In-depth Guide To Mid-V8 Ferrari Convertibles (Part 2 of 2)

In-depth Guide To Mid-V8 Ferrari Convertibles (Part 2 of 2)

Last week, we uploaded Part 1 of our search to the mid-V8 Ferrari convertible. Today, we’re continuing with the 1995 Ferrari F355 GTS.

The car figures mentioned are confirmed by Ferrari. If you missed Part 1, read it now.

1995 Ferrari F355 GTS

1995 Ferrari F355 GTS

Photo: Ferrari

Based on the F355 Berlinetta, the GTS version was a ‘targa-style’ convertible whose roof could manually be removed and stored behind the seats.

  • Dry weight: 1350 kg / 2976 lbs (similar weight as the Coupé).
  • Manually removable roof panel stowed behind the seats.
  • Total production: 2577 units (529 with F1 transmission).

1999 Ferrari F355 Spider ‘Serie Fiorano’

1999 Ferrari F355 Spider ‘Serie Fiorano’

Photo: Ferrari

As a farewell to the F355, the last 100 F355 Spiders were converted to ‘Serie Fiorano’ spec. This included Challenge grilles, Scuderia shields and a range of carbon fibre options. Its performance was closer to the Ferrari Challenge cars. 100 units were planned for the US market, but other countries wanted a piece of the pie, so the factory reportedly built 4 additional cars – three in EU spec and one destined for South Africa.

Models that featured the paddle-shift transmission were called F355 F1 Spider Serie Fiorano, and the regular manual ones were still called F355 Spider Serie Fiorano.

  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: officially 100 units, although it is reported that 104 were produced.

2000 Ferrari 360 Spider

2000 Ferrari 360 Spider

Photo: Ferrari

Ferrari cancelled the ‘targa-style’ convertible with the introduction of the 360. The 2000 Geneva Motor Show saw the introduction of the 360 Spider, which, in terms of design, was a departure from its ‘boxier’ predecessors.

  • Dry weight: 1350 kg / 2976 lbs (60 kg / 132 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: ± 7500 units.

2000 Ferrari 360 Barchetta

2000 Ferrari 360 Barchetta

Photo: Ferrari

A one-off 360 Barchetta version was commissioned in 2000 by Gianni Agnelli as a wedding present for the then Fiat president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo.

  • Total production: 1 units.

Ferrari Challenge Stradale Spider

2000 Ferrari Challenge Stradale Spider

Photo: Arjan v/d Heide

Although not an official Ferrari product, some 360 Spider owners converted their car into Challenge Stradale specifications. They replaced parts such as the ECU, bumpers and rims with Challenge Stradale OEM parts. Even the exhaust and carbon parts were often added onto the standard 360 Spider.

  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: believed to be 5 units converted worldwide.

2005 Ferrari F430 Spider

2005 Ferrari F430 Spider

Photo: Ferrari

The Ferrari F430 Spider was an update to the 360 rather than a completely new car. It was designed by Frank Stephenson in collaboration with Pininfarina. The team gave the car a bit more stance and aggression. Unique features included a front-bumper reminiscent of the Ferrari 156 F1 car and taillights inspired by the ones on the Enzo.

  • Dry weight: 1420 kg / 3130 lbs (70 kg / 155 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

2008 Ferrari F430 Spider Bio Fuel

2008 Ferrari F430 Spider Bio Fuel

Photo: Ferrari

In its interest to grow market share in areas such as Brazil and parts of Scandinavia, Ferrari unveiled a one-off F430 Spider that ran on ethanol during the 2008 Detroit Motor Show. Horsepower and torque numbers slightly increased, whereas the emissions were 5% lower.

  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: 1 unit.

2008 Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

2008 Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

Photo: Ferrari

An even quicker version of the Ferrari F430 Spider came in 2008 in the form of the 16M. Just 499 unique cars left the Maranello gates. The car benefitted from a range of lightweight additions such as carbon fibre and lighter body parts. 16M stands for the 16th Manufacturer’s championship Ferrari won in 2008.

  • Dry weight: 1340 kg / 2954 lbs (81 kg / 179 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 20 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: 499 units.

2011 Ferrari 458 Spider

2011 Ferrari 458 Spider

Photo: Ferrari

The next generation of the Ferrari V8 Spider underwent a large change, as it was a completely different car compared to its predecessors. The Ferrari 458 Spider was the first Ferrari V8 Spider featuring a retractable hard-top rather than a soft-top.

