| Author | Message | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 673 Registered: 9-2001 |
Julio, your 250 should have be built by Pinin Farina, not Pininfarina | ||
| Brian Ackerman (Backerman)
New member Username: Backerman Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2002 |
Thanks guys! Good advice. It's chat boards like this that make taking the leap a little easy. | ||
| Julio Batista (Figaro)
New member Username: Figaro Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2001 |
Frank,you are absolutely right of course. My 250 is bodied by Pininfarina, at that time a fully independent concern (I also have a 212 bodied by Vignale). Willis, my comment about "the real thing" was not appropriate (I apologize). All Ferraris are wonderful "real things". I was just expressing a very personal view, that I am sure many people might disagree with. I certainly do not wish to start a "flame war". What I feel is that Ferraris come in 3 kinds: 1. Enzo alive and independent. 2. Enzo alive with a company 90% owned by the Fiat group. 3. No Enzo. For me, the first kind provides the greatest attraction, or "magic". Ken, I fully agree with you. The reasons might indeed be stupid, but old cars elicit more favorable reactions. Batchelor´s Ferrari biying guide is an invaluable ressource, and is highly reccomendable for anyone with doubts about his "first Ferrari". Cheers to all and congratulations on this great Bulletin Board, figaro | ||
| Christopher M. Parr (Cmparrf40)
New member Username: Cmparrf40 Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2002 |
My first Ferrari was a 77 308GTB with carbs, Fly yellow. Great car, faster than an injected car with a wonderful sound. Buy the best one you can, you will never regret it and someone will always be waiting to buy it from you if you decide you want something else. Make sure the early 308 has Michelin XWX's, these tires are important to how this cars handles, modern rubber does not look right on these cars and the car is more fun with XWX's! | ||
| Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member Username: Yank05 Post Number: 55 Registered: 8-2001 |
Brian, I too am looking for my first Ferrari. Since my car will not be used as a commuter car, I want a back-to-basics, classic Ferrari 308 carb. model........a beautiful car, sounds beautiful, and you can work on it! Even if my budget was up to 60K(it's not) I would still buy a carb. 308. Just my two cents...best of luck on whatever you decide on. Anthony | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 544 Registered: 8-2001 |
I think the 308 would be a good starting point for Brian. There's plenty of technical advice here on FerrariChat so working on the car shouldn't be a problem. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Junior Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 213 Registered: 10-2001 |
Old cars are timeless. You don't drool (as much!) when the new model comes out because they only get better with age. I agree that an older exotic always gets only a positive reaction. I think for some stupid reason people think an old car is 'old money' and that's better than a new car and 'new money', which we all know is stupid as far as Ferraris go. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Junior Member Username: Whart Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2001 |
Since we are all over the lot here, gentlemen, perhaps the best advice we can give our friend Ackerman is to do a little preliminary research, just so he can familiarize himself with the landscape, since advice re: particular cars has little meaning to the uninitiated unless he knows first where they fit into context. Thus, i recommend a copy of Batchelor's F Buyer's Guide, which has photos and short summaries of each production car, and a subscription to Ferrari Market Letter, so he can see where these cars are pricewise. Any other ideas? | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 665 Registered: 9-2001 |
Julio, Ferrari has never made the body work for its cars. Ferrari has always only made the engine and drivetrain with everything else farmed out to a carrozzeria(coach builder) like Pinin Farina(now Pininfarina), Bertone, Touring, Ghia, Vignale and many others. So your 250 is no more of a Ferrari than a 308. In fact, since Ferrari now owns the Scaglegia(mispelled) assembly plant, new Ferraris now have more Ferrari employees involved in the assembly of the car than did your 250. Although I agree that nothing sounds more like a Ferrari than a V12 with Webers ! | ||
| Ernesto Sgroi (T88power)
Junior Member Username: T88power Post Number: 227 Registered: 2-2001 |
Willis, dont you know that the new Ferraris are really rebodied FIAT's? Ernesto | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 543 Registered: 8-2001 |
Julio, All modern Ferraris roll out of the same factory as the old classics. So they must also be "the real thing". | ||
| Julio Batista (Figaro)
New member Username: Figaro Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2001 |
