The first Ferrari ever built was an open-top. Spiders always held a very special and vital place in Enzo Ferraris’ heart and later in that of the company itself. The inspiration behind every Ferrari spider is a mix of a genuinely sporty engineering and the thrill of open-top driving.
The F355 Spider brought this spirit to a whole new level by melding the berlinetta and the GTS’s acknowledged performance with a superbly efficient electronically-operated semi-automatic soft top. The factors that made the F355 such a successful model made the transition unaltered to the Pininfarina-styled Spider: a very elastic 380 hp engine with five valves per cylinder, 109 hp/litre specific power output, 4.7-second 0 a 100 km/h sprinting and 37 Kgm of torque.
The two-seater F355 Spider had a steel and aluminium body. Its styling was moulded around an aerodynamically severe design that included a full-body undertray designed to equalise downforce (Cl) between the two axles.
The cabin was designed with both safety and driving pleasure in mind. The seats and trim were Connolly leather. Composite racing seats were also available to order. The chassis was a steel monocoque with a tubular steel rear sub-frame for the engine-suspension assembly. Both front and rear suspension used independent unequal-length wishbones and coil springs over gas-filled telescopic electronic dampers with two settings. The car also has anti-roll bars.
The steering was rack and pinion with power-assist, and optional mechanical gear. The brakes had self-venting discs and excludable ABS ATE. The 18″ wheel rims were magnesium.
The mid-rear 3496 cc 90° V8 was longitudinally mounted and punched out 380 hp, giving it a specific power output of 109 hp/l. Distribution was by means of twin overhead cams with five valves per cylinder. The con rods were titanium, while the control unit was the Bosch M5.2. Dry sump lubrication and a six-speed plus reverse mechanical gearbox completed the picture along with a dry single-plate clutch.
Specifications and Features
Engine
- Type……………………………..rear, longitudinal 90° V8
- Bore/stroke……………………85 x 77 mm
- Unitary displacement………436.94 cc
- Total displacement…………3495.50 cc
- Compression ratio…………..11 : 1
- Maximum power……………279 kW (380 hp) at 8250 rpm
- Power per litre……………….109 hp/l
- Maximum torque……………363 Nm (37 kgm) at 6000 rpm
- Valve actuation………………twin overhead camshafts per bank, five valves per cylinder
- Fuel feed……………………….Bosch Motronic M2.7 electronic injection
- Ignition…………………………Bosch Motronic M2.7 static electronic, single spark plug per cylinder
- Lubrication……………………dry sump
- Clutch……………………………single-plate
Chassis
- Frame……………………………steel monocoque with tubular steel rear sub-frame
- Front suspension……………independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over gas-filled telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
- Rear suspension……………..independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over gas-filled telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
- Brakes…………………………..discs
- Transmission…………………6-speed + reverse
- Steering………………………..rack-and-pinion
- Fuel tank……………………….capacity 88 litres
- Front tyres…………………….225/40 ZR 18
- Rear tyres……………………..265/40 ZR 18
Bodywork
- Type……………………………..two-seater spider
- Length………………………….4250 mm
- Width…………………………..1900 mm
- Height………………………….1170 mm
- Wheelbase…………………….2450 mm
- Front track……………………1514 mm
- Rear track……………………..1615 mm
- Weight………………………….1350 kg (dry)
Performance
- Top speed……………………..295 km/h
- Acceleration
0-100 km/h…………………..4.7 sec
0-400 m……………………….12.9 sec
0-1000 m……………………..23.7 sec
