Beginning in 1993 with the Ferrari 348, the scuderia supplied its dealers with kits designed to convert their stock road cars to purpose-built machines for the track. This coinciding with a new marque-specific racing series known as the Ferrari Challenge. Though not a formula series, the Challenge kit gave Ferrari 348 owners the opportunity to measure their driving against other owners with cars that were identical in spec (much like the longstanding Porsche Carrera Cup). All subsequent V8 Ferraris up to the current 458 have had their own Challenge series. With significant improvements over the Ferrari 348, the F355 Challenge featured the same 3.5 litre 40-valve v8 as the road car, but that is essentially where the similarities end. The cars were stripped of anything that was unnecessary weight and suppressed horsepower, replaced by a roll-cage, racing seats, free-flow exhausts, Brembo brakes, competition steering rack and wheel, carbon fiber bumpers, and more. By 1998, the factory was supplying the cars as nearly turnkey, with only the carbon rear wing having to be fit by dealers. Although the Challenge Series today is made up of mostly 458s with a few F430s left over, the F355 Challenge is still formidable for SCCA and club events. This example is a complete factory car with all updates including gearbox cooler and new ABS computer. It is said to have been “fanatically maintained” throughout its 24,000-mile racing career and includes two sets of Challenge-spec Speedlines as well as several tire sets for various conditions. To be clear, it is not street legal, but the package includes a very capable 2007 Ford F350 Lariat with 50,000 miles as well as a 20-foot trailer. This is by no means a cheap hobby, but for anyone looking to move beyond autocrosses and gymkhanas, this would offer world-class thrills for less than a fourth of what it would cost to jump in new. With only 108 F355 Challenge are made, they rarely come on the market. Find the whole package here on Craigslist in Deland FL for $95,475.
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