Another bare metal respray: 308GTB

After having read the thread by Mark Collins about his 328 getting a bare metal respray at Alsa Automotive I decided to take the plunge and buy a 308GTB in Switzerland that was technically fine, had a nice interior and came with all the books and tools.

The only down side was the paint. Although not very noticable in pictures the body has got strange marks as if something reacted with the paint. Besides that the car has stone chips, many small dents, cracks and hasty touch ups and a bit of rust. This 308 really deserved to be saved and get a bare metal repaint so an appointment with Al Wilsher was quickly made.

Last Friday my girlfriend Caroline and I set off for a seven hundred kilometer trip from our home in The Netherlands to Hirwaun in Wales, where Al's shop is located.

Despite the rainy weather forecast the trip was 99% rain free and the 308 ran beautifully. It was a very relaxed drive and surprisingly comfortable too.

Al gave us a warm welcome and really is a nice and hard working guy. I'm confident that my 308 is in good hands but it still was a strange feeling leaving her behind. That said it's for the good and I'm really looking forward to the final result!

Today I received the first of many pictures. Not much to see yet but the front disassembly has started.

Right now the car is probably Blu Sera. According to the Ferrari colour certificate it left the factory in Blu Dino metallizato. F-Chatter Omgjon was so kind to provide me with a paintcard (see his excellent website www.dinorestoration.com) and F-Chatter johng sent me some pictures of his 308GTB in Blu Dino met.
At first I wanted to change the colour to Azzuro but Blu Dino is also a very ,very beautiful shade of blue.

Al sanded some paint off to see what was underneath but if it indeed was ever repainted it sure had to be a bare metal repaint too. No traces of a different blue.

So let's see what will turn up in the next couple of weeks! She should be ready at the end of June, in time to pick her up and drive her to the FOC Uk national meet and concours at Boughton House and right after that I will drive her straight to the Modena Track Days at the Nürburgring in Germany.

Here are the first pictures.

Best regards, Peter
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Hi Peter. Thanks for starting this thread. Mark's bare metal respray was really interesting, and I'm sure yours will be too. I wish there was an easy way that I could drive my car from Canada to Wales!!!

 

Another one alright! I love the color it is right now.

 

Hello again!

Peter, this is an awesome thread! I know how meticulous you were to find the right F-car. The color combination of your car is absolutely perfect.

I'll watch this thread for pictures, and to read more about the progress of your bare metal respray, as well as photos from your exciting planned stops along the way back home.

Awesome thread!

Take care, my friend.

Michael

PS - lots of compliments on my Dutch plates (thanks to you!)

 

Hi Peter,

will be interesting to read and follow.

I've planned to bring my 308 to Al comming winter so I am looking forward on seeing yours on PP3 (or somewhere else)

for now, good luck and happy waitings

 

Oh how I wish this shop was in the US!

And oh how I love Dino Met. Blu!!!! (That was my baby's original color. )

JIM

 

There are plenty of great shops in the US-I dont think you need to go across the pond for a paint job.

 

Hi Peter looking forward to the updates

 

Keep us posted Peter. Car looks stunning and after a repaint she will even look better. We'll meet in due course!

Gr. Martin

 

Great thread Peter!
Cant wait to see the progress with lots of pics.

 

Thank you all for the nice comments

Just got an update from Al. He says:

"Headlining panel out, windscreen piller trims off, rain gutter trims removed, rear quarter glass out, rear window out, engine lid removed, tail lamps removed, rear bumper removed.
I have not found any evidence at all that she was ever a different colour to Blu Sera - even under the glue from the carpets inside the boot area nor the underside of the roof."


Hmmm. Well, there's one thing certain - it won't stay Blu Sera! It's too dark for my taste. I prefer a lighter shade. Luckily Al said I have about six weeks to decide which colour it's going to be
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Peter

I know it won't help but I think that colour is fantastic

 

Keep it the original color, looks great going down the road (of course, I'm prejudice)

 

Peter, I agree; keep it the original color. Really is a very nice one. And I have seen it in real !
It keeps this car most original which I guess is a pro as well.

 

... and with apologies in advance, but could this be the same car, reborn again?

How many different Euro blue GTB's with tan interior are there?
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I know who owned that car (he has another one now). My car is a Swiss car with known ownership history from new. I'm the first Dutch owner. So not the same car.

p.s. my interior is tan with blue carpets. The car in your pictures is cream with black carpets.

 

Eurospares have had that car for a while. When I saw this pic I thought it'd fell from a plane.

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Looking forward to seeing it unfold. However, you're investing in a bare metal respray and are gonig to track it right away

 

he is going to the trackday.. that`s something else than tracking it (I would, but that`s another story..)

 

Today's update, Al says:

Doors stripped down.
Now ready to begin stripping the paint.
Still no evidence of any other colour.

No problems at all removing the rear bumper, in fact, she's come apart really well.
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Same here, that color looks great on the 3x8's. Followed the progress of the last car that shop did, so yours should look just as great when its done. Keep posting pics.

 

I'd say keep the original color Peter

Best of luck in deciding what's it going to be!

Gr. Martin

 

Well I already made up my mind. It's going to be Blu Dino metallizato. It matches the certificate and the paint decal and I like it. I don't like the current Blu Sera (too dark) and I'm afraid Azzuro would be too much of a baby blue on the 308. It would be nice though if Al did find traces of Blu Dino to confirm my choice but if he doesn't so be it.

In the meantime I can clean the toolkits and figure out what to do with the license plates. They are so big! The reces on the back isn't even wide enough so I have to cut a few mm off of the plate.

 

Wind screen is out with no problems
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Peter, I saw your car today (was picking up mine). I can confirm that the glass is out and looks as though they came out in as few pieces as possible. Your car's in really good shape by the way. It will look fantastic with fresh paint.