Unveiled at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, the Tipo F131 AB M (manual) or E (paddle-shift) Ferrari 360 Modena superseded the hugely accomplished and much loved F355 as Maranello’s entry-level two-seater. The design team’s brief was apparently simple—to produce a faster, lighter and more spacious machine that was better in every way than its predecessor. Such was the esteem in which the F355 was held, this was no small task, yet the 360 more than met the mark.

Like its forebear, the new car employed a mid-mounted all-alloy 90-degree V-8, but capacity of the five-valve dry-sump unit was stretched to 3,586 cc. A truly astonishing engine that developed 400 horsepower at 8,500 rpm, it was capable of delivering staggering performance. Ferrari factory tests clocked 0 to 100 km/h acceleration at just 4.6 seconds, while top speed exceeded 290 km/h. On first impressions, British car magazine Autocar described the 360 as “the world’s best sports car”. Prominently displayed beneath a transparent cover, the engine was mated to either a traditional manual gearbox, or, as in the case of the car offered, a six-speed paddle-shift unit. Stunning though the V-8 was, however, a large part of the 360’s engineering brilliance remained hidden from sight.

The first production Ferrari to boast a lightweight aluminium monocoque, the 360 was 40 per cent stiffer and 28 per cent lighter than the outgoing F355, in spite of being some 10 per cent larger. At 2,600 mm, the wheelbase was 150 mm longer than before, meaning improved high-speed stability as well as greater cabin space and comfort. Sachs active dampers, Bosch 5.3 ASR and the latest fly-by-wire technology, meanwhile, were among the cutting-edge trickery that further contributed to an electrifying driving experience.

Following on from the berlinetta, the open-topped 360 Spider was unveiled in 2000 to an equally rapturous reception. Featuring a fully retractable canvas hood, this latest variant benefitted from a stiffened structure to compensate for the lack of a roof, making it an immensely strong design. Despite this, the Spider was barely 60 kilograms heavier than the fixed-head Modena and blessed with similarly superb dynamics. Capable of generating 170 kilograms of downforce at maximum speed, thanks to its clever aerodynamics, the Ferrari was still every inch the uncompromising sports car.

The one-owner example offered here is finished in the classic and perennially desirable combination of Rosso Corsa with a Nero soft-top and cream leather interior, complete with silver 18-inch five-spoke “Starfish” alloy wheels. The car has enjoyed regular servicing at marque specialist Bayer Power, with the last stamp, on 4 July 2019, noting a recorded mileage of 25,869 km. The 360 Spider is offered for sale with a leather folio containing selected Ferrari manuals with customary torch, further to the car cover, leather-bound toolkit, and emergency tyre inflation kit stored in the front luggage compartment. This stunning Spider is a fine example of one of Ferrari’s most accomplished V-8 models.