78 308 GTB cosmetic restoration

Yesterday a 308 was dropped off at my place for a complete repaint, interior, remove engine and geabox for a physical, new emblems, exterior lights etc. Ill be going through the mechanicals and address them as needed and end up with a great 308. This car is typical of most driver 308's (plus a few extra dents) but because it came from a warm dry climate, its pretty much free of rust which is great and makes for a good starting point for what will be close to a full restoration. We'll be finishing the car in red on black rather than its current tan interior with a few freestyle touches along the way such as Euro bumpers, euro repeaters, raising the ride height a tad but lower than stock and something to address the US spec diaper area. Ill document the process here like I did with my yellow GTB restoration and all comments are welcome! The car's owner (Brett) has started a thread on another site as well.

Here are the before pics.
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Gertrude is being made pretty

Pauls shots are way better than mine, minus the one where the master is working with the interior guy (Garry Nolan at Diamond Trim http://www.diamondtrim.com/)
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That would be one I would love to own as-is.

I could drive it anywhere anytime and never worry about it.

 

Good stuff there Paul. I believe it needs one of my radiators

 

Hence the $30 grand 308 -

great job Brett !! - congrats, your in great hands at Newmans !!

The reality of the low end price 308 - needs everything !

Cant wait to see all the pics, im sure its gonna be sweet when you get it back Brett !

 

My 308 is both to be driven and to be looked at as a great Ferrari. Newman does amazing work and as such i should have both: a great driver that any Ferrari owner would be proud of.

I cannot wait.

 

I know nothing about recovering the seats, but is the old leather ever used for anything? Made into little wallets or Boy Scout leather-craft merit badge projects or anything?

 

I like the look of the 328 wheels on a 308!

Looking forward to more updates.

 

Going to get new fender sheilds? Those ones look old and worn.

 

Looks great Paul. I am always amazed to watch you bring these cars back to proper working order. How many months of enjoyment do you anticipate we will get?

 

7 months max (cough April 1st )

 

The owner is a tough cookie maybe the april 1st is an april fools joke? lol

Several months Stan, im looking forward to going through the car and it started tonight.

I took a shot of the deak lid hinges to point out something that I know some people arent aware of. The two 1/8" drilled holes beside the hinge bolts are to indicate the exact position you put the lid in to get proper alignment the first time - no guess work or trial and error to get it right. These ones dont line up exactly but they will when im done and this little detail makes deck alignment a 5 minute job at the most.

Removed the rear decklid, pulled the airbox off and found a few missing spacers on the air cleaner gaskets, air filter has seen better days, 2 front plug extenders were in water for a while in the past and 2 rear extenders were not seated on the plugs so the arcing damaged the connector on the extender. Ill do a leakdown test tomorrow.
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No shields, no right mirror, no US marker lights just clean and pure.

 

Great pics and wonderful thread. I look forward to following the progress. You couldn't get a car like this down under for $30k - more like $80k+!!!

 

Well put Brett. And Paul knows exactly what to do.

Barry

 

Ataboy !

 

Looks like you'll need an early rear shroud.....jim400i has one, or I'll be making repros.

He is missing the mail slot valence above though.

Check with FerrariUK, I bought one there (and the plastic oval trim.)

It is a good idea to actually HIT the spark plug, with the extender.
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Who among us can say they still have all 16 brass carb spacers??

I think I am down to three per carb! LOL!


BTW: I am always interested in a nice set of heavy azzed North American bumpers....if I hit something in Houston it will be larger than a 308, guaranteed.....

 

The bumpers are most likely for sale, I noticed a small cut under the front bumper above the damage to the valance but its not to the steel structure which you can see in one of the photos above.

We were discussing that panel above the muffler and I like the fence they put on but being a 78, the tip location was closer together than 76-77 by about a 1/2" or so, just enough to screw things up when you want to swap the diaper to a fence-like cover. Ill measure the spacing.

 

That's the reason for my custom ones (two of my cars are missing them) an ANSA or aftermarket system "missing" that dimension means it won't work anymore.

In Napolis P412 thread he has new rear screens of the EXACT same "stagger slot" material!
I asked where he got it and he replied "Pininfarina"...

Actually it's a standard pattern with McNichols Metals, in American dimensions...

Val's shop can buy it and do them...Birdman has been waiting years.
It takes a full sheet to get started ($500 or so, if going stainless steel)

The OEM piece is not stainless steel.

I actually thought about shipping it with the two trim ovals loose, panel uncut..you could measure up and tack it at the last minute.

They could probably make the Mail Slot panel too.

 

This is going to be 1 of the greatest threads in this section for a long time!

 

Me !!! You get what you pay for.

Im loving this thread -

This is whAT FCHAT SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT !

Owner buys a 308GTB - knows what he is getting ( a good shell) does his home work on who should restore his car (Newman ) and knows his real cost is not a 30k 308.

Congrats to the owner for saving a car, and for Newman pointing out all the little details that are incorrect, and correcting and saving a car (the right way) !

Kudos to you both !!

Now im a much prouder 308GTB owner myself

 

The US bumpers will be for sale.

I will be looking for the following parts (though I have some ideas on where to get some/most of them), Paul feel free to add to this list:

- new rear signal and stop light units
- euro bumpers (front and rear)
- euro grill
- ferrari wheel caps for 16" 328 wheels
- trim for driver's side rear window
- deep front spoiler


What I will have for sale (Newman can vouch for quality):
- US bumpers front and rear
- 4 x Original Campagnolo Wheels (7.5" x 14" will be refinished)

 

Brett, good for you man, this will be awesome to watch.

When you re skin the seats and headrest, can you salvage the leather? What condition is the headrest leather? Mine are shot but seats are ok, can I buy your headrests, or send you mine in a swap?