Featured: Rarity Squared: The Manual Gearbox Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale

Rarity Squared: The Manual Gearbox Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale

By Alex Sobran
June 13, 2017

Photography by Chazz Hobson

The Ferrari 360 is one of those cars that ran the gamut of statuses rather quickly. What I mean is that usually it takes a course of decades for something like this to move from “wealthy playboy toy” to “less-wealthy wannabe playboy toy,” to “properly appreciated piece of sports car history.” Typically this involves a bunch of people buying them in their incipient model year, revving the ever-living hell out of them in front of nightclubs to impress drunk people who care not about the machine but what it confers about its owner’s bank account, and then selling them when the new model comes out. The next owner will likely be a “baller on a budget,” and will abuse the car with even less discrimination, before finally they break something, balk at the cost of repairing a high-end machine intended for exercise instead of posturing, and then sell the poor thing finally to someone who has the wherewithal and ability to treat the car correctly.

Cars like the 360 unfortunately seem to suffer before they are cherished, but the Challenge Stradale models largely avoid such a fate: why would Joe Poser pay more for a less comfortable version of, what to him, is the same car? No, the Ferrari 360 CS is for those who know. A Challenge Stradale badge means something more than “Look at my Ferrari.” Driving down 5th Avenue in this one is not advisable unless the girl you’ve picked up doesn’t mind the harsh suspension that’s about to capsize her frappucino into ruining her Vera Wang ensemble.

A lot of cars use the “racer on the road” marketing cliche, but not many live up to it like this one. That said, every CS from the factory came equipped with paddle shift, or as Ferrari calls it, the “F1” transmission. This is sort of a point of contention with people, and for good reason—because the true race cars from Maranello in this period had in fact ditched the manual long ago, does that mean the CS is more true to its intentions because it too has only two pedals? Or does the lack of a five- or six-speed dilute what is supposed to be a more analog experience that the term “race-inspired” connotes? For this owner, it was the former. And he did something about it.

Enlisting the help of Black Horse Motorwerks in Kansas City, the owner of this particular blue 360 Challenge Stradale converted his into an even more exclusive machine. Maranello is likely not thrilled at this “sacrilege,” but I’m confident that most everyone reading this will be appreciative of this decision—a certain level of boldness is required to heavily modify a car that is currently rising in value, yet it’s a losing battle to argue against the addition of a six-speed manual where once there wasn’t.

Swapping a pedal box into your buddy’s hand-me-down Honda in the backyard is not akin to the work that went into this car’s transformation; this is, by relative standards, a very modern drivetrain, and as such it has a host of computers regulating its operation that are far in excess of anything you can simply swap the plugs around in to complete your goal. In order to give this 360 its injection of analog, the procedure was more computer science than traditional wrenching. The typical installation of a master and slave cylinder, pedals, shift box and tower, linkages, and all the other mechanical bits was part of the process, sure, but the real challenge came from the ECUs. For anyone who’s ever had to deal with a car that’s put itself into some kind of “limp mode,” or really, any other issues with sensors or regulators or modules, you’ll know how impenetrable things like this can be; it’s not a matter of worn-out parts that you can see and touch and replace, but computers are still understandable, if you’re willing to adapt to the way cars are controlled in the more modern age.

To spare this six-speed Challenge from a life as a hacked-together “custom,” Black Horse ensured that everything that was modified was done in a fashion that would leave the car looking, and more importantly, behaving, as it would if it were fully factory. It was not the case of simple moving over the parts from a regular Modena’s six-speed either. For starters, one of the biggest issues was the rewriting the software (which is specific to the CS) to adapt to the missing F1 transmission that it was designed solely to work with. The entirety of the transmission was removed—down to every wire in the harness—and besides the new ECU programming, the instrument cluster had to be roundly revamped in order to let go of its reliance on the F1 system that was so integrated into its functions.

All of this was completed using an intelligent mixture of all OEM parts. Not plug and play, but not a mess of extraneous wiring and patch jobs either, not at all. In fact, the only piece not bearing Ferrari part numbers is the console surrounding the new shifter. A Modena piece could have simply been fitted in the place of the Challenge’s, but in this case the Ferrari part would have been the less desirable option in terms of keeping the car looking OEM. It seems oxymoronic to use a custom piece to achieve a non-custom look, but that’s exactly what was needed in this case. The resulting console is a perfect representation of the “CS as six speed,” for isn’t it better to follow the initial vision to the very last piece of interior trim?

It takes guts to decide on a project like this, it takes talent to pull it off, but it doesn’t take much more than a few seconds’ thought to appreciate the result.

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Peter J Smith
Peter J Smith
6 years ago

Good! Proper sports cars have manual gearboxes!

Jim Levitt
Jim Levitt
6 years ago

Good for him!

mike
mike
7 years ago

Nice job! But my suggestion would be to ditch the radio. i never use it on mine (same color/seats/manual, except its not a CS..). Enjoy!

wmaloney
wmaloney
7 years ago

Thanks for the article. I especially loved the first paragraph – right on!

