| Author | Message | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2002 |
Guys, Thanks for the imput. It is a bad ass car. I did not go back to look at it and I doubt I will. The guy is excepting offers, and if I offered him anything, it would probably be 15 grand. I doubt he'd except that. But in a month if he has not sold the car, who knows? | ||
| Chris A. (Asianbond)
Junior Member Username: Asianbond Post Number: 63 Registered: 5-2002 |
James, the only reason you are considering this project car is because you think it is a bargain compared to another well running and well kept with full history car from a private owner. But it will definitely not be a bargain if you have make major work to it, you're better off paying a higher purchase price for a better car now. The car speaks for itself whether it has a service history or not, if it was well kept, no way would a ferrari owner allow the car to fall into such disrepair. Sounds like a car that someone just beat around with it until it broke down. For $15k it might be worth a gamble, but at $25k you don't have much margin for error. It would also be a harder sell in the future. | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 254 Registered: 1-2002 |
My gut says this car will be a money pit, and I really like 308's. Dave | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
New member Username: Phildo Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2002 |
I concur with Barry. Once one makes up their mind to buy an F-car,it's a huge temptation to get it done - and allow the warning bells to go unheeded. This vehicle is very suspicious. I suggest you consider expanding your search outside of the local area. There are many great F-cars available and the cost to transport one will add ony another grand or so to the acquisition cost. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 287 Registered: 2-2002 |
Look elsewhere, Jim. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 5 Registered: 9-2002 |
Guys, Thanks for the help. The chassis # is 22363. I went back to the dealer yesterday, and talked to the actual owner of the dealership (who owns the car). He didn't know if it's a euro, doesn't know if it's a glass car either (It has a pa title). He supposedly had a bunch of maintenance performed recently on the car, yet he has not one reciept. No books, or records, or tool kit. I don't think the car has a valid inspection sticker on it either. He told me that right now if someone gives him an offer to anything close to what he has put into it he'll get rid of it. He was going to restore it, and now he doesn't have the time. He tried starting it for me yesterday, and for the split second that it ran, (he flooded it out) it sounded really good. I've heard an 82 gtsi run, and that sounded like a VW bug in comparison (Sorry). I really like the car, but without any documentation or owners manual I just don't know. It will probably need a clutch soon as well. Oh, the seat rail isn't broken, it just doesn't lock. Maybe I'll wait and see if I can get the car for close to nothing. Thanks, Jim | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 286 Registered: 2-2002 |
James, Here's a link to some interesting information on the Glass Reinforced Polyester (Vetroresina) used in the fiberglass GTB: http://www.italyexpo.com/vetroresina/ Good luck with your search. I think you have a good prospect in the car you're looking at. If it's a 1977, it's not a US version. But it will be the most powerful of the series with a dry-sump engine. Barry | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 661 Registered: 3-2001 |
If the speedo's not working, the odometer isn't either. So how many miles are really on the car? Since it's at a dealer, ask for the prior owner's name and give the guy a call to verify all the details. One other thing to consider.... after you get the results from the PPI, use the problem areas as a negotiation tool. If the car gets a clean bill of health, agree to his $25K asking price but subtract all the expenses Matt mentions below and anything else found from the PPI. This is a great way to negotiate price. Good luck! | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 285 Registered: 2-2002 |
John, Nice to meet another Vetroresina owner. Mine is S/N 19399 May, 1976. James, John is referring to this seam in the A-pillar of a fiberglass car:  Barry | ||
| John_Miles (John_miles)
New member Username: John_miles Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2001 |
All fiberglass 308s have a small seam in the A-pillars. On steel cars, the pillars are completely smooth. It'd be a shame to put doors from a steel car on a glass car. The fiberglass-clad doors feel really neat because they weigh practically nothing. This car will need a lot of work, but the price may not be unreasonable depending on what your pre-purchase inspection reveals. There's usually an $8K-$10K price differential between glass and steel 308s, and if the body and paint are in good shape, over half the restoration battle is already won. -- john (19727 July '76 glass 308GTB) | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 284 Registered: 2-2002 |
