Hi, I am a long time classic car lover and rebuider. Since I was 6 years old, I spend all my free time in the workshop. Now that I am a mechanical engineer, and an automotive professional, I can finally get my dream car, the Ferrari icon. Far diferent from my chrome bumper 70's 454 Covette, the Ferrari will be one of my dreams come true... Unfortunatly I am not living nor working in my home country (globalization cons..) and I will not be able to check the possible acquisition myself. This task will be done remotely by my father, wich has very good (classic) mechanical clues. The 348TB that sufaced is a (suposed) 1990 model, but with some strange charactreristics... It has very odd flat bottom seats, and a roof antena. Does this mean that it is a very early 1989 unit (pre-series)? The seller says that he is running with the ABS ligh on, due to "disabled" traction control so that he can make power slides. I know that these cars are not traction control equiped, but the ABS test fuse might be in place for some reason.... and if not? I am looking at an hairy repair? Also the car has 35.000KM, so I am looking at the "big-one" very near in the future. To make things even more complicated, the car (suposedly) got slighty hit on the rear when parked. Apart from the scrached rear bumper and some detached lower cover panels, the current owner says that the 4th gear sometimes "scratches", something the car did not do before the accident. I do not believe that this is related. Could be also a big expensive transmission rebuild, a normal characteristc from the early trasmission, old gear lube, or just plain lack of high speed usage to harm up the gearbox (since the car is located at a very small island)? I will try to get all of these problems on the barganing table, to play in my favour, but will they be worth the risk? Are the very early 348 (pre-series) examples worth the trouble? I would apreciate all the help from you fellow Ferrarists.... Regards, R
Ricardo, Welcome to F-Chat! Posting as many photos as you can would be very helpful. Also, you might want to post the VIN, as someone here may know the car. Mike in Kuwait
In my honest opinion, "keep looking". There are plenty of 348's available.... why start with one that has known transmission problems and a prior owner who likes to 'slide' the car? I spoke with a customer yesterday who purchased a great condition 1994 348 Spider with major completed within the past 150 miles. He paid $36k. Seller was not particular 'motivated' or forced to sell... just aware of current market conditions. If that's all true, it tells me the market for early 348's (like my 1990 ts) is probably mid-to-low $30, assuming a no-issues car. So, as somebody who personally suffered through a blown up transmission... I'd say, "keep looking".
Yes, I understand your advices, but please keep in mind that my country has very high customs and import duties. For you to have an idea, the import tax for my 454 Corvette is more than the cost of the car, in prestine show condition. The market of these cars is also very small and the choice is not very broad. The usual price for the 348TB are around 38.000 to 40.000 euros. This one is on the market for around 30.000 to 32.000 euros, depending on how the deal goes (and with the possibility to get the car repaired on the oficial dealer by the insurance company,.... the bumper notch at least) I am only trying to get an honest deal, meaning that I can try and use these known "defects" as a barganing tool (if they are worth the risk) and take advantage of my rebuild experience and home facilities to make even. My father has just bought the plane ticket and will see the car this friday. Then he will give me the feedback on the owner and the car. Regarding the odd flat seats and roof antena, can anyone confirm the very early production date justification? If so, the gearchange dificulties can be justified (acording to FAZA PPI last paragraph sentence)? Note: My childwood dream was a carbureted 308 (less electronics dependent), but the 348 seems at the present times, to be a far easier car to use and maintain, since the electronics have gone cheaper and more reliable... basicly just changing the side scoops for egg slicers.... right? Regards, R
My car has a roof antenna -- July 1990. Ricardo, I understand the tax issues with the car, but I *promise* they will pale in comparison to the cost of gearbox repair and getting a 348 back to good condition. Ask ernie about the cost of getting his 'rough' 348 back into proper running shape.
Jack, Thanks for the direct answer. So, I understand from your opinion that the 4th gear dificulty to engage is a problem to be fixed and not a characteristic from the early cars or transmission oil needing to be changed. Right? Regarding the roof antena, the only info I found was: "The 1989 models didn't have the mad-mouse shoulder belt passive restraint system (not required by virtue of their model year 1989 designation, even though many dealers did not get their first cars in until 1990). Very early cars had a roof mounted radio antenna. " at http://www.nwrfca.org/faq/348versions.htm No information about the flat bottom seats tough.... Only one or two German examples from early 1990.... Any info about this? Regards, R
When my transmission blew-up, the first sign of real trouble was 4th gear. I could no longer (easily) engage 5->4 downshifts. 75 miles later, the gearbox was destroyed. My car has a roof mounted antenna. Flat bottom seats? Mine look like this: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I would add my vote to what Daniel has said. Based on your first post, you could spend more putting this 348 in good working order than you will have spent buying it. Wait till you're back home, then take your time and find a Ferrari that has not been driven so hard.
There is no such thing as a 'cheap' Ferrari! '89 cars are fine. I have owned the 32nd car of the production run for 20 years, and it has been brilliant.... aside from a couple of gearbox 'challenges'. btw... I have no roof antenna. It is all about the individual car and how it has been taken care of.
The car is this. These are all the photos I have for now. Please note the seat's bottom. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is one of the very few I've found with the same seats, an early 1990 German car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Car looks nice externally. Engine bay and interior look rather average. I have NEVER seen those seats before in my life Ricardo. Id say they were probably an option for the "bigger" gentleman.
Experts please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been looking at a lot of 348s lately and something looks very odd to me -- the left rear wheel/tire/well just don't look right. Looks to me like the bump may have been pretty severe. ?
I dont know, looks about right to me. Here is a pic of this car and my car to compare. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I confess I got the same impression first time... but after checking serveral more photos, I concluded that it is some kind of optical ilusion on the earlier cars with the narrower rear track....
Never thought about it before.... but it makes sense, 'cause it matches the excentric and smaller aftermarket steering wheel (more leg room).... Nevertheless I have never read that the 348 was cramped inside... I am 1,92m and these could even be a plus....
You're a "show off"... Those front fender yellow badges are just killing me since I was a little kid....
Lol! Possibly! You are a tall boy! I am around 1.82m and a 'big' boy. I fit in there just right. Being that tall, you need all help you can get and these seats may just be blessing! Cheers mate!
Any last minute advice? My father should be arriving to the car location and will spend the next 2 days taking a look at the car and feeling the neighbours feedback (since it is a very small comunity)... Since a second-hand gearbox can be sourced for 2K-3K (right???), could this be the amount to negotiate with the seller? Is it possible from 2 transmissions and a OEM synchronizer set, to get a good one at the end? Can you confirm that the 4th gear is indeed the first one to go "pop"? I got the workshop manual from the 348 last night (Thanks for the *.pdf), and took a look at it... I didn't find it very complicated (nor detailed either ), with the exception of making a lot of references to special tools (at least in the transmission overhaul section). What is the general idea on these cars engine/transmission overhauls/rebuilds? Amateur mechanic compatible, experts only stuff?.... or some senior-rebuilders like me and my father with about 25 years of american muscle, vintage and classic, with a little racing and mechanical degree thrown together... can pull it off???? It is just that all our collection was rebuilt with our own hands.... they were born in our garage.... they are acording to our standards (concours most of them).... and not only they were more afordable in the acquisition (without beeing bargains) , but they also have more meaning now to us... I believe the bottom question is: If the final price of this car gets low enought to get interesting, will it be possible to rebuild it to our standards with a "comon mortal" realistic budget? Or is it just plain impossible? Please note that I am not looking for a life bargain, but neither will I intend to get a red "mistress".... just a plain honest buy and ownership...
