| Author | Message | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 219 Registered: 2-2002 |
If anyone is interested, this louver is now available again. The person who said they sent the check, appearantlly didn't and all of a sudden forgot how to email. I thought I'd try here one more time before it goes to ebay. Thanks | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2245 Registered: 10-2002 |
I swear I'm not making this up, it is all true: Yesterday I went to my shop to pick up my car. It needed some maintenance. In the shop was another red 308 GTS QV. So I took a closer look and realized, it had its louvres cut out AND its roof painted red as well AND its roof wing painted red. First I didn't realize it, but then it struck me: What are the odds to find another Ferrari with the identical changes made to it? There they were sitting next to each other, looking as if those changes were factory options. Unreal. Of course I didn't have a camera with me (if I had, the other QV wouldn't have been there, trust me). I bet I will never see such a coincidence again in my lifetime. But there they were. Stunnging. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 214 Registered: 2-2002 |
VZ, According to Road & Track: "Less appealing are the slotted wings covering the rear quarter windows. These are nothing but a styling gimmick to give the S some individuality and we don't find them esthetically pleasing." | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2213 Registered: 10-2002 |
V.Z., I would think because the GTB was first. When they came out with the GTS they realized, that they needed to move the hinge forwards or the louvres would get in the way of the hinged part. Just my 0.02 Lire. | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 263 Registered: 11-2002 |
Soooo, what's the story on why the louver design & key lock for gas cap are different on a GTS vs. GTB ?? | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 1009 Registered: 8-2002 |
I've got one extra carbon fiber shift knob left (or they can be purchased from Sodacom's), and my sills are currently at the fabricator who is making molds for CF sills that will fit 308's and 328's. Should be well under the Japanese prices (or the UK guy who resells them). | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2203 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sorry no, the Japan one is the only one I know of myself. They also offer carbon door sills, shift knobs and parking brake handles. | ||
| Mule (Mule)
Junior Member Username: Mule Post Number: 59 Registered: 6-2003 |
Andreas, Under the "Saratoga Top" thread a while back, I mentioned that I would take a normal top, a finished painted top for the GTB look, a carbon top, and a Saratoga top (smoked glass) if I had unlimited money. Change your look everyday. I do like the carbon wing for a black car, but it is too pricey for the result. If the price would drop a few hundred, I would consider it. And the only one I have seen is from Japan, so add shipping. Unless you know of one in the states... | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2590 Registered: 7-2001 |
So does anybody have a passenger side louver? | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2190 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mule, with a black car I would actually go for the carbon fibre roof and rear wing. Those look very sharp. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 213 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks for the compliments guys. The wheels are/were made by HRE. Unfortunately, they discontinued this model years ago. They were a copy of the 288 GTO wheels. As for the A pillar, I prefer black (definitely the GTO look). I also will be "rounding" the red portion of the top where it meets the A pillar to give it more of a GTO look. BTW, I had my top sanded and painted. I also have my original top that is stock (textured black). Henry | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 1002 Registered: 8-2002 |
OldSlow: The pillars weren't painted body color just on the "B" models. On the US QV's they were already that way. I've seen euro QV's both ways. Andreas: Glad to hear it wasn't just me. I do like the look. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2185 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oldslow, never thought about the A colum, but you got a point there. It's an idea. Hmm. OTOH if you want to go more with the GTO look (like Henry), the A colum has to remain black. Mike, since I made these changes I barely ever drive with the top down. I so much prefer the GTB look. Only when the A/C can't cope. | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 681 Registered: 2-2002 |
Mike, You certainly did start something! I, for one, can certainly understand your newly-found appreciation of the closed berlinetta look. Henry, I like those wheels too. Barry | ||
| Mule (Mule)
Junior Member Username: Mule Post Number: 58 Registered: 6-2003 |
Henry, Without hijacking the thread, what brand wheels are those? I am thinking about Compomotive, same style. I guess I am lucky, my targa top already came the same color as my car - black.. | ||
| Oldslow308 (Djparks)
Member Username: Djparks Post Number: 641 Registered: 2-2003 |
Has anyone considered painting the 'A' pillars the body color as is done on the 'B' models? DJ | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 1001 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hey, I seem to have started something!  Henry, it looks great. The only 'problem' I have with mine is that I almost NEVER used to drive it with the targa on. Now that I have a painted top and love the way it looks, I'm more likely to. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2574 Registered: 7-2001 |
Henry, you've got mail. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 212 Registered: 2-2002 |
Here's a few pix of what my 308 GTS/B/O looks like.    | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2175 Registered: 10-2002 |
Michael, I don't have one of the roof alone, so here the same picture again, uncropped. And a shot of the entire car. My goal was to calm down the many red and black patches and 'streamline' the car into one red form with a dark window section (tinted glass btw).   Purists simply ignore my car. | ||
| Michael Bradley (Kafugelum308)
New member Username: Kafugelum308 Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2003 |
Andreas, could you post a pircure of the targa top? | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2174 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oh and one more thing: Visibility clearly improves. Looking over my right shoulder to get back into the right lane is a lot easier now. If nothing else your peripheral vision has an easier way of telling whether there is a car or not. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2173 Registered: 10-2002 |
Gary, yes a paint shop did that. Wasn't very difficult. They primed it and painted it with several layers, no problem. Cost about $ 400 and the paint sticks nicely. I believe Mike Charness did the same thing, but had his roof actually sanded to give it the smooth finish. I didn't do that. PS: Notice the roof wing also red? They kinda misunderstood and painted that one red too. Wasn't my intention, but so what. Looks fine, but given a choice I wouldn't have done that one. | ||
| Gary Reed (Gary_reed)
Junior Member Username: Gary_reed Post Number: 190 Registered: 2-2002 |
Andreas, I also see that you've had your targa top color matched to the car. Was it very difficult to do? I assume a body/paint shop did it for you? Price? | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2162 Registered: 10-2002 |
Following Mike Charness' lead, here is what they look like installed:  People often ask me about it at events, wondering, whether that was ever a factory option. Together with the red roof, I think I got the best of both worlds: GTB lines and open air driving as an option. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 211 Registered: 2-2002 |
Yeah, I just have the driver's side (long story). The louvers just have been cut (needs to be sanded and repainted). Here's a pic.  | ||
| mike 308 (Concorde)
Member Username: Concorde Post Number: 294 Registered: 8-2002 |
Just the driver's side? Have the louvers just been cut out or has the base been remolded like Mike Charness's conversion so that the rubber window molding isn't exposed? You can see Mike C's at www.tradetutor.com/308GTSB/ Henry, you might post a pic here of what you've got. | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 210 Registered: 2-2002 |
If anyone is interested, I have a drivers side 308 louver with the louvers removed. Please contact me if you are interested. Thanks Henry |