1992 FERRARI 348 CHALLENGE - ROAD LEGAL

KEY FACTS

• A superb example of the race-prepared 1990s supercar, which is fully road legal and is presented in excellent condition following a sympathetic refurbishment.
• It is powered by a 3.4-litre quad-cam V8, which produces 320bhp and drives the rear wheels via a five-speed gated manual transmission.
• First registered in Japan in August 1992, this 348 TB Challenge was imported into the UK and later re-registered with the DVLA in September 2019 to the current owner.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• Created to compete in the single-make Ferrari Challenge racing series, the 348 Challenge model features numerous unique enhancements compared to the standard car, including a lightweight Ansa exhaust that helps produce more power and uprated brakes.
• In the cabin, the 348’s relatively plush leather-trimmed seats are replaced by Challenge-specific OMP carbon-kevlar items, and the car is also equipped with a full racing safety kit, including six-point harnesses, a roll cage and kill switches.
• This example is finished in the iconic Ferrari hue of Rosso Corsa (300/12) with two-tone red and black upholstery.
• It rides on the larger 18-inch, five-spoke Speedline alloy wheels, which still retain their original stickers.
• The car has been treated to a sympathetic renovation since coming to the UK, which has included an engine out service, a front-end respray, retrimming of the bucket seats, replacement of one of the front fog lights and replacement of the stereo and speakers.
• It is accompanied by a Schedoni wallet that includes a number of booklets, several Japanese ‘shaken’ roadworthiness inspection reports, a folder of photographs documenting recent work, its full tool kit and the invoices for its maintenance in the UK.

CONDITION

• The car is in excellent overall condition and there is no known prior accident damage. The front end was resprayed (due to stone chips) and one sill was partially resprayed some two years ago.
• The Rosso Corsa paintwork is in very good condition, with only a few minor marks around the car including scrapes on the bottom of the front spoiler and two hairline cracks on the rear bumper, which is commensurate with the car’s age and use.
• Some of the original sponsor logo decals have been replaced with exact copies.
• Its engine bay presents particularly well, thanks in part to its repainted cam covers and polished exhaust manifolds.
• Inside, the OMP carbon-kevlar bucket seats have been fully retrimmed with new foam padding and red fabric covers, and are pristine.
• The interior trim is very smart, with a new set of colour-matched red floor mats fitted to protect the immaculate original carpet below.
• There are no known electrical or mechanical faults with the vehicle.
• The car’s last MOT test was conducted on 26 July 2021 at 32,732km, resulting in a first-time pass with no warnings or advisories.

SERVICE HISTORY

• This 348 Challenge’s last service has just been completed in August 2021 at independent Ferrari specialist AV Engineering. The previous major service was also carried by AV Engineering during 2019 at 32,364km shortly after the car was imported, prior to UK registration – this included replacement of the cam belts, tensioner bearings, clutch disc and master cylinder, as well as the fuel and oil hoses and all of the car’s fluids.
• Prior to this, Ferrari main dealer Cornes Tokyo performed a general service in March 2016 at 31,672km.

SUMMARY

This Ferrari 348 Challenge is a fantastic track-focused yet road-legal supercar, which presents particularly well following recent cosmetic and mechanical renovation. As an example of the first model to take part in the still-popular Ferrari Challenge race series, this 348 would make a fine addition to any collector’s stable, and it is also eligible to compete in a number of classic motorsport events. The car will be on display at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court on Friday September 3^rd.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.

Please note: the cherished plate shown on the vehicle is not included in the sale. It will be switched back to an age-related registration plate in the event of a successful auction. Bidders should understand that there may be a delay in receiving updated paperwork from the DVLA due to this process.