The internet is an amazing place. It's a magical series of tubes that allows regular people like you and I to gaze upon the unfinished projects of others and buy them for pennies on the dollar. This one is a damn near immaculate, super cheap '96 Ferrari F355 that I almost didn't write about because I seriously want it for myself. Hnnngh.
Project cars can be quite the daunting task, which is why it's important to start off with a solid base. This 1996 Ferrari 355 Spider was originally sold as a theft recovery car in Florida and taken to Canada for a full and comprehensive $70,000 restoration.
Here is the long list of what was done, as per the seller's description:
The car was stripped down and all paint removed to bare metal. Bumpers. Fenders and doors, rockers hood trim and other body parts had to be purchased (many new from Ferrari) everything was fitted, gaps and clearances. A custom "one off" silver carbon fiber hood was made and the fender badges where embossed. ( like the last 100 F355) after the car was painted with high metallic base / clear silver. After all the interior and jams where painted in the OEM matte black. ( Paint job was $18,000) Then reassembly started on the wiring, Dash, Gauges All the suspension redone, new bushings, shocks, lines with OEM hardware. Glass installed. Also All new tail lights. Grills, emblems. Mirrors, gaskets. Seals. The black carpets are like new, with dealer plastic still on them. with new floor mats. The inside panels and trim was recovered in black alcantara and blue. (interior was $8,000) also comes with OEM car cover with matching seat covers, also had an Enzo key made ($500).
Car is fitted with F430 brake rotors and the bigger yellow calipers. There is so much to list. So many parts included. I was going to do a Ford engine with ZF transmission ( like the Pantera). I was also looking at a few different options. with other transmissions (RBT) and engine combinations, maybe something with more power and cheaper to maintain. I just have no time. And have other projects to focus on. My loss, is your gain if you want to finish, there has been over 70K invested.
As for outside parts, the car needs headlights, I was going to build buckets with plexiglass covers like the "IDLING F355" that's why the fog lights are filled in. Needs a new top, original is ripped from the sun. Car has the radiators and fans installed, also have the gas tank. rad lines, oil tank, some boxes of trim, gaskets and little things that add up, I got black leather door panels. the car comes with the black spoke axis 19" wheels with Ferrari center caps. with new Pirelli tires.
Sure, it's missing a drivetrain, but here's a thought: You can buy this F355 longblock on eBay pretty reasonably OR you can retrofit a 360 Modena's entire drivetrain to make it inherently more reliable than the original. Since resale's already in the gutter, you have carte blanche to do whatever tickles your fancy. At the end, you'll have a crazy unique Ferrari that you built yourself for way less than the price of a used one, with one hell of a sense of accomplishment. Please, someone buy it before I do.
Tavarish is the founder of APiDA Online and writes about buying and selling cool cars on the internet. He owns the world's cheapest Mercedes S-Class, a graffiti-bombed Lexus, and he's the only Jalopnik author that has never driven a Miata. He also has a real name that he didn't feel was journalist-y enough so he used a pen name and this was the best he could do.