When new Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo took the helm in 1991, his goals were to get Ferrari back to the top in Formula 1 and up the ante in the exotic car market.

He managed to do this, very successfully, in Formula 1 by recruiting, amongst others, Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and Jean Todt, known as “The Dream Team”.

On the production car front he did it by producing the 360 Modena, the first production car designed and manufactured under his leadership.

From a technology stand point, the 360 was the start of a new approach to car design at Ferrari, in fact, every car since 430, 458, 488 and so on, bear the design DNA of the 360. Modern, lightweight and sophisticated, it featured the company’s first aluminium monocoque and first fly-by-wire throttle control.

The 360 received mixed reviews when it debuted in 1999, but it was a bold move by Ferrari to steer away from evolutionary design to one that was revolutionary. Up to that point, most new cars were an evolution of the last.
The 308 morphed into the 328, into the Testarossa, into the 348 into the 355. All of similar construction and design cues. The 360, however, was a completely new design from the drawing board up.

At 40 percent lighter and nearly 30 percent stiffer than it’s predecessor’s steel platform, the 360 was a huge step forward for Ferrari.

Unlike the design elements, mechanically the 360 was very much an evolution of the F355. The engine, with a redesigned flat-plane-crank, was increased from 3.5 to 3.6 litres (hence 360 moniker) but it retained the same basic architecture, including the five-valve heads, and variable valve timing. Peak power was up, from 375bhp to 394bhp, and torque climbed slightly, from 268 to 275lb ft, but produced much lower in the rev-range, giving the 360 a much more muscular feel.

The 360 is almost in every respect a better car than the 355 –perfectly civilised in traffic yet accomplished hooligan when you want it to be, all the while with the unmistakeable sound of that beating Ferrari heart.

It has been two decades since the introduction of the Ferrari 360 Modena and it is still arguably the best all round Ferrari, be it your first, fifth or tenth time owning one.

It looks as modern as any Ferrari sold today, and can be acquired for less than a brand new BMW M3 (which will be worth less than half the purchase price after the first six months!)

Without a doubt, the 360 represents the most value for money Ferrari on the market today. It ticks all the boxes for owning a supercar, spacious interior, simple but functional layout, quick, sexy and timeless.

360 EVOLUTION

360 MODENA

360 SPIDER

360 GT

360 CHALLENGE STARDALE

360 GTC

360 MODEL TIMELINE

1999 The Ferrari 360 Modena (coupe) replaces the F355. It features all-aluminium construction, and a 400bhp 3586cc mid-mounted V8 with a flat-plane crank. Six speed Manual or F1 transmissions available.

2000 360 Spider released. It’s mechanically identical to the coupe but features a electro-hydraulic folding roof and it’s 130lb heavier thanks to the extra chassis bracing.

2002 A track-only 360 GT arrives, for privateer racers.

2003 Challenge Stradale arrives complete with titanium springs, carbon ceramic brakes, Plexiglass windows, Alcantara covered carbon seats and a stripped-out interior, along with some carbon fibre panels such as the bonnet. The result is a car that’s 243lb lighter than standard while the V8 pumps out 425bhp. The CS model is available only with the F1 transmission, features 19-inch wheels and sits 15mm closer to the ground.

2004 Dedicated track-only 360 GTC replaces the 360 GT.

2005 360 production ends and is replaced by the F430.