All Ferrari ‘Special’, from 348 Challenge to 296 Speciale

Ferrari’s story is marked by spectacular supercardives that have happened throughout the last 77 years and have cemented the reputation of the rampant cavallino as the fastest, luxurious and desired car brand of the planet.

Among these iconic supercar, however, there are some that are more special than others because they seek maximum power, lightness and benefits, legendary cars that see in the new 296 Special the last evolution of the species.

Here we would like to do a rapid review of the history of these special ‘Ferrari’ with you, focusing on the Berlinettas with the back engine of the last 30 years that are still authentic pieces of collector.

Ferrari 348 Challenge

We started with Ferrari 348 and, in particular, with the Ferrari 348 Challenge of 1993, which not only started the Ferrari monomarca championship of the same name, but also laid the foundations for the creation of a special Berlinettas lineage with central engine.

Actually, it was a conversion kit that allowed the 348 TB Coupé and version 348 TS targa to go to the track in the Ferrari Challenge. However, the kit could be disassembled to return the car to the street configuration and included direct exhausts, carbon seats, antivuelco cage, reduced posture, 18 -inch magnesium tires and about 20 hp plus (320 hp) than the 348 standard street.

Ferrari F355 Challenge Y Ferrari F355 Fiorano Serie

The Ferrari F355 has also had its version of races, the F355 Challenge, which has occurred since 1995 only for the track, but has seen how about 20 customers made it a road car in some countries.

The engine is 3.5 V8 with five valves per cylinder, with a power of 380 hp without changes with respect to the F355 serial, while the few modifications include a lowered configuration or a special exhaust system, body reinforcements, bodybar, larger brakes and magnesium alloy wheels. Nor must we forget the Ferrari F355 Fioran Road Series, of which 100 copies were manufactured (only Spider) in 1999 with some modifications taken from the Challenge.

Foto: RM Sotheby’s

Ferrari series F355 Fiorano

Ferrari 360 Challenge road

The most special evolution of Ferrari 360 Modena was the 360 ​​Challenge Stradale of 2003, which, as its name indicated, was the emblematic version of the racing car with a reduced configuration, carboceramic brakes, 19 -inch wheels, weight reduced to 1,180 kg and an accelerated F1 gearbox.

Foto: RM Sotheby’s

Ferrari 360 Challenge road

The engine was the 3.6 -liter atmospheric V8 with augmented power of 400 to 425 hp to offer the sensations of circuit driving also on the road, thanks to a greater vertical load.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia y Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

The Ferrari F430 also had its own special series, actually two, since in addition to the Coupé there was also the improved and lightened spider. We talk about the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M, both propelled by the 4.3 V8 atmospheric engine enhanced from 490 to 510 hp and a reduced weight at 100 kg (1,250 kg of dry weight).

Photos: Ferrari

To this was added a system of carboceramic brakes, a F1 gearbox and a specific body kit that joined the 19 -inch special tires with five golden double radios (or gray such as optional graphics) and an exhaust outlet divided into the center of the tail. The result was a Ferrari 430 Scuderia with 320 km/Hy less than 3.6 seconds for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h.

The Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16m was its discovered variant that celebrated in its name the 16th World Title of F1 builders won by Ferrari in 2008, capable of reaching 315 km/hyp with a time of 0-100 km/h of 3.7 seconds.

Photos: Ferrari

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

Ferrari 458 Special Y Ferrari 458 Special a

The direct successor of the 430 Scuderia was the Ferrari 458 Speciale 2013, which saw how the 4.5 V8 engine passed from the 570 hp of the Ferrari 458 Italia to some notable 605 hp, with modifications in the bumpers, deflectors and active aerodynamics, interior carbon fiber coatings and a weight reduction of 90 kg up to 1,290 kg in total. The result was a maximum speed of more than 325 km/Hy a 0-100 in 3 seconds.

Photos: Ferrari

The Ferrari 458 Special to 2014 was its open version, as suggested by the ‘A’ of Aberta, with a rigid roof that was folded in 14 seconds.

Photos: Ferrari

Ferrari 488 Track and Ferrari 488 Track Spider

As of 2018, Ferrari 488 GTB offered its most extreme street version, which was called Ferrari 488 track and saw how its 3.9 V8 Biturbo engine reached a power of 720 hp. In addition, it had a reduced weight to 1,280 kg thanks to the use of carbon fiber panels that allowed it to exceed 340 km/Hy move from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.85 seconds.

Photos: Ferrari

From the same year it was the even more exclusive Ferrari 488 Spider Track, the ‘Solar’ roof version that had the same power and benefits.

Photos: Ferrari

Ferrari 296 Special Y Ferrari 296 Special a

The special Ferrari witness, after having skipped a generation with the absence of a special F8 Tribute, passes to 296 GTB that from 2026 will be transformed into the Ferrari 296 Special, the biple with a central plug -in hybrid engine that offers an increase in 50 hp power to 880 hp and a weight reduction of 60 kg (in the scales brand 1,410 kg).

Photos: Ferrari

Impressive are the figures of benefits that record a maximum speed greater than 330 km/Hy an acceleration from 0 to 100 in 2.8 seconds. Same power and benefits for Ferrari 296 Special A, the open version that weighs 1,490 kg.

Photos: Ferrari