Brian, I found myself in your situation a year ago, with a similar budget. After much investigation, study, and talking, I got a 250 GT 2+2, instead of the 308QV which was my initial obsession. Yes, it is a clasic car with all that entails: No air conditioning, no power anything, harder to drive well, and much work. However, in my very personal view, the advantages are enormous. 1. P.R.: For right or wrong reasons, I find the public reaction to classic Ferraris much more positive, with none of the agressive "How much money do you make" type of comment. 2. 12 cylinders and carbs are what make a Ferrari for me. The noise, the feel on downshifts, the progressive pull, the noise again! 3. It´s a Ferrari, designed and built by Mr. Ferrari with Ferrari parts, in Mr. Ferrari´s fully owned plant. This is of course not an attempt to put down the modern Ferraris or their owners, considerably more powerful, comfortable, and usable, that all build on a glorious heritage. But why not go for the real thing? Again, this is just my viewpoint. What do you all think? Cheers, figaro | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 513 Registered: 12-2001 |
I carb 308 is a good choice but if you are looking for more modern features than a QV would be the answer. The carb cars are great but have heavier clutches, shorter shifters, not the best cold starters, etc. Where the QVs have easier clutches, more modern interiors, easy starts, etc. I have a carb car but am looking around at injected 308s. | ||
| Ernie Bonilla (Ernie)
Junior Member Username: Ernie Post Number: 173 Registered: 11-2001 |
Be ready to spend lots of money keeping it up. Even if you do the work yourself, the parts are very over priced. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Junior Member Username: Whart Post Number: 114 Registered: 12-2001 |
Mea Culpa. But you have to agree, that in the world of 308 gt/4 's the Espada (for someone willing to do their own work) was a brilliant suggestion,if not a car that will keep Mr. Ackerman busy, yes? | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 346 Registered: 2-2001 |
Hey now. The man asked for advice on his first Ferrari. Lets not lead him down the wrong path with suggestions for other cars.  | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Junior Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2001 |
I would vote for a 84 or 85 308 QV. The GTB versus GTS is a personal choice. For the money and low-30's, a well maintained 308QV is tough to beat. I absolutely love mine! | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Junior Member Username: Whart Post Number: 111 Registered: 12-2001 |
I would probably vote for a 308, also, but since you do your own work, why not an earlier one, with carbs? The very early fiberglass ones are the most desirable, and perhaps some here more familiar with that particular car could tell you more about it. The 308gt4 is cool, even though, in its day, it was a hard sell, and quickly lost out in the marketplace to the much sexier-looking 308. Today, i think the car looks better than it ever did, and it is more "practical" in some respects than the pininfarina-designed 308. If you're really handy, how about a Lambo Espada; you get an even weirder box than the bertone 308 gt/4, and twelve cyl. to boot. | ||
| Oliver Cagle (Ocagle)
New member Username: Ocagle Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2001 |
I have owned a 1994 348 Spider and a 1978 308 GTS at the same time. I sold the 348 and continue to drive the 308. It is a blast. I paid $19,000 and have put about $6,000 into it which includes the big service at $4,500. The rest was in misc touch up stuff including carpet, new leather seats, stero up grade etc. Go for the 308 and the GTS better long term value. | ||
| C. Smith (Italianauto)
Junior Member Username: Italianauto Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2001 |
Get a 308 GT4.....I have only owned GTS's, but have driven several GT4's and they are an absolute blast to drive.....visibility is much better and the Bertone design is so beautifully exotic. | ||
| Mark Izzo (Tdf355)
New member Username: Tdf355 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2002 |
I have a 308 GTS QV (1985) for sale in the Ferrari Market letter this month. Ive owned it for 9 years and its a great car, you should check it out. I had to make way for my TDF Blue 355 F1 Spdr. | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 344 Registered: 2-2001 |
I don't think you can go wrong with the 308. It you have the $ then I would go with the 328. My budget kept me in the 308 qv range, which I am very happy with. One thing you might want to consider is GTB or GTS. I like the lines of the GTB but went with the GTS on the recommendation of Brian Stewart. To me nothing beats driving around on a nice day or night for that matter with the top out. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 1823 Registered: 2-2001 |
308qv, my opinion may be biased. If I was gonna do it all over I would get the same car from the same guy. I personally like the looks of the 308 more than those of the 328. The 328 is more powerful, notable torque difference, and is a bit more modern. There are a ton of cars to choose form in this price range right now, actually in any price range right now regarding Fcars. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Junior Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 247 Registered: 6-2001 |
At 20 - 30 a 308 2 valve, GTS. At 30 to 40, a very, very good 308 GTS 4 valve. Also a not so good, pre 89 328 in average condition. I recommend, since you are handy the 328, a much better car than the 308. | ||
| Richelson (Richelson)
Member Username: Richelson Post Number: 505 Registered: 12-2001 |
308 GTS | ||
| Brian Ackerman (Backerman)
New member Username: Backerman Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2002 |
Any first Ferrari advice on what to buy for $20K-30K? How about 30K-40K? It should be noted I like to work on my cars. |