At the Geneva Show in March 1999, as a replacement for their much-admired F355, Ferrari introduced the 360 Modena to critical acclaim and, not unsurprisingly, within weeks there was a two-year waiting list.

The 355 was a tough act to follow, but the 360 was rather special: its all-aluminium construction (a first for Ferrari) was revolutionary, resulting in a much lighter car along with increased rigidity (40% lighter than the 355's steel platform but also nearly 30% stiffer), whilst also improving the under-body aerodynamics using knowledge gained from Ferrari's F1 programme.

All this combined with the flowing Pininfarina lines, computer-controlled suspension, a staggering 400bhp, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and 186mph - immediately made its predecessor, the excellent 355, feel rather dated.

The Modena also saw a new word introduced into Ferrari reviews: 'reliability'.

The engineering had been more thoroughly thought through, and this was (and still is) reflected in lower servicing costs t...