1978 ferrari 308 VIN Number | FerrariChat

1978 ferrari 308 VIN Number

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Barnone 308, Apr 15, 2004.

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  1. Barnone 308

    Barnone 308 Formula Junior

    Mar 22, 2004
    432
    canada
    How many digits shoud the vin number of a 1978 ferrari 308 GTS have. I know that in 1980 the us cars required to have 17 digits. I only found to have 11 digits with mine. Does that sound right..
     
  2. Dave

    Dave F1 Rookie

    Apr 15, 2001
    2,722
    Little Rock
    Full Name:
    David Jones
    My 77 only has 5 digits
     
  3. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
    The 17 digit VINs started in 1980. I tried to Carfax mine and found out that you can't Carfax pre 1980 cars because they don't have the long VIN.

    Mine is

    F106AS*26581
    1978 308 GTS
     
  4. Barnone 308

    Barnone 308 Formula Junior

    Mar 22, 2004
    432
    canada

    mine is F106AS*24033

    So I guess thats what it is,, the insurance was giving me a hard time,, she kept saying it has to be 17 digits, she finally figured it out..
     
  5. Barnone 308

    Barnone 308 Formula Junior

    Mar 22, 2004
    432
    canada
    Spasso, do you still have your 1978 ferrari 308 GTS,, I believe its yellow, I seen some of your pictures,, beautiful car,, nice engine on that car. $$$$$$
     
  6. 4re gt4

    4re gt4 Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2002
    2,279
    Roseburg, OR
    Full Name:
    Hans E. Hansen
    My title just says "10280".
     
  7. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    The VIN on my title has FOUR digits...
     
  8. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

    Jan 20, 2002
    3,731
    Nowhere important, USA
    Full Name:
    John
    In 1978 17 digit vin numbers weren't required in the USA. Not until 1980 were all cars required to have it. The vin # for that year 308 was: F106AS (which referred to the body style) and the serial # of 5 digits, which referrs to the number of F-cars produced since day 1. If your vin number is 26135 then your car was the 26,135th car produced by Ferrari.
     
  9. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
  10. 4re gt4

    4re gt4 Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2002
    2,279
    Roseburg, OR
    Full Name:
    Hans E. Hansen
    Err, not at all true. Ferrari was really, uh, goofy (for lack of a better word) in assigning serial #s. Supposedly, the odd numbers were reserved for street cars, even for race cars. But exceptions abound. Especially with the Dino cars, which are even. If your # is 26135, then it's probably about the 15,000th built - just guestimating.
     
  11. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2002
    6,370
    Toronto / SoCal
    Full Name:
    Rob C.
    F106A refers to the 308 series of coachwork

    S - For a GTS

    B - For a GTB

    The following digits are the serial number.
     
  12. rivee

    rivee F1 Rookie

    Jan 20, 2002
    3,731
    Nowhere important, USA
    Full Name:
    John
    I was told that the serial numbers were sequencial by each unit produced.

    I'll never believe that idiot again.
     
  13. Wasco

    Wasco Formula Junior

    Dec 9, 2003
    486
    Salem
    Full Name:
    Randy
    I think your right about the odd numbers, that is what one of my F-car book indicates.
    VIN on My 308 GTS F106AS 25671

    I got the same thing when I titled her. I just showed her the old title which had the complete VIN. Isnt the entire VIN on the car somewhere.

    I would love to know how to track down more info. Is there a registry for our older 308's?
     
  14. Wasco

    Wasco Formula Junior

    Dec 9, 2003
    486
    Salem
    Full Name:
    Randy
    Oops I think it is 26571 I am going off of memory!

    So DJ, how many did they crank out a day. Looks like our cars are pretty close on the production line.
     
  15. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
    The data plate on the door jam says November 1978

    I can't tell you how many a day but an inquiry to the owners site could probably tell you.
     
  16. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    I had a tough time with this as well.

    It really depends on the original title paperwork.

