Ferrari 348 Challenge (1 of 100).
The Ferrari 348 was launched at the 1989 Frankfurt Auto Show and came as a replacement for the 328 model series. It featured a mid-engine layout with a naturally aspirated 3.4-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts producing 300 hp, coupled to a five-speed manual transverse gearbox. The model remained in production for six years and a total of 8,844 examples were produced, all versions combined. It was the last V8 model developed under the direction of Enzo Ferrari; the car was commissioned to production shortly after his passing in August 1988.
In 1993, Ferrari Club Nederland founder and President Hans Hugenholtz came up with the idea of launching the Ferrari Challenge. The race series was designated for the 348 and included Italian and European series. The cars used for these race series were modified street versions, the upgrading works often done by Ferrari dealers who installed factory-supplied Challenge kits. The kit included a direct exhaust, carbon seats, roll cage, lowered suspension, 18″ magnesium wheels, onboard fire extinguisher and other details to boost engine performance in addition to technical support on the track. The 348 Challenge’s V8 engine unleashed 320 bhp, 20 or so more than the road version.
Since only 100 examples of the 348 Challenge were built by the factory, many of the rest having been converted by dealers, it is difficult to estimate how many were produced in total. However, the 348 Challenge cars remain a desirable and rare version of this model.
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F348 Spider
Photo courtesy by Kevin Berning
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