DomM
DomM
7 years ago

I hate using the term “last true” of anything, but the 360 CS just might be. Still relatively raw to my understanding compared to 458 or al the other Ferrari successors of this era. It’s almost what the E46 M3 CSL is to BMW. It’s an outstanding expression of the brand and pure compared to what they’ve become today. I have two sets of admirations for cars. I still remember playing with a red 360 Hotwheel and imagining it was a CS model. When I think of Ferraris that I desperate want it’s this or a 550 Barchetta.

MichaelB
MichaelB
7 years ago

“Guitar” – While I look upon my Stradale in my garage I think to myself “some people may not get it.” Your miscellaneous ramblings are proof of that yet do not change the fact that the car does more than you’re capable of knowing ~ from where you sit. Whereas from where I sit (behind the wheel of one) I have a much clearer & valid view. Don’t bother trying to spoil one of Petrolicious’s fine editorials with your “hater” mentality. Ultimately few will listen.

Sam N
Sam N
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

Amen

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

” Hater mentality ” ? A little too deluded by your PDVS [ post decision validation syndrome ] perhaps ? No Mr B … mine is not a ‘ hater mentality ‘ .. but rather that of one willing to speak the truth as a three time Ferrari owner honorary member of the Ferrari Owners Club with deeper roots in the company than the likes of you are capable of imagining .

So if you chose to disagree with the facts and my opinion . Fine . But don’t go laying down your politically correct PDVS accusations on me in the desperate attempt to justify your choices

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

FYI Mr B . When it comes to the Stradale in your ‘ garage ‘… [ a very telling choice of words in and of itself ] … there is nothing to ‘ get ‘ . It is a piece of automotive jewelry who’s hype does not live up to reality . As far as where you ‘ sit ‘ [ once again a rather telling choice of words ] … I’ve sat there myself .. on and off track … along with a host of Ferrari’s you can only dream about . Suffice it to say your ‘ clearer and valid view ‘ is more than a bit ” Obscured by Clouds ” and those ‘ rose colored ‘ glasses you insist on wearing . 😎

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

PS; Mr B . See that little icon title REPLY ? Thats how one of etiquette and manners ‘ replies ‘ to another’s comment online properly and with respect … rather than behind ones back with intent by posting an entirely new comment hoping the one you’re ‘ replying ‘ to does not see your comment and ‘reply ‘ in kind . Ahhh … but then again Mr B you’ve revealed more about yourself in one comment that I’d bet you wish you had . So no surprise that manners online or otherwise are not a part of your overall personality

MichaelB
MichaelB
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

“Guitar Hero” here is the deal. Once I replied to you my cup runith over as my inbox filled up with comments like “GS is a joke” “proverbial old schmuck on the front radio yelling at kids” “time waister” “bully” “confused & bored” “slanted view” “waste of airspace” (harsh ‘eh). I can only suggest to you that you recalculate your answers in a manner that would be more attractive to any loyal subjects that you may still believe that you have. I will remain here happy that I have not gone down the path that you have that ultimately got you to the cloudy place in life that you seem to be in.

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

PPSS .. the phrase should be either…. ” clearer and much more valid view ” … or alternatively … ” much more clear and valid view ” .. not ” much clearer…… ”

Sigh ….. 😉

Vic
Vic
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

Oh wow. Guitar Slinger with all of his “Erm y’alls need to” and tons of ellipses is going to give us a grammar lesson.

MichaelB
MichaelB
7 years ago

Great story & write up. The Challenge Stradale is a perfect example of Ferrari and how well Ferrari can offer a feast for the senses ~ through an automotive perspective.

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago
Reply to  MichaelB

Seriously ? Obviously you’ve never had the displeasure of experiencing any 360 .. never mind a Stradale . Pure unadulterated pretense wrapped up in the myth of being ‘ race ‘ bred while pretending to offer an F1 experience when in reality all it it is is an overly stiff to no handling benefit , harsh shifting pile of ___ that cannot hold its own on the road or the track without extensive modifications … not to mention the first in what has become Ferrari/Pininfarina’s now long standing ‘ Cosmic Jellybean ‘ school of design claiming to offer advanced aerodynamics of which there is little .. with what little there is being unusable on the road not to mention hindering overall road performance . Sorry for shattering your illusions but … somebody here’s gotta offer a little perspective in light of the myth being perpetuated by the Ferrari sycophant few . Basta . Class dismissed Va bene … espressos and biscotti in the narthex .. test on Friday .. ciao .. 😎

Felix Carstensen
Felix Carstensen
7 years ago

Something about Ferrari’s in a dark blue hue

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago

…. but only when its the appropriate model .. e.g. 456GT – 365GTC/4 – 400i etc …. which this is not … 😎

GuitarSlinger
GuitarSlinger
7 years ago

Sigh … to borrow a a pop culture phrase ;

” You wan the Truth ! You can’t handle the truth ! “

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