tommallett

I chose my second modern classic because it cemented a place in Ferrari’s stable for a light weight version of the firm’s junior model.
Before the 360 Challenge Stradale Ferrari had produced light weight versions of the 355 and 348 but they had been hard core in the extreme. I remember finding these cars thrilling as an excitable ten year old, they were closely based on the ‘Challenge’ racing cars that you could see flying around circuits throughout Europe. However, they were anything but usable as road cars. They shook the fillings out of teeth and had no creature comforts to speak of.

The Ferrari 360 Modena will not be remembered as one of the great Ferrari’s, but its light weight cousin will be. While the Stradale ‘only’ produced a 425 bhp, 25 more than the standard car, it feels on a different level when it comes to performance. The 100 kg weight saving accounts for some of this, as does the louder exhaust and reduction in sound deadening. Having said that, this, for the first time, was a car that the normal person could use; it flatters the average driver while still retaining enough character to enthrall the professional.

Over the last couple of years there has been a slight appreciation in the value of good 360 Challenge Stradale’s, with the best now commanding close to £100,000. Objectively a 430 Scuderia is a better car, but history will surely remember the 360 Challenge Stradale favorably, as I do.