{"id":50402,"date":"2026-07-30T19:35:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T17:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/?p=50402"},"modified":"2026-07-30T19:35:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T17:35:37","slug":"a-fan-of-italian-and-american-cars-he-transformed-this-race-spec-ferrari-into-a-muscle-car-it-sold-for-much-more-than-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/en\/ferrari\/fan-de-voitures-italiennes-et-americaines-il-a-transforme-cette-ferrari-de-competition-en-muscle-car-elle-sest-vendue-bien-plus-que-prevu\/","title":{"rendered":"A fan of Italian and American cars, he transformed this race-spec Ferrari into a muscle car: it sold for much more than expected"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This Ferrari 348 TB Challenge is sure to turn heads. Because at first glance, it's hard not to think of the legendary General Lee from the TV series Sheriff, Scare Me<\/em>. The same vibrant orange color, the same \u201c01\u201d on the doors, the same quirky spirit that blends American muscle cars and pop culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except that here, beneath this body that resembles a Dodge Charger, there isn't a big American V8 sitting up front. There's an Italian V8 Ferrari<\/a> mounted in a central rear position, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. And that changes absolutely everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Ferrari race car\u2026 approved for the road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This car isn't just a Ferrari 348<\/a> Repainted to turn heads. This is a genuine 348 TB Challenge prepared directly by Ferrari for competition. According to the listing, this car is number 12 of the 32 models assembled in this way at Maranello.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the 1990s, Ferrari launched the Ferrari Challenge one-make series with the 348. Some cars were converted by dealers using an official kit, but a few much rarer examples were prepared directly at the factory. An important distinction: these \u201cfactory Challenge\u201d versions were street-legal, making them the only production Ferrari Challenge cars that could be driven legally off the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And this car has a genuine racing history. It is said to have competed in the U.S. Ferrari 348 Challenge championship with the Ferrari of Houston team during the 1990s. Part of its racing history is included with the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, many people associate Ferrari with sophisticated GTs, packed with electronics and capable of handling anything with ease. This 348 belongs to a different era. Its naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 produces about 320 chevaux. Those figures may seem modest in 2026, but the driving experience promises to be far more intense than in a sterile modern sports car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The car features several pieces of equipment specific to the Challenge version: a racing exhaust, an upgraded braking system, 18-inch Speedline wheels, a roll cage, OMP bucket seats, seat belts, a built-in fire extinguisher, and push-button start. The result is probably one of the road-legal Ferraris that comes closest to a pure race car. It\u2019s an analog, demanding, loud, mechanical machine\u2014a far cry from today\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Mixing of Cultures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What makes this Ferrari particularly unique is its unlikely blend of American culture and Italian DNA. The General Lee-inspired livery completely transforms how the car is perceived. On one hand, there\u2019s the imagery of American muscle cars, roaring V8s, and 1980s TV shows. On the other, there\u2019s a handcrafted Ferrari race car born in Maranello.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most surprising thing is that it actually works quite well. The orange color gives it a spectacular presence and accentuates the radical look of this 348. This Ferrari is currently for sale in the United States, in California. It has about 16,900 km on the odometer and underwent extensive engine maintenance in 2021 at a cost of over $11,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time the listing was posted, the starting bid was $75,000, and the car ultimately sold for 176,500 $. That\u2019s a hefty sum, especially considering the highly variable prices of Ferrari 348 Challenge models! And honestly, it\u2019s hard to find a modern Ferrari that offers this much personality, history, and mechanical excitement at this price point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get a sense of the atmosphere inside a Ferrari 348 Challenge, watch the video below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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