Rear Quarter Vent Glass on Berlinetta and GTS Flying Buttresses
Unlike conventional coupes with small front triangular vent windows, the side vent aperture on this Pininfarina-designed body sits directly behind the B-pillar, recessed into the iconic flying buttress. Ferrari engineered this fixed quarter glass as a shared component between the fixed-roof F355 Berlinetta (GTB) and the targa-topped F355 GTS, carrying the glass geometry over directly from the earlier 348. The F355 Spider eliminates this piece of glazing entirely, relying instead on its folding soft top and distinctive rear decklid contours without fixed pillar glass.
The original units carry Ferrari part numbers 62093700 for the right side and 62093800 for the left side. What makes replacing this glass uniquely tricky is its structural integration: the glass came from the factory pre-bonded to a dedicated metal frame and a contoured rubber perimeter weatherstrip. It does not carry defroster lines, light sensors, or embedded antennas—the radio antenna grid is laid into the front windshield assembly instead—meaning the replacement focuses purely on physical alignment with the sweeping C-pillar sheet metal.
Interior Sail Panels and Frameless Door Seal Geometry
Working around this side quarter glass requires meticulous teardown within the rear cabin. To expose the mounting perimeter and its retaining clips, I have to dismantle the delicate leather-trimmed rear quarter sail panels and access the edge of the rear parcel shelf. These Connolly leather trim pieces shrink and harden over decades, making careful removal essential so the mounting studs and dyed hide do not tear.
Because these cars feature frameless door drop windows, the forward edge of the quarter glass forms half of the door seal interface. The vertical division post seal relies on correct glass depth; if the quarter glass sits even two millimeters too proud or recessed in the buttress channel, the drop glass will drag against the outer lip or produce massive cabin wind noise at highway speeds. When a booking comes through, I plan my route so I am typically pulling up at your garage roughly an hour later, ready to begin the careful deconstruction of the interior quarter panels.
On the F355 GTS, this alignment is compounded by the removable targa roof. The GTS roof rail weatherstrip seals directly above the upper edge of the quarter window surround. If the quarter unit is set without exact vertical clearance, the roof panel will bind during latching or pinch the perimeter rubber, inviting water intrusion down the rear cabin shelf.
Post-Replacement Inspection Points for Owners
- Frameless Drop Glass Clearance: Raise and lower the door window to verify the edge clears the vertical division seal without catching or deflecting the rubber.
- Perimeter Gasket Seating: Inspect the outer rubber molding nestled against the C-pillar buttress paint to ensure it sits flush with no pinched corners or gaps.
- Targa Roof Interface (GTS Models): Seat and lock the targa top to confirm the upper weatherstrip compresses evenly across the top border of the quarter window frame.
- Interior Sail Panel Fitment: Check that the rear leather sail panel clips have fully engaged and the trim sits flat against the parcel shelf border without bulges.
- Water Tightness at the Shelf: Verify there is no moisture seepage along the lower interior edge behind the seats after the first wash.
