| Author | Message | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 270 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul, It was a 1977 Pininfarina aerodynamic study. Barry | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 438 Registered: 12-2001 |
Oooops, I saw it mentioned 77 earlier in the post but thats interesting with the hood and wheels dating that far back. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 437 Registered: 12-2001 |
What year is that supposed to be. I see a QV hood and mondial wheels but I got the impression this was older than that. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 269 Registered: 2-2002 |
Here are another couple of views of S/N 23611 (Millechiodi):   | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 286 Registered: 8-2002 |
I found a copy of Keith Bluemel's "Original Ferrari V8" today at the automotive book store. I didn't buy the book but I checked to see what Keith had to say about the mirrors. He says that early 308 GTBs and GTSs had a black matte-finish driver's side mirror and that the passenger mirror was an option. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 263 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul, I have the same window trim on my car as you describe on your 77. The fiberglass body can be quickly identified by the seam on the upper A-pillar as shown below. Barry  | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 261 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks, Tillman. I appreciate it! Barry | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 260 Registered: 2-2002 |
Wayne, Yes, that 1977 study always reminded me of the 288 GTO. I wish Ferrari incorporated elements of that study in the 308's design at that time. It would have made it a bit more aggressive in appearance. But the design, as is, is still appealing and timeless. I've heard that students of automobile design are still given the assignment of the 308 GTB design. Barry | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Junior Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2001 |
Barry, Here's a link to a scanned photo showing the dino indentation on what's purported to be a prototype GTB. http://cars.desertworld.com/dnoimprn.jpg The rest of the site is interesting also. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 259 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul C, I haven't seen that picture, but as the 308 GTB was the 2-seat version in the 308 series and the 308 GT4 was originally badged as a Dino, it wouldn't surprise me. Barry | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 284 Registered: 8-2002 |
I got my photos from Etienne Cornil's massive book, "Ferrari by Pininfarina." It has several pics of the prototype as well as several of the study that Barry posted. He refers to the 1977 study as the "Millechiodi" and says that it was an influence on the much later 288 GTO. It's a great book for pics of the different models during developement. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 258 Registered: 2-2002 |
Wayne, I searched through my archives of Ferrari photos on my computer. This appears to be another view of the prototype. Barry  | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 429 Registered: 12-2001 |
You learn something new everyday. Something else I noticed on a 77 one day was the flat trim around the side glass. Its painted black whereas my 79 has what I would call black chrome with a rounded appearance. Alot of vw's and the new focus has that style of antenna without any noises that I know of. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 257 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks, Wayne. Paul, my Pininfarina badge is on the passenger's side. Ferrari put it on the driver's side in 1977. Barry  | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 256 Registered: 2-2002 |
Since we're discussing prototypes, I came across this 1977 Pininfarina aerodynamic study for the 308 GTB. Barry  | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 282 Registered: 8-2002 |
The antenna probably made one hell of a wind whistle. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 428 Registered: 12-2001 |
I wonder why they turfed the antenna idea? I like it better than the power one I have. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 427 Registered: 12-2001 |
Also the pininfarina badge on the wrong side. I guess like Bruno said, they dont come with mirrors and the dealer puts them on. The pics I have are not of a prototype, they are of a 77 so maybe the dealer threw on a leftover GT4 chromie one. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 280 Registered: 8-2002 |
Here's the prototype. Notice the lack of a license plate indentation on the rear.   | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 425 Registered: 12-2001 |
The uselessness of the small rounded plastic mirrors is whats turning me off. They look nice but thats it. Mine has a driverside black rectangular mirror but its showing signs of getting old and I want a better, nicer looking functional mirror. The chrome one may be the ticket. The picture I have is black and white also and isnt the best quality. | ||
| Paul (Pcelenta)
Junior Member Username: Pcelenta Post Number: 89 Registered: 7-2002 |
barry, have you ever seen a picture of the original wood buck for the 308 GTB? It actually has a indent in the front hood for the "Dino" emblem. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 255 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul and Jay, I'm curious to see what the 308 GTB prototype looked like, so Jay or Wayne, if you can post the picture it would be appreciated. The early GTBs I posted were European production models from 1975. I only have one driver's side Vitaloni Californian mirror. Not much of a view in that! If one were mounted on the passenger's side, I would say it would be just about useless. Barry | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 534 Registered: 10-2001 |
