Which V-8 car will become the most desired

Hey, we Mondialers got 2.96%!!!

 

A collector piece is not about performance it is about its iconic value I would say. And the iconic value is basically illusion that becomes reality as it translates into hard cash. How does an illusion become reality? There has to be some sort of attraction, it has to be sexy, raw or appealing on some level, or some idealism of the sort that Enzo had which carries on throughout time as a highlight of automotive achievement, then there has to be the media machinery set in motion around it. The 308 (carburated in my opinion) has the looks and the appeal and it has been pushed through some TV media machinery already. All this makes it a potential collector car in the future. Wether or not it will become one is undecided only the future can tell BUT if for some reason within the next 10 years or so we suddenly wake up one morning and realize that there simply aren't any 308's left at least definitely nothing close to what it used to be and then somebody happens to sell a pristine model for over a 100K which in turn would crank the media machinery, THEN the illusion will be real and more deals will follow that can quickly reach unexpected figures.

I agree with the fact that 21 year olds don't care about 308's due to performance comparisons but that is actually a good thing in the world of icons, considering that collectors are rarely 21 years old. Collector items have left the mainstream market place and enter a very selective arena, something more akin to an art gallery.

To me the carburated models have the sexy rawness that has vintage Ferrari stamped on it. A 328 in my opinion does not gain anything due to improved performance, a 328 engine is hardly more iconic than a carburated 308 engine. 328's rely on their looks entirely.

Helmut

 

Anyone, prior to being an F355 owner, can fix the F1 issues of cost/reliability--buy a M6.

Not something one can even contemplate on a 458.....

 

Money no option- 288 GTO. Within reason - My vote, without question, carburated 308s, especially the 1976 fiberglass models. The 250 bhp is more-than adequate. Besides, that shape! Thank you Leonardo Fioravanti.

I love my F355, but I don't think it will be anywhere near the "hot commodity" that the aforementioned cars will be.

 

I agree, the BMW will probably be better. But unless you're talking about the original M6 it is one ugly car.

 

I don't think I agree with you on that one.

Not forseeing those silly emission crap was the big mistake.

I own a 1974 Euro GT4 and I can tell you that this is one hell of a fast car! It will outpace anything up to and including BMW 330i on a straight line, and a whole lot more on the curvies. I can genuinely say that in everyday driving, I can pretty much keep up with 355's and 360's unless they really try to shake me off.

And this is exactly why I just voted for the GT4 as the future classic. It's the first of the V8's and the early Euro ones are the ones that have suffered the least from emission or crash protection junk. Going by the comments that I receive, the 1970's styling seems to be growing on people, whereas the much shorter wheel base of the 308/328 GTB/GTS not only date the design, it also has a negative effect on the handling.

Prices for a good GT4 here in Europe have already gone up to over $55K. Go figure...

Hans
www.308gt4.nl (check out some of the video's on there - we're not quite driving our cars like our grandparents would )

 

I agree with your disagreement.

First, as you say, emissions regulations shouldn't have been a surprise, and a performance car company like Ferrari (part of giant Fiat by that time) could have done something better than allow the 308 GTSi/GTBi to sink to 205 bhp in the American market.

But, secondly, everyone here seems to forget that the original 308 was a fast car in its day. The cars that could beat it (in the U.S.) were, IIRC, the Porsche 930, Lamborghini Countach and maybe the Lotus Esprit Turbo. Otherwise, the '70s were pretty lean when it came to 0-60.

If we go back to the Jag XK120, Porsche 356, Merc 300SL, Lambo Miura and others and say that they won't be desired because they're "too slow" by modern standards, this is a pointless discussion.

 

Exactly.

Quite frankly, I am amazed that in my 35 year old car, I can still give modern day BMW's, Audi's and what have you "driving lessons". In my book, that's an amazing feat after so many years...

 

Gotta be the GT4! The FIRST V8 ferrari road car, low production numbers, low import numbers. Cutting edge styling for the time. This baby has it all!!!!!! Only time will tell!

Cheers!

 

I think they mean a 6-speed manual. Not a BMW M6.

 

Reading this thread makes me think about the following questions regarding the F355.
So in say 20-30 years time, if the maintenance and running cost of a F355 out weighs the cost of the car. what will happen to all the 355s?? If the above was true then not many would be on the road.
Flip side, i have also read that the 355 will never be a sought after car in 20-30 years time because there are to many units. So is it to be assumed that the F355s in 20-30 years time WILL be maintained at all costs, for there to still be "to many of them"?
Another angle to look at it is that compared to ALL the Ferraris made after the 355, including the models not even in production yet. The F355 will always be a rarer car compared to them. I mean look at the 360, there are nearly double the numbers of the 355. What kind of numbers will future cars be built in i wonder.

