1999 | Ferrari F 355 Spider

"I just can't see any way they could make it better. The nicest car I have ever, ever driven. I have to have one." – Jeremy Clarkson

The Ferrari F355 burst onto the scene in 1994 and instantly made the 348 look like an Italian intern spilling coffee on his very first day at work. This wasn’t a facelift, not an update—this was Ferrari reinventing itself in the way only Ferrari can. Under the hood sat a 3.5-liter V8 with five valves per cylinder (cinquevalvole—you expect a serenade, but what you get is tinnitus). It screams all the way to 8,500 rpm as if it’s trying to break free from its own engine bay. No rumble, no burble—just purebred Ferrari.

And because Italians don’t do things by halves, they made a Spider too. Why only hear that sound from inside, when you could experience it under the Tuscan sun, arms raised, cheering? The roof was, for the first time, fully electronic—so you no longer need a Boy Scout badge just to get it up and down. The rest? Pininfarina styling, 1,800 hours in the wind tunnel, and lines that practically force you to blow a kiss to the bodywork. Elegance and arrogance in perfect harmony.

The F355 Spider isn’t just a car—it’s a masterclass in how it should be done. The chassis is razor-sharp, the steering so direct your sweat glands join in mid-corner, and the engine pure madness. And then there’s that exposed metal-gated shifter: click, clack, goosebumps. Forget DSGs, paddles, software-controlled shifting games—this is mechanical perfection. You don’t talk to this car; you shout at it. And it shouts back.

Now for the serious part. Our example is exactly as you’d want it. Originally delivered in Frankfurt, meticulously maintained, fully stamped service books, and the right boxes ticked: Rosso Corsa exterior, black leather interior, Ferrari shields on the flanks, painted brake calipers, and the Challenge grille at the rear. And yes, the holy grail: a six-speed manual gearbox. No compromises, no clickbait Ferrari. This is the F355 Spider purists dream about at night. The difference between a well-preserved car and a true collectible. Will we be seeing you soon?

"Even after many years in motoring journalism, and driving quite a few Ferraris, the F355 ranks as one of my all-time favourite cars. I’d have one in a heartbeat." – Brian Silvestro, Road & Track