    Frame number is first, as stated, F106AB followed by star, then what Ferrari assigned as VIN, 5 digits. This usually pacifies the insurance.

    However the Texas DOT manual at the TAX office had a different configuration required, they maintained it should have been the 5 digit VIN followed by the model number. In my case 22127308GTB, for frame number F106AB*22127. You'll note that the steering column and door jamb ID plates only carry the five digits.

    Good luck!
     
  17. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    Oh, I think it's possible these cars were not built in rigid consecutive order.

    Remember, special versions of these cars were built for competition events. HTH
     
  18. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #18 BigTex, Apr 16, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. 4re gt4

    4re gt4 Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2002
    2,279
    Roseburg, OR
    Full Name:
    Hans E. Hansen
    Production dates are REALLY screwy, and probably not to be believed. My door jamb says Mar 1975, but the Heritage Certificate says 4/3/75. Peter Rychel's car is some 170 units after mine, but has a born on date of 4/4/75. And I'm quite certain that they didn't build 170 cars in one day.

    I suspect that the production date had something to do with when they were finalizing some paperwork, and they must have did that in batches.
     
  20. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    Production of the US 308s did occur in batches. 20 cars or 40 cars at a time.
    I'm looking at the 17th car of the first 20. Fibreglass.
     
  21. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,458
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Just a list to argue over ;) & a reasonable approach to the "308" Range serial #'s - including some privateers
    No distinction made between "Carb, i & Quattrovalvole, 208 & 208 Turbo, etc." - nor is 22711 picked out of the bunch.

    Year ---- Model ---------------------- Serial # -------- Qty.
    73-80 -- 308 GT4 -------------------- 07202-15604 -- 2826
    74 ----- 308 GT4/LM ----------------- 08020 ------------ 1
    75-80 -- 208 GT4 -------------------- 08830-15596 --- 840
    76 ----- 308 Rainbow ----------------- 12788 ------------ 1
    75-77 -- 308 GTB Fiberglass ----------- 18677-21289 --- 712
    76-80 -- 308 GTB Steel --------------- 19999-34349 -- 2185
    76 ----- 308 GTB Michelotto ---------- 18380 - 31559 ---11
    77-80 -- 308 GTS -----------------------?-----?------ 3219
    78 ----- 308 Facetti ------------------ 20457 - ? -------- 2
    83 ----- 308 GT/M --------------------- 001 - 003 ------- 3
    83 ----- 308 GTB Michelotto Group B -- 18847 - 22409 ---- 4
     
  22. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,648
    Land of Slugs & Moss
    Full Name:
    Han Solo
    Thanks Thomas,
    How enlightening.
     
  23. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Right, sounds reasonable! Notice overlap of VINS between glass and early steel 308GTB cars, for instance. I've compared misc. details on cars very close together, and noted variance in window strips and gaskets, for example.

    Fruit basket turnover, in my mind's eye!
     
  24. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,017
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    17 digits isn't enough, The early '80s Euro 17 digit VINS had a series of zeros in the fields that the US used for model year and a check digit.

    This causes problems. Since an 'O' is the US code for the 1984 model year, most Euros end up getting registered as '84s even tho they may have been built much earlier.

    I was lucky, when I bought my car I was able to get a FAX from FNA stating that my car was built in October '82. MA still insisted in registering it as an '83 model year car tho.

    The dealer wouldn't push the issue since the emissioins test cut-off is 83 & earlier & if it had been a US make it would have been an '83.

    Everytime I give someone my VIN & they type it into a computer I start grinning. Sure enough it's gonna get rejected. Then they tell me my VIN is wrong, it's failing the check & the model year is '84, not '83...

    Of course they start off dubious because I gave it to them off of the top of my head. They just can't believe someone has their VIN memorized! Usually takes them a couple of phone calls before things get sorted out.
     
  25. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    My five digit VIN is the address where I was born, and raised. Thanks Enzo!

    #22127.......127 22nd Avenue!
     

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