In 1999, Ferrari considered their much-loved and hugely accomplished 355 ready for replacing, a bold move as many thought it the marques best junior supercar ever. The 360 adopted new materials and construction methods and Ferrari designed the 355's successor from scratch. The firm's desire to be back at the forefront of racing with its successful endurance and F1 programmes at the time had also filtered its way down to the street cars. The design was revolutionary for example making extensive use of exotic lightweight materials throughout, the 360's construction has resulted in the frame weighing 28% less than the outgoing 355, structural rigidity having been increased by an amazing 40%. With Ferrari wanting the interior to be more spacious, the wheelbase was stretched by 150mm, width rising by 15mm, the need to accomodate a set of golf clubs having been a pre-requisite. Ferrari paid particular attention to improving underbody aerodynamics and thus the 360 boasts a completely flat bottom with two prominent diffusers clearly visible from the rear.
The 360's Tipo F131B engine produced a staggering 400bhp at 8500rpm from just 3586cc! This resulted in an extremely impressive 0-60 time requiring just 4.4 seconds and a 186mph top speed. It came as no surprise when Turin styling house Pininfarina, who have a long-standing association with Ferrari, were chosen to create the bodywork and interior. Notable features from a what is a very modern design are the gaping air intakes for the front-mounted radiators and those 250 LM-esque engine-cooling ducts mounted atop the rear wings. Thanks to a great deal of time in the wind tunnel, Pininfarina produced an exceptionally clean profile without need for additional wings, flares or blisters. One of the other striking features on the 360 Modena is a large glass rear screen that proudly displays the engine in all its glory. Introduced at the Geneva Salon in March 1999, the Modena unsurprisingly swelled Ferrari's order books and a two year backlog was on the cards within weeks.
The model stayed in production until 2004 when the F430 was introduced. Curiously, Ferrari decided to drop the Modena tag for the 360 Spider. The fully retractable electric hood takes under 30 seconds to be raised or lowered. Mini roll hoops and form part of a full width panel that electro-hydraulically opens to hide all evidence of the hood when lowered leaving a clean "spider" form reminiscent of a 60's. Mechanically, the Spider is unchanged from the Modena.
This example offered for sale by DK Engineering is one just 513 examples supplied in RHD to the UK that were equipped with the Formula 1 inspired and developed paddle operated sequential gearbox known as the "F1". The car was supplied in September 2002 by Whitehouse in Kent to its first owner. The car is presented in a spectacular yet subtle combination of Nero Daytona with Slate Grey Leather interior. Essentially the car is equipped with a great deal of desirable optional extras including, Carbon Fibre backed Sports Seats, Challenge Grilles (Front & Rear), Enamel Scuderia Wing Shields, Challenge wheels and Xenon headlights. Remarkably whilst having covered an exceedingly low mileage of just 14,000 miles the car has been serviced a reassuring 8 times (mainly by H.R.Owen or DK Engineering) and most recently by DK in September 2011. The condition is as one would expect with such a low mileage, superb. Available to use and enjoy immediately and located in our Chorleywood showrooms just outside London.
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