Ferrari 355 for Export from Dubai

Ferrari 355 for export from Dubai: the last of the hand-built V8 era with a five-valve engine

The Ferrari 355 is a mid-engined V8 sports car built in the second half of the 1990s, and it has aged into one of the more respected modern classics of the brand. What sets it apart is the engine. Ferrari gave the 3.5 litre V8 five valves per cylinder, which helped it rev freely, and the sound has made the car a favourite among collectors. For anyone considering a Ferrari 355 for export from Dubai, the fact that decides value is condition and history, since a clean, well-documented car is worth far more than an average one.

Cars sold for local use inside the UAE appear on the used Ferrari 355 page for Dubai. Here the cars are listed by sellers who expect the buyer to ship them out of the country.

Which 355 you are looking at: production years and body styles

Ferrari launched the 355 in 1994 as the successor to the 348, and it stayed in production until 1999, when the 360 took over. The name refers to 3.5 litres and five valves per cylinder. It was styled by Pininfarina and is regarded as one of the cleaner designs of the decade.

The car came in three body styles. The Berlinetta is the fixed coupe. The GTS is a coupe with a removable roof panel, a targa-style arrangement. The Spider is a full convertible with a fabric roof. The listing here uses only the model name, so ask the seller which one it is and check the registration document.

There is also a transmission split. The early cars came with a six-speed manual, and in 1997 Ferrari offered an electrohydraulic automated manual, called the F1 gearbox, with paddles behind the wheel. Both are found on the used market, and they carry different maintenance needs, so the choice should be deliberate.

What the engine and trim tell you about a 355

The 3.5 litre V8 produces about 380 metric horsepower in Ferrari's figures, and in a car of this size that was lively performance for the time. The engine is known for needing regular servicing, in particular the cambelts, which Ferrari specifies to be replaced at a set interval, with the time limit as important as mileage. An old belt on an engine that has not been driven much is a standard risk.

Other service items worth asking about are the water pump, the valve guides and the exhaust. Evidence that a belt service has been done recently and by a competent workshop is worth more than a low mileage figure that comes with no record. Ask for invoices, not statements.

On the F1 version, ask when the hydraulic pump and actuator were last overhauled. These are known wear items on cars of that era. A manual car has the clutch to consider instead, and a closed-gate shifter that should feel precise.

The underbody is as important as the engine on a car this age, because steel on a car from the nineties can hide corrosion, and a rebuild of the structure is a large job. Have a specialist lift the car and look at the sills, the subframe mounts, the suspension bushes and the fuel lines. Gulf cars rarely suffer from road salt, yet a car that came from a wet country can show corrosion that no photograph reveals.

Two seats, a small cabin and a soft top on some versions

All 355 variants seat two people. The cabin is compact, the boot space is small and the engine bay takes up much of the rest. It is a weekend car, and nobody buys it to haul loads. Tall drivers should sit in one before they buy, since leg room can be tight.

The body styles each have their own checks. On the GTS, look at the roof panel seals and the storage area. On the Spider, the fabric roof, its frame and the motor need inspection, and any leaks show up on the carpet behind the seats. The Berlinetta has the fewest moving parts and the simplest sealing.

Check also the interior leather, the dashboard top and the switchgear. Parts for a car of this age are available through Ferrari and specialists, but trim parts for old Ferraris can be costly and slow to find, especially in colours that were less common.

What sets the price of a Ferrari 355 sold for export

The price depends on a clear list of things. Body style comes first, and the market has valued the three versions differently over time. Then comes the gearbox, as manual cars are widely sought and tend to sell more readily to collectors. After that the mileage, the colour and the condition of the paint and interior.

Documentation counts for a great deal. A thick folder of invoices, original manuals, tool kit and keys can lift the value of a car noticeably. So can the history of the car, such as a single owner or a Ferrari-dealer service history. Cars with unexplained gaps or with accident repairs tend to be worth much less.

Colour can matter more than people expect. Red is common and easy to sell, while rarer shades suit collectors but narrow the pool. Add the cost of getting the car abroad: freight, insurance, port charges and duty. Classic car rules at the destination can affect the duty, and sometimes the age of the car helps. Get an estimate from your forwarder before committing.

Gulf-specification 355 cars and cars from other markets

A 355 sold new in the Gulf had its air conditioning and cooling set up for heat, and its records are linked to the regional importer. A car supplied to the United States or Europe has other lighting, and sometimes other emissions equipment. Because the car is more than twenty-five years old, some of these differences have been altered by owners.

Many 355s on the UAE market arrived as used imports from other countries, so the original market is not always the Gulf. The chassis number on the plate and the original documents will say where it started. A car that has spent decades in a dry hot climate may have better bodywork than one from a wet country, though sun can damage rubber, leather and plastics.

Ask for the history file and check it against the VIN. If the service records come from a Ferrari dealer in another country, that is useful, because it shows how the car has been treated.

Buyers who plan to resell later should keep everything the car comes with. The original books, the dealer stamps and even old registration papers from earlier countries help establish the story, and a story that can be checked is what collectors pay for.

How to buy a Ferrari 355 in Dubai for export, step by step

Start with the rules at your destination for classic and older cars. Many countries treat vehicles above a certain age differently from newer ones, for duty and for registration. Learn those rules before talking to sellers.

Look through the listings on this page. The sellers are verified UAE businesses and owners, and the sale is a matter between you and them. OneClickDrive takes no commission and does not inspect or ship the car. Because a 355 needs expert eyes, hire a Ferrari specialist to inspect it, with attention to the engine, gearbox, chassis and rust.

Ask for the registration card, the history file, photos of the underbody and engine bay, and a clear statement of who will cancel the UAE registration and prepare export papers.

Choose a forwarder with experience in classic or exotic cars. Agree on container shipping, insurance cover and the bill of lading. Pay a deposit against a written agreement naming the VIN, and release the balance when the papers are ready.

Age limits, emissions rules and questions to settle before paying

A 355 is over twenty-five years old, so it falls on the older side of many rules. Some countries ban imports of cars above a certain age, and others make them easier and cheaper through a classic or historic category. These policies change, so confirm the position with the authority and keep the answer in writing.

Emissions are the other area to check. A car from the 1990s was built to standards of its time, and some markets require evidence that it meets a specific standard or exempt old cars altogether. The catalytic converters and the exhaust system must be present and original or accepted by the authority.

Every car in the UAE is left-hand drive. A market that registers only right-hand-drive cars cannot take the 355.

Before paying, ask whether the car is free of finance and fines, whether the chassis number on the car matches the papers, whether it has been in an accident, whether the belts and clutch or F1 system have been serviced, and which body style and gearbox it has. Ask also how many keys exist and whether the manuals and tool kit remain.

Notre gamme de Exportation Ferrari voitures de Dubai offre des choix polyvalents pour répondre aux besoins de chaque conducteur, du confort quotidien aux modèles haute performance. Si vous souhaitez élargir vos options, notre centre complet de voitures d'occasion à vendre à Dubai propose des milliers de véhicules à découvrir. Vous souhaitez améliorer ou changer de véhicule ? Vous pouvez également facilement sell my car Dubai via OneClickDrive et entrez en contact avec des acheteurs sérieux à travers le UAE.