There cannot be many more festive feelings at this.time of year than turning on the radio in the car and hearing ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea playing back at you. Well, now you can drive home for Christmas in a car once owned by the blues man himself, as a 1995 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta - formerly part of Chris Rea’s collection - has become available for sale at Bell Sport & Classic.

Hertfordshire based Bell Sport & Classic pride themselves on being experts in all things Ferrari and this example is an early production run F355 Berlinetta in superb condition. It has undergone a comprehensive refresh by the company’s specialist Ferrari technical team boasting former Maranello factory personnel.

The F355 was originally introduced at the 1994 Geneva International Motor Show and garnered immediate fanfare from Ferrari owners and the wider public. As a replacement for the 348 - which was underwhelming to some - the more modern mid-engined F355 was as good on the road as it was on the eye.

At the time, the V8 at the heart of the car delivered the highest output (107bhp per litre) of any road car and utilised technology inspired by Ferrari’s Formula One programme. A 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 184mph made it quicker than the Honda NSX, Lotus Esprit and Porsche 911 993. Jeremy Clarkson even praised the 355 at the time as “the greatest car in the world, ever.”

Renowned Ferrari enthusiast Chris Rea evidently agreed and ordered the 1995 example which features the Bosh ‘2.7 Motronic’ ECU system (improving throttle response) and driver-focussed Momo steering wheel.

Coming in rare Blue Scuro Micalizzato, it had covered just 25,500 miles before undergoing comprehensive work by the Bell Sport & Classics team of Ferrari trained experts. The same care has been administered both inside and outside the car, with paintwork being brought back to its original factory colours and the cream leather interior and all switchgear getting a refresh.

Tim Kearns, Managing Director, Bell Sport & Classic, said: “This F355 ranks among the best (cars) we’ve encountered. The team has, as ever, put everything into the painstaking recommissioning process, and the results speak for themselves. This F355 is the perfect example of a truly great Ferrari, one that can hold its own in the world’s most exclusive collections. Now presenting in perfect condition, this unmodified example of an iconic model, in the ultimate specification with a compelling backstory, is ready to be enjoyed by its new owner.”

Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Bell Sport & Classic