This summer, we’ve been treated to an endless conveyor belt of restomods, with the Built by Legends R34 , the TWR Supercat and the recently announced Ford RS200 being our pick of the bunch. The latest icon to go under the restomod knife is the Ferrari 355, which makes the team at RUSH more than a little apprehensive, because it’s a masterpiece from Maranello that’s close to our hearts. 

Regardless of where you stand on the styling changes, the promised enhanced driving experience certainly won’t divide opinion. The exterior of the Evoluto 355 makes extensive use of carbon fibre panels to help with reducing weight, bringing the total down to 1250 KG. This isn’t the only area where carbon is used. To strengthen the chassis, carbon bracing is fused to the areas of the chassis. Evoluto claims the use of carbon throughout has helped to improve the torsional rigidity by 23 percent.

Alongside this, the track has been increased giving a more muscular stance over the original 355. Thankfully Evoluto decided to keep the pop-up headlights, with the only changes there being they are now updated LED’s, but next to them you’ll find larger cooling intakes, ensuring the 3.5-litre V8 can be kept cool. 

Moving to the side of the Evoluto, there’s 19” forged alloy wheels all around, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber. You’ll also find larger, more pronounced air intakes to allow the naturally aspirated V8 to breathe all the oxygen it needs.

Speaking of the V8, I think it's time we address the powerplant of the Evoluto. The 3.5-litre V8 still remains naturally aspirated! As a result, there won’t be a jaw dropping power increase. Instead, the 355 now produces 425 bhp, modest by today’s prancing horse standards, but a healthy 45 bhp increase on the original. How have they achieved the power bump? Well, they have included an all new engine management system. Alongside this, there is a new coil-on-plug ignition. Using this helps improve the ignition timing and increased fuel efficiency. Oh and more importantly, a better throttle response. 

Other changes include larger inlet valves, solid lifters and a new inlet camshaft for each cylinder head to help the V8 sing. There is also a new titanium exhaust, with equal length headers, to help that V8 sing up to a new, 8,500 rpm rev limiter. Overall, Evoluto claims “200 new and redesigned engine components” have been fitted.

It would be pointless to do all these upgrades without focussing on the brakes to help stop the car. As standard, there are 6 piston Brembo callipers gripping the front slotted discs, 4 piston callipers grip the discs with uprated Brembo pads, lines and fluids. However, if you want something a little more hardcore, you can option carbon CCMR brakes. 

Like the exterior, the interior has also undergone extensive redesign. Upon entering the rather interestingly specced blue interior, you will find a minimalistic approach to design. The impression here is the designers were given a brief of a 90’s concept car for today. That’s not a bad thing. It means there is minimal clutter and screens. Instead, a focussed interior that allows you the driver to enjoy the enhanced driving characteristics of the Evoluto.

Evidence of this design can be found through the new switchgear around the gear stick, where they have gone for a minimalistic approach, over the original 90’s Italian switchgear layout. Behind those switches lies a completely new, 21st-century wiring system for maximum reliability whilst allowing modern diagnostics to talk to the car.

Homing in on the changes made throughout the cabin, where thankfully the gated gear stick remains. It has received a new design which I’m sure will ruffle some feathers, but I think it fits the re-designed cabin, carrying the lightweight ethos through to the interior. Following this, the original seats have been replaced with new, deep dish buckets to help keep you in place. The one change I’m less sure about is the new steering wheel. By not having the yellow Cavallino in the middle, some of that Ferrari DNA is lost.

Now the mechanical and interior changes have been addressed, I think we should tackle the exterior design. Given that Callum design is responsible for the styling, it is surprising to see such conflict; it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about design. Yet RUSH founder Craig is not holding back his criticism;

“Whilst I appreciate the engineering ambition behind the project, the visual execution leaves me wanting. When it comes to the 355, less is more because simply put we’re dealing with one of the prettiest cars of all time. 

“That makes the project immensely difficult to judge, and Callum design has chosen the bolder path - but it’s not worked. The Evoluto looks like a 355 with bits of a 288 GTO skin grafted onto it. Perhaps the best solution would be to fit the engine and braking upgrades to an existing car. Remanufacture the body panels in carbon, with a Tubi exhaust, naturally. In my imagination a 355 restomod would be closer in execution to an Eagle E-Type, with all the upgrades hidden.”

Typically, News Editor Ken Pearson is at the other end of the argument;

“I think it’s a nice reworking of what has always been a pretty - and pretty underrated - shape to my eyes. While I think that the horizontal running lights would’ve been better being circular to match the tail lights, the new diffuser and front splitter are good additions that subtly modernise the shape. My favourite feature of the entire car is that the air vents have the same design as the alloy wheels, but I really hope that the blue suede upholstery isn’t compulsory. Will you let me get back to admiring the new Fiat Panda now?”

Personally, one of my favourite changes that can be found on the exterior, is the addition of the iconic triple vents on the rear quarter. This is a subtle nod to some of Ferrari’s most iconic road cars, such as the 288 GTO and more recently F12 TDF.

While the Evoluto 355 is the latest to receive the restomod treatment, unlike other examples of restomods we have seen recently, the changes seem to take longer to adjust to. When I covered the Supercat, I instantly fell in love with the changes. Here I haven’t had that same jaw-dropping experience. Which is a shame because when Ian Callum lent his hand to the Vanquish 25, I fell in love. I hope it’s a case of it growing in time. Maybe if it was a model a few pages back in Ferrari’s catalogue it would be a different story. 

As ever with a limited run car like this, there are pretty much endless possibilities for you to create your own one off commission. This is something that Evoluto encourages throughout their press information. Each commission will vary in price as it is up to what you would like. If you are keen on the Evoluto 355, only 55 will be commissioned - all berlinetta - so act quickly. No price has been confirmed, but with this level of work, it’s a case of if you have to ask for the price, the Evoluto 355 might be ruled off the new car list.