• Year of manufacture 
    1997
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Reference number 
    59
  • Drive 
    LHD
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Exterior brand colour 
    other
  • Location
    United States
  • Exterior colour 
    Other

Description

Chassis No. ZFFXR42B000109636

Fans of the James Bond movie franchise are often treated to many iconic automotive related scenes, many of them involving electrifying stunts, gadgetry, and explosions. To the delight of car aficionados everywhere, the 1995 Bond film, GoldenEye film featured a realistic premise in the first post-opening scene. In it, Bond, in his classic Snow Shadow Grey Aston Martin DB5 engages a 1995 Ferrari F355 GTS – a manual, no less – driven by the movie's femme fatale in a thrilling race across the Mediterranean corniche above Monaco. Wonderful product placement for Ferrari to be sure, but of any sports car available in the mid-90s it was the perfect choice for a deadly, international villain.

Designed by Pininfarina as a replacement for the aging 348, the F355 was more than a cosmetically revised successor. Its new Tipo F129B engine featured a larger 3.5-liter displacement and five valves "cinquevalvole" per cylinder producing 100 hp per liter and one of the greatest engine and exhaust notes of all time. The chassis boasted a 30-percent increase in stiffness, especially noticeable on the GTS model with its removable "targa-style" hardtop roof. Now regarded as one of most usable and enjoyable of all modern Ferraris, the F355 attracts a loyal following as an up and coming collectible.

Collectors Garage is proud to offer this six-speed manual transmission, German specification, 1997 Ferrari F355 GTS. According to its robust history file, the GTS was originally delivered to Stefan Gehrhardt of Hannover, Germany via Ferrari Tamsen GmbH, on 31 July 1997. During its time on the continent, this Black over black leather example spent a considerable amount of time in Germany where it was subject to their famously strict TÜV testing regiment, regularly passing "ohne Mangel" (without defect). This was naturally the result of regular use and a frequent servicing schedule. The history file and service book for this F355 shows regular servicing at official Ferrari dealers throughout Germany with additional servicing in Belgium and later in France. In September 2021 at 59,134 km Heritage Motor Cars of Paris, France completed a major engine-out service, totaling €9,512.98 which included replacement of the timing belts and tensioners with a complete engine fluid change, A/C recharge, and full brake fluid bleed. This F355 was then sold and exported to the USA in 2021. Since arriving in America it has been housed in a small, east coast collection of Ferraris and now features just under 60,000 km, or just over 37,000 mi and is accompanied by a tool kit, first aid kit, warning triangle, books, leather targa roof slip cover, and car cover.

The F355 is rightly considered the last of the breed and pinnacle of the mid-engine, flying-buttress Ferraris, the genesis of which began back in the 1960s. The rarest and most exciting of these F355s must surely be the example offered here, a manual transmission GTS model, coveted not only for its classic three-pedal, open gate shifter arrangement, but for the open air motoring pleasure that its "targa-style" roof offers. As there was no open roof GTS successor in the 360 Modena, the manual F355 GTS model is a "unicorn" of sorts, comfortably straddling the line between a vintage and modern Ferrari. With a researched chain of European ownership, documented service history with service book stamps, and a recent annual service, this GTS may now be some distance away from the scenic cliffs overlooking Monaco and the French Riviera, but significantly closer to those Ferrari enthusiasts in the US who appreciate a well serviced, exciting manual transmission F355 in its rarest GTS-spec.