Broad Arrow Auctions has found a buyer for a rare Ferrari F355 “Challenge”. Believed to come from a production batch of 300 units – some say only 100 were actually made – it has stayed in one family since rolling off the assembly line in 1996.
This special edition was originally designed for Ferrari’s Challenge racing series (see video). The idea was to offer a track-ready supercar for private clients. All cars from this series started their life as normal F355 models and were later retrofitted with an option pack worth approximately $30,000.
Each example received the same Brembo brake setup as the Ferrari F40, custom 18-inch magnesium wheels shod in Pirelli slicks, an internal roll cage and buckest seats with racing-grade safety harnesses. The trim was as minimal as you’d expect from a Ferrari racer.
Power came from a 3.5-liter V8 engine, which drove the wheels with 380 PS (375 hp / 279 kW) via a six-speed manual transmission. This corresponded to the output of the stock F355 model at the time.
Further upgrades included a battery cut-out switch, a fire extinguisher, a homologated steering wheel and a large rear wing, as well as lightweight front bumper and exhaust. The car remained road-legal despite these modifications, and the example that went on sale this week wore a McDonald’s livery to the street. It belonged to Harald Brutschin, former pilot of Formula 3 and Ferrari Challenge. It has been maintained well throughout its life, the listing claims, but isn’t exactly new with 43,500 kilometers (slightly over 27,000 miles) on the clock.
