The engine was, as expected, behind the passengers, and it was a 3.6-liter V8 unit with the same bore as F355 but slightly longer stoke, five valves per cylinder, and nominal power output of 400 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. With such firepower, 360 was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 to 4.7 seconds and top 183 mph with ease.  Over five years of production, Ferrari made over 17,500 cars in three versions, and about ¼ of the production run were US-spec cars. The 360 was offered with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed F1-type automatic, which was first introduced in F355 but improved for the Ferrari 360 model. 

Which One to Get?

The 360 was offered in three distinctive versions: 360 Modena (coupe), 360 Spider (convertible), and 360 Challenge Stradale (faster, lighter, and more extreme model). The Modena is most common, with 8,800 cars being made with a fixed roof, followed by beautiful Spider (7,565 copies) and Challenge Stradale being the rarest with 1,288 examples. To be honest, you cannot go wrong with any of those cars. However, they all have distinctive personalities, and you should choose according to that. 

The standard Modena coupe is a well-rounded sports car that should be enjoyed in its purest form – with manual transmission. The Spider is more of a boulevard cruiser but as capable and fast as the coupe and can often be found equipped with automatic. The Challenge Stradale is an enthusiast’s favorite and more a racing car than a street-legal machine. It is 110 kg (200 lbs.) lighter than the standard Modena, with 25 hp more, revised suspension, braking, and recalibrated F1-style gearbox. It is not that faster in numbers, but far more brutal and uncompromising in driving experience and feel.