F355 owners and specialists - contacts for article please!

[motornoter]

Hi
I'm writing a Buying Guide to the F355 for Classic Cars magazine, and need some help, please!
We've photographed a very nice GTS, that part is done, but I need to get Owners' Views from two more 355 owners (ideally a Berlinetta and a Spider, but not essential - the most important thing is that you've had your 355 for a few years and have used it enough to have useful experience of what they're like to own, normal running costs, things that tend to go wrong etc. Please don't be shy, if you can help, give me a shout! I'm not sure if you can PM me on this forum, I don't use it often, so just in case, my email is MMcKays (at) aol (dot) com.
I would also be really glad to know who are the best specialists for the 355 - the guys who know how to look after them, know what's likely to be wrong if they do play up and don't charge you a fortune when they need fixing. Let me know who they are, please, and I'll make sure they get a good 'plug' in the article too.
I tried asking these questions on ferrarichat.com but got almost zero response - seems it's more US-biased and although it's not essential featured owners are from the UK, they assumed I wouldn't want to hear from them, I guess. I hope Pistonheads readers are a bit more responsive!!
Thanks
Malcolm McKay

[Birkin1932]

Hi Malcolm

I have a 97 355 spider, had it for 10 years plus, do 2k miles a year in it. Done almost everything on it that breaks

Happy to chat if you have an email

[motornoter]

Super-rapid response, thanks!
I've sent a message to your email - hopefully it will get through. Look forward to talking further.
One more, please!
Malcolm

[motornoter]

Wow, Pistonheads response is definitely impressive! I now have all the owners I need for the article, thanks, but still very keen to get your tips on the best Specialists for the model - thanks...
Malcolm

[mon the fish]

Try posting on Club Scuderia, a few owners have done their own DIY restorations on F355's there

[ric p]

I did a bit of a tally up of costs and experiences a while ago:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Have sent you an email if you need further info. Regards, Ric.

[James P]

motornoter said:

Wow, Pistonheads response is definitely impressive! I now have all the owners I need for the article, thanks, but still very keen to get your tips on the best Specialists for the model - thanks...
Malcolm

Autofficina in Ewell look after mine (GTS owned for 11 years and 30k miles) - excellent service, well priced and definitely enthusiasts themselves - Elias has one himself - looking to arrange a 355 run in summer too.

[motornoter]

Thanks, guys - very much appreciated and all will be in there.
Look out for the article, I think it will be in the July issue of Classic Cars, out early June - if not, the one after...
Malcolm

[Cactussed]

http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-buying-guid...