James, There should be emergency pull cables to open the hood and bonnet if the levers don't work. Once they're closed again, the levers may probably work. All US Version fiberglass GTBs were made in 1976, May through July. Check the manufacture data plate on the driver's door jamb for the date of production. It sounds like a few parts have to be replaced. Of course you should road test the car and get a good pre-purchase examination. Hopefully, it's had a recent full service. If you can get records, so much the better. If everything checks out, I would say you may have found a good prospect. Bargain a bit anyway! Barry | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 4 Registered: 9-2002 |
Matt, I'm not deadset on a gtb. I like the gts also. This just happens to be the first 308 I have seen for sale in the Philadelphia area at a reasonable price. It was kind of wierd how I stumbled upon it. I was looking in the paper and I saw a 77 308 gtb for sale. I was thinking about calling, but I never got around to it. Well today (a week later), I was picking up an oil filter for my car, and I drove past this dealer with a 308 sitting out front. So of course, I did a U-turn, and it turns out to be the same car that is advertised in the paper. I've seen glass cars go for 40 k. Not that I would sell it, it's just the point of, is it worth it, or not? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 172 Registered: 8-2002 |
James, Are you set on a GTB or would you consider a GTS? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 171 Registered: 8-2002 |
Thanks for the clarification Barry. I tend to speak in general broad strokes. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 170 Registered: 8-2002 |
I love my 308. It is my daily driver and have given me no problems. Mine is a 78 carb and has gobbs of power. What area on the country do you live? I am sure us f-chatters can help you find a awsome 308 that needs no work that you can afford. When buying a f-car, books and condition make all the difference. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 283 Registered: 2-2002 |
I have a 1976 308 GTB Fiberglass (US Version). The hood is aluminum and the rocker panels, headlamp assemblies and louvers are steel. The center portion of the rear valance is steel as well as it is positioned close to the muffler. Everything else is fiberglass (Glass Resin Polymer - "vetroresina"). I understand that some European fiberglass GTBs do have steel doors. They might have been the transitional cars when Ferrari was switching to all-steel bodies. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 3 Registered: 9-2002 |
I may be wrong, in that the doors are not fibreglass. I didn't really look at them. For some reason, I thought the doors on the fibreglass cars were steel. Matt, How do you like your 308? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 169 Registered: 8-2002 |
The engine, windows and chassis are not fiberglass. Everything else is, hood, bonet, fenders, and DOORS. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2002 |
I don't believe so. On the glass cars, what isn't fibreglass? | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1440 Registered: 9-2001 |
is it a euro car? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 168 Registered: 8-2002 |
What you are looking at price wise 25000 for the car 500 for the rails 200 for the missing knobs 500 for the missing duct 100 for the speedo sending unit All F-car speedo's sit on the 10 mph and the tach at 500 He replaced the doors Walk away | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1439 Registered: 9-2001 |
no matter what you do have a competent person go over the car and give to a est to fix all the issues - if they can be fixed. keeps looking in the mean time | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Junior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 167 Registered: 8-2002 |
You can get a much better car for the price if you look around. Too many problems, and one owner with no records sounds fishy. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2002 |
I need the expertise of this board. I'm currently looking at a (supposedly one owner) 77 308 gtb. No records, I could probably get them though. The body is straight, paint is good, the inside needs some work. Supposedly no mechanical issues, I haven't driven it yet. All lights, windows and wipers work. The only issues are, drivers seat rail is broken, two controls in the center console are missing, a duct on top of the right dash board for the a/c is missing, the speedo doesn't seem to work. I haven't driven it, it's just that the needle rests on H in the MPH part, The speedo have 43,000 miles on it. I also couldn't get the engine compartment open, nor the spare tire compartment. The dealer said that it was a glass car. Beside the doors, what on the car isn't fibreglass? Is $25,000 a good price if it's a glass car? I think it is, if it turns out to be a sound car. What do you guys think? He said he'll set me up with the car and let me have it for a day. If I want. Thanks, Jim |