Highlights
- Classic Ferrari specification
- Very good condition throughout
- Maintained by QV of London in current ownership
- Enthusiast owned
The Appeal
Praised by American automotive magazine Road & Track as “one of the ten best cars in the world” and widely regarded by journalists and enthusiasts alike to be one of Ferrari’s ‘greatest hits’, the 348 was launched in 1989 and was instantly given the nickname ‘baby Testarossa’ thanks to its iconic side intake grilles, pop-up headlights and squared-off rear end.
One of the final designs to be overseen by Leonardo Fioravanti - who’s back catalogue includes the F40, 288 GTO and Daytona - the 348 was lightly face-lifted in 1993, though remained instantly identifiable across both of its production generations.
This example has been in the care of the current owner since 2017, and has been used and enjoyed alongside the rest of his small, but well-formed car collection. Maintained by marque specialist QV of Windsor, this example has recently been given a service and cam-belt change, and is ready for the next owner to simply jump in and enjoy.
History/Paperwork
- V5 registered keepers document, showing 11 former keepers
- In the care of the current owner since 2017
- Extensive history file, contained in a ring-backed folder
- Significant recent expenditure
First registered in February 1993, this is a late-production ‘phase one’ example of the 348tb, which features the original ‘tb’ designation, along with the contrasting lower bumper and side skirts, which mark it out as a pre-facelift model.
Finished in the classic specification of Rosso Corsa bodywork over a black leather interior, this example was purchased by the vendor in 2017.
During their ownership, this 348tb has proven to be enjoyable, fun and impressively easy to live with, and has been maintained by QV, thereby carrying on the impressive - largely specialist - service history, which was inherited upon purchase of the vehicle.
Speaking of the history, it is notable that this example comes with a veritable treasure trove of paperwork and history, documenting an extensive part of this Ferrari’s lifetime, with mountains of invoices, documents and history for the next owner to sort through and appreciate.
All-importantly, this is a ‘matching numbers’ example, which also retains its original leather tool kit box and document wallet.
Now, the decision has been made to sell the vehicle due to it not being used often enough for the vendor’s liking, meaning one lucky bidder will be able to buy themselves a ready-to-run, bona-fide modern classic Ferrari in great shape. What’s not to like?
The Interior
- Black leather interior in great shape
- All systems working as they should be
- CTEK charger wired to battery for ease of ownership
Inside, the cabin of this 348tb has stood the test of time very well indeed, which is credit to Maranello’s build quality of the period.
Overall, the interior presents wonderfully, with no signs of any major wear to the seats, only the typical commensurate wear to the outer bolsters and seat bases being worthy of any note.
Up above, the headlining is taut throughout and free of staining, whilst the carpets are also in excellent order throughout.
The high-traffic areas such as the shifter for the exposed-gate gearbox, the door cards, steering wheel, handbrake and inner door sills show some light signs of wear - such as minor marks and imperfections - but are in-keeping with the rest of the car’s overall condition.
Up front, the luggage compartment is neat and tidy, and boasts a hard-wired CTEK connection point for the battery for ease of use. The original tool kit box is present and in great shape.
The vendor reports no known faults with any of the systems, switches or displays within the cabin.
The Exterior
- Classic Rosso Corsa bodywork
- Very good condition throughout
- Pop-up lights in full working order
Resplendent in the iconic shade of Rosso Corsa, the exterior of this 348tb is in equally great condition as the cabin, and still looks fantastic to this day.
Up close, the paintwork stands up well to scrutiny, with only the usual light imperfections such as swirl marks, stone chips and minor ‘usage’ wear around the door latches being visible, along with some slightly lighter marks along the upper edge of the front bumper (where it meets the luggage compartment cover) and some ‘spidering’ on the front lower bumper valence.
Along the sides of the vehicle, the panel gaps, alignment and silhouette of the car are all in good order, with no dents or impact damage noted during our inspection.
One thing we did notice, however, was a patch of damage/bubbling visible on the lower offside rear side skirt area, just behind the driver’s door, which has been documented in the extensive photo gallery below.
All of the badges, trims and fixtures are present-and-correct, whilst the pop-up headlights displayed no sign of any faults or hesitation when going up or down.
The vendor notes that all four tyres have been replaced during his ownership tenure, and all four wheels are in great condition, with no kerb rash or heavy wear visible.
The Mechanicals
- Recent (mileage) service and cam-belt change by QV
- Engine in rude health - sounds fantastic
- Clean MoT certificate until June 2023
At the heart of this mid-engined Ferrari sits a 3.4-litre Tipo F199 dry-sump V8, producing 296bhp and a soundtrack that is enough to get any petrolhead excited.
Of course, maintenance is paramount to any supercar’s health, and we’re pleased to report that QV performed a 6,000 mile service and a cam-belt change on this 348 in January 2021 at 62,016 miles, and it has covered only 121 miles since this work took place.
Firing up with ease and settling instantly into a smooth idle, the mechanics of this 348tb performed flawlessly during our photo shoot, and the vendor reports that there are no known outstanding issues with the engine, drivetrain or chassis.
The most recent MoT exam took place on 21 May 2022, and resulted in a clean first-time pass with no advisory items noted.
Summary
With its sonorous V8 engine, striking styling reminiscent of a scaled-down Testarossa and finished in the classic Ferrari colour combination of Rosso Corsa bodywork over a black leather interior, this is a much-loved and well-kept example of the pre-facelift 348TB, which has seen minimal use in recent years and is ready for the next owner to jump in and drive off into the sunset.
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