Looking to buy a 308 - Research Time

Hey guys, got refered here by 996 guys at Rennlist. Looking to get into a carb model 308, wondering about personality and overall ownership. Looked through a few threads, beautiful cars - looking for some buyer advice and things to look for, also minor differences between models etc.

TIA,

Gabriel

 

Research time ? Try the 'search' function but to set you on your way look at the buyers guide here : http://www.birdmanferrari.com/

An idea of your location might help advice too

Yours is (probably) the 81 st thread asking this question !

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117197

 

A nice black/black NON CAT carb '77 just stiffed on eBay..Phoenix.AZ...follow up on that....

Welcome!

A euro dry sump is rare, as is glass '76s......Good Luck!

 

Long time owner of 77GTB red/black) bought used in 1981 w/ 18K miles approx 35K miles( odo shows 15K due to replacement shortly after I got the car) right now. Car has given me zero serious problems and alot of enjoyment.

Tracked the car for a few years in club events but otherwise just a "go for a ride" vehicle. Goes through a battery every 5 years--windows work reaonably well but I would not have any window races with a GM car.

Air conditioning is margianal. Not strong/cold enough for a car with this much window glass and a hot engine behind your head.

Sound is incomparable w/ Webers. No 308 feulie sounds like a carb car.

Performance is not up to contemporary car standards ( I have an 02 M-3)
but that does not preclude it always putting a smile on my face when that engine lights. Tires are hard to find if you want to stay in stock size for aesthetics and originality.

Had it completely gone over (belts, valves, clutch, elec tune )up last year by Ferrari dealer. Spent alot of $$ but divided over 20 plus years of ownership--no big deal.

Wish I had more time to use it and enjoy it. Every now and then I think about selling it and the m-3 and buying a 911 BUT then I hear that engine
shriek and the smile reappears and the 911 concept gets put on the back burner.

Great car- IMHO the coupes are the prettiest and the early carb cars
are the real deal if not the most tractable. Good luck

 

Thanks, Jerry!

Welcome to you, as well!

Alan

308GTB #22127
308GTB #22641

 

Gabriel

You'll find a lot of great info here on Fchat! Thier are some great buyers guides at www.***********.com too. Good to get all the info you can! And don't forget to consider a GT/4 too. Good luck!

Cheers!

DT

 

A bit of my background...been a Porsche guy for as long as I could drive, but there is something missing, something Jerry nailed on the head. The sound, the overall experience, I want to finally be able to open my garage and see one sitting there.

This one is for cruising, the overall experience...currently I have a 2006 BMW 550i with more motor than anything else and a significantly modified 1987 Porsche 951 (street/light track duty). The 550 is souless, refined to a fault lacking the passion felt in earlier 5 series with V8s. The Porsche cannot be accused of the same, rather a reflection of myself on the wilder side but not quite the experience I was expecting, fast but immature.

I don't quite share the life experiences that most here do as I just turned 24, but I can say that Magnum PI has something to do with this future purchase. Due to my job I'm rarely in country - but this is a purchase I look forward to, but will wait to find my perfect car, (would this be something to make a side trip to Italy for?). The only decision I have to make is for a GTB or GTS, although I know the wife would rather the GTS, however she has made quite clear its my decision.

Again thank you for the warm welcome to a non-Ferrari owner, making my research very easy.
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great thread. i am on carb 308 number 4. and i have never been a "911 guy" .

that is until i made friends with a guy who is a 911 GURU , and has had many , MANY 911's.

i ended up with a German spec special ordered 911 Carrera. the car does EVRERYTHING so much better than ANY of my 308 Ferraris. i swear the euro 911 is much faster through redline than the 308s. the Porsche windows always work, the doors close and sound like a well made car. the lights always work. mine doesnt leak anything on the ground, where as my 308 have pee'd all over my garage like they own the place.


HOWEVER, despite the slow windows, and the cold natured old man in the morning mode it has when started cold, you cannot get bettter sounds , smells and smiles than from a early carb 308. i keep running into folks and they cant understand why i keep buying these old, slow expensive 308 that are attention whores for your time and money.

but when they do run, the fun is worth all the baloney to get the smiles, without having to go to jail for 100+ mph speeds.

my 911 is on ferrariads for sale, its time for ANOTHER Italian car, i want another Lambo Jalpa, but a euro spec one. i am going to keep my black GTB for awhile, so the 911 will go away. it is as if the 911 is too good at what it does, and leaves you with your thirst - not quite quenched.


if i can help with the 308 search. pm me.
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Its all about emotion and feeling as if the car is alive in your hands.
Empirically these cars were not class leaders even in their hey day let alone now with 6 second 0-60 luxo cruisers at the light next to you. Their biggest enemy is weight.

There is nothing wrong with the non catalyst carb 2 valve engine--its just carrying around too heavy a body to feel as explosive as 350 hp 3500 lb cars of today.

However, when I drive mine I try to put it in perspective to the performance envelope available when the car was designed. There is no power steeering, the brakes are good not great, the clutch is heavy and you are probably running on marginal rubber if you have stayed at the OEM size. SO---you have to drive the car not sit in it and listen to the radio, Maybe that's what its all about---INVOLVEMENT.

I have never tried to justify the car as practical, competitive or easy to live with. YOU CAN NOT. But when I lift off that cover in ths storage garage I am still in awe that a 29 year old vehicle can still be that damn HOT.

The 308 GTB will always be a classic shape.

PS..if you buy one--lose the ugly US bumpers.

 

What he said...all of it.