Rare Ferrari 348 TS Serie Speciale

A very rare black 1993 Ferrari 348 TS Serie Speciale arriving at and leaving Peninsula Cars & Coffee at Promenade on the Peninsula, organized by the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance. Introduced in 1992, the Serie Speciale featured a 3.4-liter V8 engine modified to produce 312 horsepower, a widened rear track, a new rear grille with exposed taillights, and body-colored front and rear splitters, side skirts, and engine cover. This example is no. 078 of 100 Serie Speciales (35 TB's and 65 TS's) built exclusively for the U.S. market.

The 348's design is one of the most unique in Ferrari's long line of mid-engined V8 cars, with side strakes and hidden taillights clearly inspired by the Testarossa. It may not be particularly fast or powerful by today's standards, but it remains an early '90s automotive icon that can still be found for a reasonably affordable price.

The Serie Speciale certainly takes things up a notch in terms of both rarity and performance. Personally, I find the Serie Speciale taillights a bit tacky-looking, as if the designers couldn't agree on whether or not to keep the stealthier look of the regular 348's slatted rear grille. Black is a can't-go-wrong color choice, though in this case it actually conceals some of the car's most notable design features. The F355 wheels look good on this car, making it appear a little more modern. But I sure hope the owner still has the original wheels too, in case he ever wants to return the car to its most period-correct look.

Do you prefer the 348 in black or in classic Ferrari red? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!