  • Dry weight: 1430 kg / 3153 lbs (50 kg / 110 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

2013 Pininfarina Sergio

2013 Pininfarina Sergio

Photo: Classic Driver

Sergio Pininfarina, the famous automotive designer, passed away on 3 July 2012 aged 85. As a tribute, Pininfarina built the one-off Pininfarina Sergio and presented it at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The car is finished in a red paint, featuring gold wheels and light interior. It has no roof nor a front window.

  • Total production: 1 unit.

2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta

2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta

Photo: Ferrari

Following the same theses as the Scuderia Spider 16M, the ‘Speciale A’ was a convertible version of the 458 Speciale. It featured the same 4.5-L engine as the Speciale coupé, generating a power output of around 600 bhp. Until the introduction of the LaFerrari Aperta in 2017, this was the most powerful, street-legal N/A Ferrari convertible ever.

  • Dry weight: 1340 kg / 2954 lbs (50 kg / 110 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.
  • Total production: 499 units.

2015 Ferrari Sergio

2015 Ferrari Sergio

Photo: Ferrari

Ferrari decided to produce the 2013 Pininfarina Sergio concept to a small number of pre-selected buyers. The Sergio shared more components with the 458 Spider, such as the interior and tail-lights. One of the most notable changes, as oppose to the Sergio concept, was the addition of a front-window. The car does not come with a factory roof panel. Just 6 units were produced.

  • Total production: 6 units.

2015 Ferrari 488 Spider

2015 Ferrari 488 Spider

Photo: Ferrari

The Ferrari 488 Spider was the first turbocharged Ferrari V8 Spider since the 1986 GTS Turbo. Compared to the 458 Spider, the 488’s design is an update rather than a completely new car. an overall modern design but this was again rather an update than a completely new car. The 2018 remake of Magnum P.I. features a 488 Spider, just like the original 1980s show featured the then-current Ferrari 308 GTS.

  • Dry weight: 1420 kg / 3131 lbs (50 kg / 110 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

2018 Ferrari J50

2018 Ferrari J50

Photo: Ferrari

Based on the Ferrari 488 Spider, the J50 was a limited edition car to celebrate 50 years of Ferrari in Japan. The sharp lines were a tribute to Ferrari sports cars of the 1970s and 1980s, featuring a manually removable hard-top. 10 units were built in total, solely for the Japanese market.

  • Dry weight: ± 1525 kg / 3362 lbs (95 kg / 209 lbs heavier than the 488 Spider).
  • Manually removable carbon roof panel, stowed behind the seats.
  • Total production: 10 units.

2018 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider

2018 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider

Photo: Ferrari

Unveiled during Car Week 2018 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the 488 Pista Spider is a lighter convertible version of the 488 Pista coupe.. Whereas the 16M and SpecialeA were limited in production, the 488 Pista Spider was not, although you had to have one or two Ferraris in your stable to be granted an allocation.

  • Dry weight: 1380 kg / 3042 lbs (100 kg / 220 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

2019 Ferrari F8 Spider

2019 Ferrari F8 Spider

Photo: Kroymans Ferrari

Ferrari F8 Tributos are steadily being delivered to buyers, and what a tribute it is. The F8 brings various design cues from past Ferraris and gives them a modern twist. It’s powered by the highly awarded F154 V8 engine and is possibly the last mid-V8 Ferrari from this range. The F8 Spider is also powered by that marvellous engine, bringing insane speed and pleasure to anyone’s stable.

No doubt Ferrari will also produce a special faster and lighter version of the F8 Tributo and F8 Spider.

  • Dry weight: 1400 kg / 3086 lbs (70 kg / 154 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

2020 Ferrari SF90 Spider

2020 Ferrari SF90 Spider

Photo: Nick Philippo

Sharing its name with the 2019 Ferrari F1 car, the SF90 shook the car world with its introduction in 2019. It was praised for combining hypercar performance with an exotic sports car price tag. The car’s biggest development, other than its design, is the powertrain. Equipped with three electric motors and an evolution of the turbocharged Ferrari V8, total power output is 986 hp.

  • Dry weight: 1670 kg / 3682 lbs (70 kg / 154 lbs heavier than the Coupé).
  • 14 seconds to deploy or retract the roof.

Written by Max Lammers. Join our email list if you’re interested in receiving the latest on our online magazine and store.


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