Our maiden car feature is a Ferrari. Since the legendary
Italian automaker is the epitome of supercar excess, stylishness, and pedigree.
So then, it is only fitting that we start with the Italian stallion, right?
This Ferrari 348 Spyder is for sale right now at Broadway Motorcars in McKees
Rocks, Pennsylvania. The model showcased here is a convertible – which looks a
bit sharper than the coupe version if you ask me.
The car up for sale is offered at $35,500, though one would
suspect that with some well-timed wheeling and dealing, you could take it home
for right around $30k if you are as good at negotiation as you should be when
you shop for a car like this.
This specimen is a beautifully dark horse in black on black
leather. According to the dealer’s website, the odometer reads 43,000 and the
car has had a crucial full-servicing as recently as 30,000 miles. It also has
manual tranny, rear wheel drive, alloy wheels, air conditioning, and ABS.
The Allure
Stylistic nods in the design of the 348 have always led me
to feel that it was the Testarossa lite,
so to speak. Note the angular rear-end
on the 348, which is one of the few models in the stable apart from the
Testarossa to sport such a boxy backside and rectangular tail lights.
In any case, this cool example of early-1990s Ferrari design
features a V8 that first appeared in the 288 GTO.
The 348’s manual gearbox is a transverse manual akin to the
one found in the somewhat less cool Mondial. The 348 for sale in Pennsylvania
right now is a 1994, meaning that it benefits from all of the refreshments introduced the prior year, including a more reliable starter than early
iterations of the car.
The Disclaimer
So before we go too far, let’s talk about some of the upkeep
on the 348. As with any auto imported from Italy, replacement parts come at a
premium in the case of this Ferrari.
Notoriously temperamental on the 348 are the water pump,
clutch, and flywheel parts. For these reasons (along with the obvious), when
shopping for a 348, a complete service history is a real must-have.
The Conclusion
The good news related to the 348 Spyder shown for sale in
Pennsylvania benefits from some minor improvements over others in the range.
The rear wheels are 2-inches thicker, the onboard computer is more reliable
(and sourced from a third-party), and the exhaust was updated for the ’94 convertible.
Above all, the allure of cars like this one is found in
their glorious, time-tested excess and style. This sleek black Ferrari 348 can
be yours for a fraction of its original MSRP. Just remember, no one will call foul
for owning an older supercar, especially one with this much iconic style oozing
off of it - so long as its in great shape like this one.
Check this old Top Gear video on the Ferrari 348, featuring
a young and mop-topped Jeremy Clarkson:
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