How did they sell 308's in 1984?

I'll have to agree with you on the interiors... I think that is where Chevrolet saved a lot of cash. They looked cheap when new, and only got worse as they aged. I am very glad to see that GM is finally getting their interiors up to date. The newest Corvette is very nice (though still not on the level of a hand built car) and the newest Cadillacs are looking spot on.

And the Corvette with the Star Wars gauges... No comment!!! Yuck!!

I'd love to one day own a nice 328, though I'm not so sure it will happen as I'll need room for my wife's wheelchair. Though there was a nice 400 convertible on Ebay...

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

 

This IS a Ferrari chat afterall! I love all cool cars, especially Ferrari, but it's a bit of a shame that we have to resort to "bashing" others like school kids, isn't it? Just my rant! I own a 308 and love it for all the reasons already stated over and over! As for the black bumpers, and all the black trim, I just got a black car!!! That makes it all blend in and with the 16" rims, it still looks great today, 25 years old!! Now that high school year thing, hmmmmm.....class of '67 here!! YIKES, I'm way old!! Ha ha, it's all fun! Cheers, Dennis
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That's right, we may be getting old but our 308 is sure is a timeless piece of machine

 

I saw the 308 GTB for the first time at the 1976 New York International Auto Show. I stood there, speechless, looking at it for the longest time. My friends had a difficult time dragging me away.

Oh, and Jon...I reacted the same way when I was introduced to Lee Remick at a party around the same time.

 

cool car

I would enjoy a nice little 81 911SC coupe myself.

 

You guys are confusing your terminology. There are no Corvettes after 1967. Just Chevys with the Corvette name tag. A pile of pre-1968 Corvette parts that vaguely resembles a car will still sell for $25,000 or more. It will be a long time before the 1967/1968 dividing line will fade away when it comes to determining a Corvette's value. A stock 1967 Corvette in a barn will probably bring bigger bucks than a stock 1979 308 Ferrari in the same barn.

 

Well said.

 

Ironically, I am a Corvette guy. I don't have a 83, but I do have 4 others including a ZR-1 and a 71 Big Block convertible. But I need some help understanding the differences between the 308 & 328. I have never owned a Ferrari but I am trying to convince myself to buy one. My issue is I don't know enough about Ferrari's to even ask questions. Please lead me to the right decision and help me understand what I am up against; cost of repairs, availability of parts, etc. I would love to buy a Testerossa and I have seen a few on Ebay for about $50K which seems pretty cheap for what you are getting. Should I stay away from these? Are the 300 series a better value or just a great way to get "into" Ferraris? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

You'll probably want to start a new thread, but the best thing you can do is:

1. Figure out your budget. If it's $80K or $60K you have a lot more options than if it's $30K.

2. Surf this site a bit and look at the repair/service costs. You can easily spend $4K on a major service on a 308 or 328, and $7K on a Testarossa. Parts prices on Ferraris are scary - even 'common' stuff like a distributor cap or ignition wire set is hundreds of dollars. Make sure you're able/willing to handle that. A $10K cash reserve for repairs/parts isn't too large.

3. Go look at/sit in/drive the cars. They're vastly different than Corvettes in about every way I can think of. IMHO, the 328 is the best value in a Ferrari right now, because you can get a decent one for $50K and a great one for under $70K. Also, they tend to be among the most reliable Ferraris. But, if you don't like the driving position, or the looks, then it's the wrong car for you.

Big piece of advice: don't go bargain hunting in Ferraris. Buy one with a good service history, get it inspected by a knowledgeable Ferrari mechanic prior to purchase, and remember that the service costs don't drop with the value of the car. There's nothing more expensive than a 'cheap' Ferrari.

 

Nothing against 'em and i really love the stingrays of the 1960's but i could never talk myself into a Corvette or out of a Ferrari.

 

Why, because they aren't bright orange or lime green?!

 

From looking at hundreds of Corvettes at Bloomington Gold in IL. and Corvettes at Carlisle PA. i've seen alot of things that turn me off.

Off the top of my head i can think of:

Weatherstrip along window usually has chunks out of it within 8 years.
Armrest usually has a spot where someone's elbow has worn down the padding and the vinyl over padding.
The different pieces of plastic in center console all have faded black coating and all fade in different amounts.
Really cheep paint
Front and rear plastic clips warp and don't line up with the rest of the car
Front and rear clips paint fades to a different color than rest of car in a few years.
Rattles when door shuts
Thin and cheep carpet that fades in two or three years
shifter is like a barrel in basket of coconuts.
Plastic on dash and controls reminds me of the plastic on a Sega Genesis controller.
Rattles and squeeks galore.

The stingrays of the '60's are much better built and works of art IMO but the newer ones aren't.

 

Amen. I finally got to see my first 3x8 in my Junior year of college (after drooling over that car on Magnum for years) also in '86. One of the middle eastern students (some minor Saudi noble 200 times removed) had one 4 doors down from our townhouse (that four of us shared). It was even better in person than on TV or in magazines. The lines just FLOWED. (New car designers, please take note on what a car should look like) It took me another 20 years, but I finally got one. And I still sit and drool over it when she is parked. (Or I get to see her moving in a store plate glass window!)

And comparing a Corvette to a Ferrari is not fair to either car. Each serves a different niche. The lines of the C3 (IMHO) are fantastic. I'd love to have the anniversary model in that silver and black. I also think painting every 'Vette owner as someone who knows nothing about Euro cars or only cares about straight line speed is waaaay overboard. That is like saying every Ferrari owner only buys one to impress his neighbors at the Club and is a huge snob.

Personally I am leaning toward ordering a C6 next year with Z51 and factory delivery. I hated the C5 and C4 but I really like the lines on this car. And the interior is finally decent looking. (Better than the new BMWs as a matter of fact) And I can't think of another car that has the bang for the buck a C6 does.

 

Actually, at that time, they usually were the same. At least in the South. My father owned a 1/2 interest in a Ferrari dealership from 75-85 and some of his cars starting from the early seventies were Dino 246, Pantera, Corvette, Corvette, Pantera, 308GT4, TransAm, 308GTB, TransAm etc....and the customers were the same. 308's were selling in big numbers because they were attracting new american buyers. Some had owned British and German cars before but their were plenty that had grown up on american muscle and now had the resources to buy their own cars. He would say that Magnum sold them more cars than anything else. Funny to me now though, because growing up around the cars, I do not remeber ever watching that show....I would actually say that the buyers are more different today. I have never really been interested in Corvette's although I can appreciate them. My Dad turned 70 this year and still owns a Ferrari and a Corvette!

 

I'm wondering, if Magnum would have use the corvette instead of the 308, would the sale for vette would have gone up?

 

Oh boy. Could be a temp ban for not watching Magnum.

 

Maybe if he promised to go out and buy at least the first season on DVD he can be let off with a warning?

 

Naw.

 

I own both a 308 GTS and a 64 vette and I whole heartedly believe you can love both of them. The Ferarri is my greatest love though and it all started when I was 12 years old and saw that beautiful 308 for the first time on Magnum. I had no idea what it was or that it was expensive. I just knew it was beautiful and the coolest car on the planet. I'm grateful to have one in my garage and it still holds that magic all these years later.

Paul

 

Meh, I guess that's fair.

 

Thats kinda like comparing the Beach Boy's to the Beatles.

 

LOL - If we had a Quote of the Year-contest, you'ld have my vote, for sure!!

 

Word!