Paul, I have the book but unfortunately the photo is black and white and not that good quality. It indeed appears to be a chrome mirror. My GT4 is an early US car (#10636) and has two matte black rectagular mirrors. I think the chrome ones look better, and I'm not a big fan of the "slinky" plastic mirrors on the euro cars either. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 252 Registered: 2-2002 |
They're clear. The European lights I've seen are clear (running light)/amber (directional). | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 417 Registered: 12-2001 |
On the red gtb, are the signal lights clear? or am I seeing things? | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 416 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks for the pics, if I had a scanner, I would post the 308 with the chrome mirror. The original series doesnt have it, I looked. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Junior Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 250 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul, I found this picture of a 1975 Euro version GTB with the roof antenna as you described. Barry  | ||
| Paul (Pcelenta)
Junior Member Username: Pcelenta Post Number: 80 Registered: 7-2002 |
Geoff willhobys's book on the 308 (no longer published) shows a number of pictures of 'glass euro-spec 308 gtbs with the roof mounted antenna...though they do have the standard "V"name (vitloni?)california mirror. Never saw a chrome mirror on an early GTB. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Member Username: Whart Post Number: 496 Registered: 12-2001 |
Has anybody checked Keith Bluemel's "Original" series for this? | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Junior Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 243 Registered: 2-2002 |
Paul, Below is the earliest picture of the 308 GTB I could find. It was pictured in a 1975 European Ferrari catalogue which introduced the GTB. As on my 1976 US Version, it has one Vitaloni "Californian" mirror on the driver's side. The chrome mirror must have been a prototype thing. I have seen pictures of early European GTBs with the central antenna above the windshield as you described. Barry  | ||
| Allen Cook (Alcook62)
New member Username: Alcook62 Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2002 |
My '78 308 GT4 has one chrome mirror on the drivers side that appears similar to the GT4 in Mikes post. | ||
| Mike Dawson (Miked)
New member Username: Miked Post Number: 41 Registered: 2-2001 |
opps, missed a slash   | ||
| Mike Dawson (Miked)
New member Username: Miked Post Number: 40 Registered: 2-2001 |
My '77 GT4 has chrome mirrors on thin pedestals with rectangular heads. I have seen the same ones on other cars and in pictures on both sides or only the driver's side. The second image is from the Cincinnati Concours website. http://ohioconcours.com/h98f.htm image{dcp_1094.jpg} image{cc35.jpg} | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 406 Registered: 12-2001 |
Ive seen similar chrome mirrors on the GT4's as well pre GTB. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 257 Registered: 8-2002 |
Thanks, Bruno. | ||
| Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 491 Registered: 5-2002 |
All 308's (at least up to 1980) were shipped to the US with no mirrors. They were then dealer installed. And yes it was 1 or 2.My 78gtb was fitted with just the drivers side and my 80gts had both.they were both delivered by the same dealer. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 254 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'm familiar with that book--thin, paperback--but I don't have it. Strange thing, though: As I look through some of my books, I actually see some 308's without any outside mirrors! Could the chrome mirror have been added to a mirrorless car after the fact? (I love this kind of stuff!) | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 405 Registered: 12-2001 |
I found a book with a good picture of the chrome mirror but with a quarter mounted antenna. I cant find the book that has both on the same car though. Im not imagining it either. The book is "ferrari dino 308 and mondial - gold portfolio" 1974-1985 page 58. This mirror is chrome, thin pedastal rectangular head. The other mirror Ive seen is the same base but a round chrome head. They look nice and Im considering putting one on. Its a july 77 road test by Motor. | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 253 Registered: 8-2002 |
Then possibly both U.S. and Euro cars had the single mirror in the early years. The passenger mirror could even have been an option (not uncommon back then). I'm not sure. I have never seen the chrome mirror, however. Paul, do you have any pics? What books are you looking at? | ||
| william speer (Wspeer)
New member Username: Wspeer Post Number: 10 Registered: 8-2002 |
my 1980 308 (us spec) has the single mirror as well, made by vitesse(?). | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Junior Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 250 Registered: 8-2002 |
I have photos of the 308 GTB that was first unveiled at the Paris Salon in October, 1975. The car, which is often referred to as the "308 GTB Prototipo," is silver blue in color and has the centrally mounted antenna. The only external mirror is on the driver's side but it is flat black in color and not chromed. Although the antenna was changed for production models, both the early GTB's and GTS's were equipped with the single outside mirror for the European market. | ||
| william speer (Wspeer)
New member Username: Wspeer Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2002 |
the earliest 308 gtb's were the fiberglass bodied cars. every one of these i have seen has the plastic mirrors and the antenna in the standard place, the rear fender. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 403 Registered: 12-2001 |
I noticed in some books I have of the 308GTB prototypes that the cars have 1 drivers side chrome mirror and a central antenna mounted at the top edge of the windshield. Is this a prototype only thing or did early cars come this way. I never liked the plastic mirrors and think the chrome ones are more "elegant" and more fitting for the cars lines. |