Article about the Ferrari 348 TB
By: Bob Hagendijk

How does a car follow in the tire tracks of the 308 & 328 series? It isn't easy, but the 348 attempted just this.

The 348 line started with its introduction at the Frankfurt Auto Show. There were two variations of the model present: the TB and the TB. the TB was the normal berlinetta version, and the TS came with a targa roof. This was the first completely new car since the death of Enzo Ferrari, and it had to follow-up the 308/328 series, the most succesfull model in the history of the company. This wasn't an easy task, but Pininfarina and the designers at the factory yet again produced visual work of art.
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The 348 was a car of a total different time. This was the first time the factory used large scale production machines to create the 348. The car was the first one to have a self-supporting frame, with a subframe for the engine. Because of this, the 348 didn't need special bumpers for the USA. The engine was now placed longitudinal, therefore the wheelbase of the car increased with 10 cm, and the luggagespace behind the engine disappeared. Instead of that, there was a small space created in the front due to the radiators being placed in the rear. With this placement the car had the same eggslicers as the Testarossa, for the winds to channel and help cool the radiators.
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When the car was introduced the Ferrari market was hot, new or used, every single one sold because people thought it was a good investment. It wasn't until the beginning of the 90's that the exclusive car market collapsed and dealers had trouble selling their cars. It was for this reason Ferrari built the 348 Serie Speciale. This car was a normal 348 with something extra for the US market and limited to 100 cars. The biggest differences were: new frontspoiler, the underside of the car was painted in bodycolor, wider track, and the rear lights were no longer crossed by the grille.
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In February of 1993 the Spider version was added to the 348 series. It was introduced on Rodeo Drive and as always the Spider version was gorgeous--all lines were just perfect. Every car lover dreamt of cruising with the top down on curvasious roads along the coast line, their hair in the fresh sea-breeze driving until the sun droped into the ocean. Just like the Serie Speciale the underside of the car was painted in the bodycolor.
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The 348 was also the first Ferrari to have it's own racing competition, the 348 Challenge. For a fixed price you could buy a racekit for your car, and support on the tracks. After the races the car could easely be converted back to a normal street version. As most readers will recall this was a huge success, and the F335 and 360 Challenges followed in pursuit of the new tradition.
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In october 1993 the TB and TB badges changed to GTB and GTS, the only visual difference was that the underbody was no longer painted black. A little fact: the black on the previous TB and TS was painted over the body color, creating an extra process, which most buyers did not like in the first place.
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In 1994 the European dealers got their Serie Speciale, the "GT Competizione." Only 50 were built, of which 8 were right hand drive. The GT Competizione got modular wheels and Scuderia shields on its front quarter panels. In addition, the interior went through some minor design changes.
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The previous model just mentioned had nothing to do with the 348 Competizione, 11 of these cars were built for the Italian Supercar GT-races, and 2 extra specific for the 24 hours of Le Mans, these were the 348 GT/C-LM.
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The 348 GTB and GTS were replaced by the F355 Berlinetta and GTS in march 1994, and the Spider was replaced in April 1995.

Spec sheet for the 348 TB

Labels: Ferrari Dealerships