As the 1980s drew to a close, Ferrari was faced with the unenviable task of replacing its successful 328 line of cars. The 328 itself had been a stopgap intended to draw more years out of the 308 model, which had debuted over a decade earlier in 1975. Styled by a design team led by Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti, and created under the direction of Enzo Ferrari in what became one of his final acts, the Ferrari 348 debuted in 1989 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

With side straked air intakes and rectangular taillights, the 348’s shape differed radically from its predecessor. Styling was said to have been inspired by the car’s big brother, the F110 Testarossa, as well as the ultimate Ferrari of the time, the F40—the world's fastest production car in its day. The 328’s transverse mid-mounted engine had been turned 90 degrees for the 348, and was now mounted longitudinally and coupled to a five-speed gearbox. That V-8 had been expanded to 3.4 liters and now boasted nearly 300 brake horsepower, good enough for a claimed sub-six second 0-60-mph time and a 170-mph top speed.

Presented in the quintessential Ferrari colors of Rosso Corsa over tan leather upholstery, this 348 TS has been lovingly maintained by its sole owner in Louisiana all its life. Its removable targa-style roof panel offers driver and passenger the excitement of open-air motoring, shifting the gated five-speed gearbox while listening to the V-8’s song. Its original sales invoice indicates that it was purchased via Ferrari South (at the time located in Jackson, Mississippi), and it has benefitted from engine-out services in 2002 and 2016, as well as a more recent service and fluid change in February 2022.

Showing fewer than 9,000 miles at the time of cataloguing and always stored in a climate-controlled garage, it is accompanied by owner’s manuals in leather pouch, original sales invoice and window sticker, service invoices, a factory spare key, and tool roll.