It’s red, wears Prancing Horse badges, features a gated shifter, and can clock 171mph. So, what isn’t to like about this 1992 Ferrari 348 TS? It presents well as a survivor-grade classic, and is a turnkey proposition with no apparent needs. Therefore, it appears to tick all of the right boxes for potential buyers. The only thing it appears to need is a new home. The seller has listed the Ferrari here on eBay in Astoria, New York. They set their BIN at $89,500 with the option to make an offer.
As with its “308” range, Ferrari turned to Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina to design the 348. It remains an enormously significant model, representing Enzo Ferrari’s last V8 project before “il Commendatore” passed away in 1988. Although most vehicle manufacturers place little emphasis on sentiment, Ferrari gave the 348 the green light within weeks of Enzo’s death. The first cars left the factory in 1989, with its replacement, the F355, actually hitting the market before 348 production ended in 1995. The history of our feature 348, which is the TS variant, is unclear. However, the listing conveys the impression that it is a genuine survivor. It ticks one of the most crucial boxes for enthusiasts, ordered in iconic Rosso Corsa by its first owner. Ferrari offered a broad color palette by the time this car arrived in 1992, but there is something inherently “right” about Ferraris painted red. The seller provides no close-up shots, although the photos paint a generally positive picture of the car with no major cosmetic flaws. The paint shines nicely, and the panels are clean. The glass is in good condition, and the 17″ alloy wheels appear free from curb strike and other physical damage.
The first owner teamed this classic’s Rosso Corsa exterior with an interior trimmed in Black leather. The condition is generally quite good, although there appears to be slight wear on the driver’s seat outer bolster. I would hand the car to a leather specialist fairly quickly if I were the new owner, addressing what is a relatively small issue before it becomes a bigger one. The remaining trim is excellent, as is the plastic. The interior features power windows, power locks, power mirrors, and air conditioning. The buyer also receives the iconic gated shifter, an item I have always considered a “must-have” in any Italian exotic.
The 348 continued Ferrari’s practice of model designations related to engine configurations. In this case, it features a mid-mounted 3.4-liter V8, teamed with a five-speed manual transaxle. The V8 is a gem, producing 300hp and 229 ft/lbs of torque. With the 348 tipping the scales at over 3,200 lbs, it wasn’t the most brutal vehicle Ferrari produced. However, it could accelerate from 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds, with the V8 running out of breath when the needle hit 171mph. The seller indicates that this 348 has a genuine 27,000 miles showing on its odometer, and that the sale includes its factory books and tool kit. It runs and drives extremely well, making it a turnkey proposition for potential buyers.
We don’t see Ferraris every day at Barn Finds, but we have featured two of the marque’s most iconic models within a few hours. The 1978 308 GTS featured in this article is a gem, and our feature 348 TS is no less impressive. It has generated respectable interest for a vehicle in this price range, though Ferraris tend to do so. The seller’s price looks realistic compared to recent successful sales, but potential buyers may be able to improve the situation if the seller is willing to negotiate. It never hurts to ask, because the worst they can say is “No.” Would you pay the BIN for this classic, or do you have a lower figure in mind?
I’d sure like to know what maintenance needs to be done. Low miles means lots of sitting – – – where? Stuff dies all by itself from disuse, not just wear, and I get the impression that Ferraris are maintenance hogs.
The price of these have gone up, but the 355’s are now to the moon!!