1993 Ferrari 348 Spider £64,995
Ticking all the boxes for a shiny red roadster with lots of history and low mileage, this 348 drives superbly, reckons Mike Renaut
Imported from San Diego in 2016, this left-hand drive 348 looks to be in remarkably good condition. The Rosso paint gleams and is free of scratches or stone chips, and even those large, vulnerable door mirrors appear factory fresh.
It’s just as good inside, with the hand-stitched leather looking as good as new apart from some tiny cracking on the surface of the driver’s seat. There are some shoe scuffs along the inside of the door sill, but otherwise the rest of the cabin is free from scratches. Slightly jarring aftermarket speakers are fitted in both doors and an amplifier sits in the front boot. A Panasonic radio/cd player hides under a flap in the dashboard.
The immaculate black soft-top stows beneath a tan tonneau; both are unmarked. Heating and air-conditioning systems operate correctly. There’s an odd seatbelt arrangement that’s part lap belt, part shoulder belt. Once suitably adjusted, it’s a comfortable driving position, the Momo steering wheel’s size and angle familiar to anyone who’s been go-karting.
The five-speed manual gearbox is typical of a classic Ferrari, taking a while for the oil to warm and circulate before second can be selected. Otherwise gear changes through the dogleg gearbox are very positive and there’s ample pull in every gear. The brakes are excellent.
The Pirelli P-zero tyres were brand new earlier this year and grip superbly. The unblemished original-style alloy wheels are another recent addition.
Oil pressure and temperature gauges show healthy readings regardless of hot weather and slow traffic. Inside the spotless engine bay the V8 has aftermarket conical air filters; the pipework that previously connected to the side air vents and the factory airbox has been removed.
The service book is full of stamps from Ferrari specialists up to February 2018, and the 36,800 miles showing is backed up by a thick file of paperwork. This Ferrari appears well cared for and the vendor understands it spent its life in America stored in a controlled humidity environment and was only driven in the dry.
Ferraris are rarely cheap to own so further confidence is inspired by a big pile of recent bills. In recent months it has undergone an engine-out cambelt change, new belt tensioners, a change of hoses, a water pump, and upper and lower ball joint gaiters. The front and rear upper and lower suspension bushes have been replaced (more than £1700 by itself) and another invoice shows £1100-plus spent on replacing the gearbox mounting bush.
Mot’d until March 2019, the 348 is sold with a tool kit, fitted car cover, a complete set of owner’s manuals and a spare key. Originally Uk-registered as ‘L661 SWT’, it now comes appropriately registered as ‘F348 SDR’. There’s no denying this spider offers a lot of performance for the money and with that low mileage must be one of the nicest examples available.