The F355 Berlinetta is somewhat of the middle child in the long lineage of Ferrari’s from the 308-488 family. It was a vast improvement over the 348, yet was a step below the widely popular 360. Driveability was so much better than the 348’s, but the all-important belt services still required the engine to be pulled. Even with notorious reliability issues, Ferrari still sold over 11,000 units making the 355 the best selling Ferrari at the time.
This car will always be a personal favorite over the 360, however. It was one of the last Ferrari’s with pop-up headlights and the last to borrow styling cues from the legendary Testarossa. Sure this car ushered in the end of the manual Ferrari’s with its F1 gearbox offered on later models, but to me, it was one of the last cars that “looked” like a Ferrari. Of course, looks and stuff are always subjective, but that’s just my $0.02. Insert reference to “more than you can afford, pal”.
This 1/18 F355 is brought to you by the letters U and T. I took a break from my UT Models binge with the Revell Mythos, but let’s jump right back into it.
I think we all have collectively agreed upon where UT’s fall in the diecast hierarchy; better than a Maisto, not quite a Kyosho. Their 355 is no exception: high quality, great details, reasonable value.
The details in the engine bay are above average as well. Embossed Ferrari logos made it on to the air cleaner covers and the valve covers. Several contrasting colors distinguish one part from the other. Scale sized warning labels would have been a welcoming finishing touch. There isn’t a post to hold the hatch open, but you’ll find you won’t be needing it.
The rear hatch is made from plastic, which is fine but it gives the model a weird feel when admiring it up close. Otherwise, this car is a solid model.
Body lines are nice and straight, panel gaps are even, and mounting posts are absent from the turn signal and fog lamp lenses. Thankfully, my model doesn’t suffer from the infamous UT wheel cancer. There aren’t any brake calipers, but you will find rotors behind the tires. Although, they are just smooth discs and not slotted or drilled, so I can’t really say they add a whole lot of detail.
Not a lot of effort went in to the front end of this 355. The luggage compartment is sealed and the headlights are non-functioning. Frankly, it looks no different than my Hot Wheels 355, just lines in the cast. Just a pretty face with no personality behind it.
Carpet-looking plastic lines the floor and the gauges are really well detailed. One huge oversight though: the shifter really needs the gate, that’s the whole beauty of it! How can you leave out the gate, but the crossed racing flags made it?!
I guess I can’t be too upset with eBays torturous “related items” feature. This gorgeous Ferrari wouldn’t have been in my collection otherwise. I stole it as part of a three car lot which worked out to be $15 each. That’s a price even Doug would be happy with.
