348 - Observations

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
12/20/2016 at 03:26 • Filed to: Ferrari, 348, Challenge, 348tb

After some seat time in the 348 (I have yet to actually drive it in any meaningful way), I’ve noticed some of the old-school mechanical purity that didn’t make it to the F355.

The light, indicator and wiper levers are delightfully thin and have a firm, deliberate action. I kept playing with these like a silly kid. They feel so serious compared to today’s thick, toy-like plastic multifunction stalks.

The gear lever is clunky like all gated shifters. There is an actual leather boot hiding under the open gate, saving your shifter hinge from dust and c00k!3 crumbs.

The 80s were button-heavy as the new era of electronics took hold. Everything in the 348's centre console is a separate button—even the climate “intake/circulate” modes are two separate buttons. Lock and Unlock are separate as well, same as my 355.

Having to buckle two separate seat belts was a novelty for me—I had never lived with those.

The Challenge cars were gentleman racers, and after the season ended most cars were converted to road use. Mechanical bits were upgraded, and there are cage mounting points in the cabin.

In pictures the 348 steering wheel looks plain and 80s-angular, but the real thing has subtle creases and other nice details including an embossed “348" logo. I am now a fan. Also, the thumb pads have horn buttons, making for a total of 3 horn buttons. The location of the third is an easy guess.

The engine’s tube frame is more primitive than that of its successor, the F355. Also primitive are the compact intake manifolds, which probably don’t have any form of airflow optimisation. No dual-mode shocks.

Horizontal strakes to the max. Only the last two years of 348s had the chrome horse—a welcome styling update over the invisible black one of earlier cars.

I hope to get a chance at driving it. It’s already a sensual feast sitting still.

DISCUSSION (20)

Dsscats > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 03:41

Love it. My old boss had a 348 Serie Speciale, but almost never drove it.

AuthiCooper1300 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 05:02

The column stalks in the 348... are actually the same as the ones in the Fiat Uno (Mk2).

And they are brilliant. I have an ‘90 Uno and they still feel as good as new –unlike, say, the ones in my 75 Twin Spark from more or less the same year.

Unfortunately, for Ferrari owners who happened to have driven a Uno that was a bit of a letdown at the time. Of course it is a problem of perceived quality, and not so much of intrinsic quality : maybe the innards of newer Ferrari controls are also shared with some Fiat/Alfa Romeo products, but you’d have to disassemble the whole thing to find out.

I seem to remember the inside parts of the instrument cluster are also of Fiat Uno origin.

Whatever the provenance of those minor controls (as if Ferrari hadn’t been doing it for ages, particularly in its golden years) your car looks fabulous, congratulations. Have you driven a non-Challenge 348, by the way? It would be interesting to know if they feel much different.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 07:16

but

Kinja'd!!!

arl > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 07:19

Very nice yellow Ferrari. I usually don’t care for yellow cars, but yours. Is quite lovely.

I don’t really know much about the challenge cars. Are you saying yours is one of the converted to road use models? If so, did you do the conversion, or did the PO do it? Any concerns about driving a former gentleman race car?

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > arl
12/20/2016 at 08:47

Chan owns a F355, he is watching over his friends 348 while his friend works on the 355.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > AuthiCooper1300
12/20/2016 at 09:43

Oh my gosh, the signal stalks on a 75/Milano. I loved my Milano but those were the flimsiest dang signal and wiper stalks that I have ever experienced behind the wheel of a car. Felt like they were about ready to break every time I used them, especially in anything below 10°C

AuthiCooper1300 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
12/20/2016 at 10:11

Even the Alfetta stalks were better than the 75/Milano’s...

OCD-CO > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/20/2016 at 10:27

But....

Kinja'd!!!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > OCD-CO
12/20/2016 at 10:40

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > arl
12/20/2016 at 12:27

As Stndlbnz said.

After the 348 Challenge series ended in 1994 (to be replaced by the F355 Challenge), the cars became useless. So unless you wanted to keep a track car, you would want it converted. The factory actually had a program to do this, and a few Challenge cars were even delivered as road cars (not this one).

This car’s conversion would have been done by a Ferrari dealer waaaay back in the 1995 area. Long before its current owner acquired it!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > AuthiCooper1300
12/20/2016 at 12:32

My F355 also has Fiat-like control stalks, but they are 1990s-Italian fashion so they are thick, plastic and Bauhaus-cylindrical. The action has less travel and the cam/detentes don’t feel as strong or metallic.

This is my friend’s car. I need to beg him to let me drive it, although I doubt he installed any security monitor inside.....I have yet to drive any 348!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/20/2016 at 12:38

But....you can’t fit two of those on top of each other, in a standard height residential garage, with a 4-post lift!

Not me, but my mechanic has that setup.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 12:47

GET A LIFT

arl > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 13:04

Very interesting. Thanks!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/20/2016 at 13:22

I don’t need a lift—I don’t have 2 Ferraris. #richpeopleproblems

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Dsscats
12/20/2016 at 13:25

#sad

The 348SS is the right 348 to own in the US (348 GTB/GTS in the RoW). All the handling upgrades supposedly make it less loose in the rear compared to earlier cars.

Of course, Challenge cars are also desirable simply because of rarity.

Dsscats > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/20/2016 at 16:10

I’d take a Challenge car over the SS, but the F40 seats are amazing in the SS. He also had a 355 Serie Fiorano, but those were all F1 only.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
01/13/2017 at 14:01

The steering wheel is one of my favorite parts on my car. I also love the hilarious note of the horn. Does the Challenge gearbox feel better after warming up? Mine goes from horrible to amazing in about 10-15 min. I normally skip 2nd until warm. I keep meaning to post about the quirks of the 348 but free time has been an issue the last few weeks.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
01/13/2017 at 20:02

Out of respect for the owner, I have not yet driven the car!

According to Ricambi America, gearbox is identical between the Challenge and the normal TB/TS. The Challenge does have more aggressive clutch plates and upgraded suspension bushings.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
01/17/2017 at 14:25

Ah, I totally misread the last sentence! I hope he tells you to take it out!!