1978 Ferrari 308 GTB serial# 22703 I purchased car 5 years ago at a small independant auto sales lot in Scottsdale AZ.I never checked the history of the car or did any research. Was totally an impulsive buy. Saw it, drove it, had to have it. Never even asked the wifes permission. Easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission if you know what i mean. Once I was a proud Ferrari owner I soon realized i was going to need to find a shop to do most of the maintainance, at least until I became more comfortable working on the car. This shop introduced me to club racing. Thus begins the path down a long and fairly expensive road. As parts broke i replaced them with better parts and so on. This car had definately been slightly molested before I aquired it. first clue was the chrome. Yes I said chrome. The airbox was chrome the coolant overflow tank was chrome ... the swaybars, springs, axles ??? and engind torque arm. The motor had been out, evident from the all stainless steel firewall. Aack is this thing a ferrari or a 57 chevy Now it was my turn to molest it. Modifications: Seats - Sparco Milano Alcantara Red modded for sub belt (original seats were then stolen) Harnesses - Schroth Profi II-6 Wheel - Sparco 300 suede Harness Bar - Custom fabricated (Powder red) Front bumper - 288 repro (Fiberglass) Running lights - PIAA XT-90 Pro Battery - 2 Optima 6v Front Valance - Euro (Fiberglass) Hood - Custom fabricated (Epoxy Glass) Dzus Hood Diffuser - 328 Ferrari Radiator - Howe racing (Aluminum) 2 derale fans Decklid - Custom fabricaed (Epoxy Glass) Michelotto style hinges Dzus Rockers/Rear Flares - Early Koenig (pre squarish flares) Mirrors - Early Koenig Clutch - McCloud twin disk Billet Presure plate / Aluminum flywheel Exhaust - Custom fabricated Dual equal-length w/ crossover tube Brakes - Brembo grnd Turismo Brake kit front / Stock calipers Drilled Brembo disks back Shocks - Custom Koni Racing (Adjustable) Eiback springs 400lb front 350lb rear Wheels - Compomotive 17x12 rear / 17x8 front Tires - Yokohama A0-32R P315-35ZR1 rear / 235-40ZR17 front Radio - ???? rectangular carbon plate w/ 4 screws (Im a minimalist) Still in Box: Turbo - Early Koenig DCOE carbed draw thru turbo with all the fixins Fire System - SPA Firefighter AFFF Fire System (been seeing alot more burned out 308's lately This is a list of everything that I have added to the car ( minus the miscellaneous brackets and gizmos required for mounting said components. To accomplish the front pretty much everything except the frame and top of the fenders were cut out and refabricated using ferrari or repro components to maintain the ferrari style and look. Rear decklid was changed for 2 reasons. Weight - decklid only weights 14lbs prior to grills being installed. Ease of removal and instalation. I work on my car alone most of the time and was tired of scratching the heck out of my car everytime i removed the decklid. Hood moves alot more air thru the radiator but truthfully ... I love GT40's Kept battery (batteries) up front to keep the weight. Try not to make the car any lighter in the front. So this is its story thus far. At least its last 5 years. Some of you probably know the cars prior history more than I. In 2 weeks its going in and we are gonna have a peek inside the engine ... just prior to installing the turbo. Will it never end? Wish me luck Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
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I like originality and tend to frown on modification but this seems to be more about "go" than "show". It all seems right IMO. What kind of performance numbers do you get now, like slalom and stuff like that? -F
Could be I need to do a little research .. it was sold to me as a 78 so I've always called it a 78. Told you you guys would know more about the car than I
Did it ever have cats? If not, then it's probably a 1977. 1978 was the first year for cats, milder cams to reduce emissions. Also cost about 35hp.. Greg
Does it still have the build plate inside the driver's door? If so that should tell you when Ferrari claimed it rolled off the line anyway. Mine is 23421 and is listed as a January '78 build date. Could be some strange situation though. As for the car I'm not sure I like the "running boards", but I think I do like the front end. I've always liked the look of the euro front dam better anyway. I wouldn't call it molesting, it's your car and you can do whatever you want to it!!
It probably is technically a '78. It has the full-louvered decklid indicative of a post '77 USA model. Have you considered going all carbon fiber or fiberglass with the full flares? I think it would be so cool! I guess you could basically part out your steel fenders and back on eBay to cover the costs to convert to carbon or glass bodywork. Your car is a real racer! I like this one too: http://www.berlinettamotorcars.com/images/308track5cutandcropped.htm
My car has a build date of December 1977, and is badged as a 1977 pre-cat car. My decklid is not fully-covered, indicating pre-cat. Hmmm.....? If your car was built in October 1977, it's gotta be a 1977. Does your 308 have cats? There was a big thread on here recently discussing the weirdness of Ferrari's numbering/model year philosphy back in the '70s. I think the gist was, cars built in a given calendar year were that year's model. Unlike today, where next year's models are unveiled/sold the previous fall... Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Just my .02.. Greg
The original steel decklid is not a full louvered lid. The mold I bought for the rear deckilid was full louvered and I got lucky and bought a brand new set of louvers on ebay. And a badge on the door says its a Non-catalyst car.
Nice job . I like the hood treatment. I guess the only thing I would consider doing differently is to integrate the rear wheel flares. But I like the overall look
The '77 is a better car. This is a really great car want to trade?! Is the back window still glass or the light polycarbonate? Is there a rollbar? Fuel cell? The glass or carbon bodywork would be incredible but pricey.
Man, I just want the hood and rear lid you took OFF!!!!!!! Seriously as spares, shallow front valence too.....still have them?? You really have to stay with the model year as stated in the Title but at this point we go with the year/date of Manufacture to sort out which specification of engine/components were equipped... For example all of mine are Titled 1977, but the earliest on was built in late 1976...one is very close to yours..... #20405 #22127 #22641 If you are labed as DOT NON CAT you are a pre 1978 specification on all components. Nice work I say! Send me a PM if you have any of those old parts around, the front hood especially I have one that bears some damage repair from the bottom I'd like to change out!
Greg328 you can clearly see in his dual Cherry Bomb exhaust there are NO CATS!!!!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
There are two other ways that might be better than trying to use a date of manufacture tag, or a date on some paperwork, or even the body panels: 1. The engine family number on the top of the block F106AE = the '78 or '79 US version with the milder cams Something else (maybe F106A) = earlier with better cams (if someone knows the '77 US 308 engine family designation, please post) 2. The model numbers of the carbs (stamped on the outer flat side of the float chamber facing the front of the vehicle) 72/73/74/75 = the '78 or '79 US 308 carb set Something else (maybe 57/58/59/60) = a '77 US 308 carb set Just a thought -- IMO sometimes a clerk makes up a date (i.e., date of registration). An example of the F106A 308 Engine Family marking: Image Unavailable, Please Login
