particularly this bright yellow Spider with its must-have gated 6-speed transmission. Along with all the analog, electronics- and tech-free driving excitement you can handle. With the top down of course. 

NOTABLE COMMENTARY

• “The experience is intense, accom­panied by the frenzy of a 40-valve engine with a full repertoire of scalp-prickling harmonics.” - Car and Driver

• “...an F355 is pure bliss, with seemingly no limit to the speed with which cogs can be swapped, the engine revving tirelessly, the noise consuming everything.” - Evo Magazine

• “It's the last beautiful Ferrari, and you don't even know how badly you want it.” - Autoblog

SPECIFICATIONS & OPTIONS 

This 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider is powered by a 3.5L F129B DOHC 40-valve V8 with titanium connecting rods and dry sump lubrication. It was factory-rated for 375 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission routes power to the rear wheels. Additional features below:

Exterior

• Giallo Modena finish with black semi-automatic soft top
• 18” 5-spoke alloys with yellow center caps
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZR-rated tires with 2018 date codes measuring 225/40 front and 265/35 rear
• Black-finished brake calipers with white Ferrari branding
• Pop-up headlights
• Integrated fog lamps
• Pininfarina rear fender badges
• Integrated rear spoiler
• Dual twin-tip exhaust outlets

Interior 

• Black leather upholstery for seats, door panels, dashboard, and center console
• Black manually-fitted tonneau cover
• Power-adjustable front buckets
• 4-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Veglia Borletti gauge set with 200-mph speedometer, 10,000-rpm tachometer, oil pressure, and coolant temperature
• Center stack analog clock, fuel level, and oil temperature gauges
• Kenwood stereo
• Open-gate manual shifter with polished steel shaft and alloy knob
• Air-conditioning
• Ferrari door sill covers
• F355 dash emblem
• Drilled racing pedals
• Cigarette lighter and ashtray

Mechanical

• Mid-mounted 3.5L F129B V8 with twin overhead cams and 5 valves per cylinder
• Bosch M5.2 engine management
• 6-speed manual transmission
• Two-stage electronic dampers
• Unequal-length double wishbones 

SERVICE HISTORY

This 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider had a major service completed by Black Horse Garage of Bridgeport, Connecticut in December 2023. Detailed invoices can be seen in the gallery with highlights as follows:

• Full engine removal
• New cam seals, spark plugs, valve cover gaskets, timing belt and pulleys, and drive belts
• New valve cover paint
• Compression test
• Assessment of clutch, brake pad, brake rotor, and tire life
• Fuel system analysis
• Recharge of air conditioning system
• Repair of convertible top micro switches
• Recovered door pockets

OWNERSHIP HISTORY & PROVENANCE

Per the clean Carfax report shown in the gallery, this 1997 F355 Spider has 5 owners listed, though the first 3 appear to be the same individual who owned the car for nearly 22 years, largely in California. It is now in the hands of Black Horse Garage of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

NOTED IMPERFECTIONS

Considering the age of this F355 Spider, overall condition appears to be excellent including the Giallo Modena finish, interior surfaces like the door panels and dashboard, and the underbody. Minor imperfections include driver-side front wheel chips and seat bolster wear, and the dealer adds that while the top can be raised and lowered automatically, it only moves about half way in either direction. It is a common issue on these vehicles and the dealer notes that the top can easily be completely opened or closed manually.

SUMMARY

When it comes to hard-hitting 90s nostalgia, few come through as strongly as this 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider. Forget your self-driving tech and power-operated everything. This stunning - and fully serviced - exotic is a back-to-analog-goodness machine begging to show off the aural symphony of its red-headed V8. 

The gated 6-speed manual is perhaps the most exciting aspect of this particular Ferrari, matched of course by that 8,500-rpm redline being enjoyed with the top down. It’s an intoxicating combination that every automotive enthusiast should experience at least once.

As part of the consignment process, SBX Cars requests a range of information from the seller pertaining to the subject of their offering. The auction listing description therefore is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. However, it is the responsibility of a potential buyer to satisfy themself as to the accuracy of the auction listing description. This includes conducting an in-person inspection, which may be arranged between the buyer and seller, as well as verifying the condition, authenticity, value, and title before committing to bid or buy. Please see our Terms of Service for full details.