2004 Ferrari 360

If there’s such a thing as an entry-level supercar, the Ferrari 360 fills the bill. Picking up where the F355 left off, the stunning Pininfarina-designed Italian had curves in all the right places and underpinnings gleaned from advanced racing machines. Yet it was just on the cusp of the sell-the-house-and-live-in-the-car price range. Introduced in 1999, the 360 yielded to its F430 successor in 2005.

Available first as a Modena coupe and later as a Spider convertible, the 360 was built on an aluminum space-frame that was considerably more rigid than that of the earlier 355. A double-wishbone suspension system that allowed for relatively easy adjustment was indicative of the car’s serious performance intent. The engine was a midship dual-overhead-cam, five-valve-per-cylinder 3.6-litre V-8 that melodiously delivered 400 horsepower at a top-of-the-scale 8500 RPM. That’s singing. A six-speed manual provided enough ratios to allow a skilled handler to keep the engine in its power band, and a formula-one style paddle shifter was available as an expensive but worth-every-penny option. Performance was in keeping with the advertised horsepower figure. Zero to 60 came in just over four seconds and the Ferrari 360 could tickle the 180 mph mark.

With precise steering and a wide, stable track, the 360 handled superbly. Like other raceworthy automobiles, it would oversteer a bit at the limit. In the hands of a good driver, that’s a plus, because it allows a tighter line through the corners. In the hands of a lesser driver, it can be unnerving. Thus, some critics were less than happy with the car’s behavior at the limit. While the 360 may have been priced for relatively broad appeal, it was engineered for the skilled driver.

Virtually no one was disappointed by the car’s appearance. The soft, smooth contours of the body swept back gracefully from the large front air intakes, wrapping smartly back to quad exhaust pipes. Inside, the 360 was richer than many Ferraris that had preceded it with lots of leather and finely detailed controls and instruments.

The Ferrari 360 was a raceworthy machine in the tradition of other mid-engine Ferraris, and it helped set the stage for the 430 that followed.