TOP of the POPS

Ferrari's '90s poster car has received a 21st century makeover... is it an analogue masterpiece or has the F355's soul been surgically removed?

- JACK RIX

Whatever hormonal alchemy occurred in my 10 year old brain circa 1994 it was clearly quite potent, and totally irreversible. Newer Ferraris arrived with more power, faster Fiorano times, F1 tech and bold new design ideas, but none could unseat this perfect intersection of style, size and simplicity as the one I'd crawl over hot cannelloni for. A month short of my 42nd birthday I finally drove an original F355, briefly, on the badlands just outside Corby. Troy Queef would be delighted.

Words shall be chosen carefully as it’s TG’s own Jason Barlow who's tossed me his keys. I ask him why there’s a Ferrari USB stick on the loop, he stares at me like I’ve got green skin and explains the concept of an immobiliser. The interior is period correct with plastics (like all ’90s Ferraris) that appear to be melting at room temp. The seating position is reclined, arms outstretched, the pedals offset a little to the left and the tape collection predictably on point. I love every moment - the way the engine requires working to find its voice, the cushioned ride, the threadability on real roads. But the experience is more ‘vintage’ than I'd imagined - a proper time warp to when supercars were more visceral, but quite a bit cruder.