1997-1999 Ferrari 355 F1 Berlinetta

In 1994 Ferrari unveiled the F355 - a model considered to be the greatest production sports-car of the 20th Century. The F355 remained into production until 1999 and with 11,273 units produced it became the most successful Ferrari in history.

This was the first ever road car to be equipped with the innovative F1-style gearbox management system, available on all three versions: berlinetta, GTS and spider. Derived directly from Formula 1, where it made its debut in 1989 winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, the electro-hydraulic system was operated by paddles behind the steering wheel using the F355’s conventional 6-speed manual gearbox. The new transmission guaranteed lightning-quick gear changes, with the additional advantage that both the driver’s hands could stay on the wheel at all times.

Derived directly from Formula 1, where it made its debut in 1989 winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, the electro-hydraulic system was operated by paddles behind the steering wheel using the F355’s conventional 6-speed manual gearbox. The new transmission guaranteed lightning-quick gear changes, with the additional advantage that both the driver’s hands could stay on the wheel at all times.

Its radical transmission is what makes the F355 F1 so different: a manual gearbox, but without a clutch pedal! Sophisticated electronics look after the function normally carried out by the driver’s left foot. Instead of a clutch pedal and gear shift, the F355 has two steering-wheel-mounted levers.

The right one is to select a higher gear, the left one for a lower gear. Where the gear stick would normally be is a little lever for selecting reverse. To start the engine, the ignition key needs to be advanced a notch and both gearshift "paddles" pulled back to ensure the transmission is in neutral.

Under the hood there was a 3.5-liter V8 featuring titanium rods, five-valve cylinder heads, and a 180-degree crankshaft. With a Bosch 2.7 Motronic system the engine delivered a total of 380 hp at 8,500 rpm. Performance was 0–60 mph in 4.9 seconds, the quarter mile in the low 13-second range, and top speed went to an impressive 183 mph.