 

I admit I forgot the choices on the poll.

I don't consider the 3x8 and 355 in the same vein. Yes they are from the same line, but the feel of the 355 and a 308 are very, very different.

I am actually thinking of the 355, the 360, and the 430. Comparing these, the 360 and 430 are "better" cars, but many will say they think the 355 feels more special.

I think the Dino, 308, and 328 are similar. But time has already told us which of these is going to be valuable.

 

It's fair to assume we won't be seeing any more rare production Ferraris, unless you count made-to-be-collectibles like the F430 16M or 612 Sessanta. All of the V8s have been produced in relatively large numbers, with the 328 and 348 on the low end and the 360 at the astronomical high end. But they're all common enough.

The only 355 I can see being scarce would be the GTS model, although I think there were over 1,000 of those (?)

Bottom line is that cars' future collectibility has declined in proportion to their complexity. I wouldn't plan on any of the V8 production cars as an investment, but I think it is safe to say the 360 will become the entry level car, with the 308s and 328s sought out by fans of the marque who want "keeper" cars. The 348 and 355 seem to occupy that "not modern but not classic" space that wouldn't suggest a huge market following.

But, they're all Ferraris. Someone will always pay for the badge.

 

Hi Guys,

Just my two cents. I knew I wanted a Ferrari, and my budget allowed for several on this list. I chose a 328 because the car is just plain beautiful and an iconic Ferrari. In my opinion, that's why Dinos, 275s, Californias, 250s, etc. are so sought after -they are just plain beautiful and iconic Ferrari (not to mention beautiful and iconic Jaguar 120s-150s, C-E Types, Mark IIs, early Astons, early Alfas, and on and on).

Tim

 

You can't be serious.

 

All cars from this era will have ancient electronics ... that whole argument goes out the window. What car does not come with electronics now?

If you buy an XKE, or XK120, or a 356, there are parts galore ... with a 348, 355, 360 - what makes you think the same won't happen? In ten years from now - Moss Motors or companies like it will have 3X8 parts all reproduced.. and probably for less than what we pay for them now.

 

Agree 100% I was reading a review of the new 458 Italia in the latest Forza. It made me wonder, who's gonna be able to restore a manettino E-Diff 3 or a F1 superfast gearbox 25 years from now?

 

One and the same thing. Bigger engine = more grunt, emission controls or not. I still say Ferrari made a mistake going with 3 liters in a 1525 kg car.

Of course, that was the heyday of new Federalization standards and manufacturers struggling to get them implemented.

That is one stunningly beautiful car, Hans.

Looks like you have a basic 8.5% power/weight advantage over a 308GTS. No wonder it's faster.

I found a '74 Road & Track road test for a Euro Dino 308 GT/4: 0-60 in 6.4 seconds, 14.6 second 1/4 mile.

Best I could find on the GTS was a 7.1 sec 0-60 and that was out of a contemporary "308 Buyer's Guide."

Great sound on the dyno. Which exhaust system?

 

Dino is important vs 355 because they represented the first production Ferraris to feature the mid-engined V8 engine, and were sold on the whole 3,761 cars. wow, only 3,761!!! Now how many 355(coupe, spyder and GTS, challenge) probably over 20k.

 

At least, mine is, as I wouldn't sell her for any less than that.

 

Total 355 production is around 11,300 from what I have read, and I believe that is a worldwide #, not sure how many are in the states.

 

The later '90s Ferraris will all become known as the last. Everything from the 360 on is truly just a fast FIAT: Corporate DNA diluting the pur sang.

 

25 yrs from now? Probably some kid who's just being born right now! Just because us old guys still like carbs doesn't meant the new generation will, infact, it's the newer than the new generation, or even the next generation, who know electronics like we know how to change TV channels. I agree though that the old cars are still more "collector", the current models will just be fantastic used cars with high maintenence bills. Hey that sounds familiar!!!

 

M6 = manual transmission with 6 forward gears, it has nothing to do with BMW.

 

I don't think so. The 430 and 458 are truly Ferraris it's just that times have changed from the 355, 360s and the earlier models. They will be recognized as great cars, which they are. People will have parts for them. It's interesting to note that less 430s were brought into the US than 360s, and perhaps 355s (not sure of the exact number) because the US currency took a dump in favor of the euro so it was more profitable to sell those cars in Europe. If and when the economy recovers, I think down the road we'll see that reflected in their resale price.

Art