www.QV500.com - Ferrari 355 Part 2: Spider
 

Ferrari's gorgeous F355 Spider was introduced at the Monte Carlo Grand Prix during May 1995. Further enhancing the commercial success of what many considered the finest sports car of its time, the chassis was reinforced around the door gussets and windscreen pillars to minimise the torsional flex often associated with convertibles. Pininfarina did a masterful job of converting the F355 into a Spider and the new body style looked sublime from any angle. Even with the hood raised it was a stunning machine, the canvas top doing an admirable job of mimicking the Berlinetta.

   
One of the most accomplished open-topped designs of the last twenty years, Ferrari’s refusal to accept that a roadster should suffer substantial handling deficiencies resulted in a truly exceptional roadster. Following the Spider's debut, only one more major development was introduced, this an addition to the F355 options list. Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show during September 1997, Ferrari's F1 transmission could be specified instead of the traditional manual gearbox, but at £6000, it was the most expensive upgrade available. Many customers saw it as a worthwhile investment, the 355 F1 posting even faster performance times. Operated via paddles behind the steering wheel and offering a choice of Sport and Touring settings, the electro-hydraulic F1 box remained on the options list for the duration of production and subsequently went on to become a very popular upgrade on the 360 as well. It's worth noting that F1-equipped examples dropped the F, these cars being known simply as 355 F1's. Production continued in Berlinetta and GTS form until mid 1999, the Spider lasting a few months longer.