FS: Turn your GTS into a GTB top (not mine) | FerrariChat

FS: Turn your GTS into a GTB top (not mine)

Discussion in '308/328' started by ghovden, Jul 4, 2013.

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  1. ghovden

    ghovden Rookie

    Oct 12, 2006
    30
    California
    The eBay ad reads: "Thanks for looking at our special GTB top skin. This part is exactly what you've been looking for, for your special Ferrari 308/328 project car. It's a perfect addition for a 288GTO conversion. With this "skin", you'd remove the factory sheet-metal that you already have (GTS) & turn your car into a desirable GTB hardtop look. This top is aproximately 2.5 mm thick, & is made of carbon fiber composite. It can be bonded onto your car (after the factory sheetmetal has been removed). Pretty easy project for an experienced bodyshop."

    Ferrari 308 328 GTB Top Turn Your GTS Into A GTB | eBay
     
  2. singletrack

    singletrack F1 Veteran

    Mar 16, 2011
    5,805
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Nice option if you have a gts that you plan to weld a cage into and make a track car....at least that is what came into my mind. ; )
     
  3. Bradley

    Bradley F1 Rookie

    Nov 23, 2006
    2,831
    Lakewood, Colorado
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    Bradley
    Yes.

    Otherwise, leave your poor GTS alone.
     
  4. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,112
    Atlanta
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    Tom Spiro
    I've seen this one before... so not quite sure about this... there is a lot more than sheet metal in the GTB / GTS conversion - tortion rigdity etc... i would not want to cut and weld anything ...
     
  5. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
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    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    #5 miketuason, Jul 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,593
    Gates Mills, Ohio
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    Jon
    What he said. Would be nice if people would stop butchering targa tops. Neither car is particularly rigid by modern standards, regardless.
     
  7. Matto

    Matto Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2011
    2,085
    Mooresville, NC USA
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    Matthew
    +308...What you both said. Stop GTS molestation.
     
  8. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    The only knowledge I have of a GTS actually turned into a GTB is that metallic green 328 converted to a race car in Germany, from an accidented GTS, about which there was a thread on this forum.

    Rgds
     
  9. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
    2,291
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    Paul
    Exactly what I did to my targa. In this case, I'm a very happy butcher ;)
     
  10. 2dinos

    2dinos F1 Rookie

    Jan 13, 2007
    3,016
    +1
     
  11. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2006
    1,857
    Where wife tells me
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    Sam
    Remember when people used to take 250GTEs and turn them into GTOs?

    I have no problem with people taking a spare top and painting it (they can make more tops), but I have an issue with turning one model into another. If you want a Berlinetta, don't buy a Spider.
     
  12. Dino246gt

    Dino246gt Formula 3

    Mar 26, 2007
    1,038
    Winnipeg, Manitoba,
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    Dennis Ezmerlian
    If you want a berlinetta don't by a spyder..................exactly!
     
  13. i-velocita

    i-velocita F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Sep 9, 2006
    2,520
    Colorado
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    James
    Creative marketing. Seller pitching body parts. Hope he finds a buyer, but prefer to see the top used to make a broken gtb whole. This is the guy who makes 288gto parts.
     
  14. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    4,334
    Sydney
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    maurice T
    +1..guess you can call me Sam the butcher as well. :D
     
  15. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
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    #15 Mike C, Jul 5, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yes, the targa top mod is definitely preferred -- you can even go one farther and change the rear quarter louvers.

    This is my GTS/B -- The extra targa and louvers were off a crashed QV GTS:
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Michael912 likes this.
  16. singletrack

    singletrack F1 Veteran

    Mar 16, 2011
    5,805
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Looks terrific!
     
  17. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
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    Paul
    Yawn. I don't want a GTB. Am very happy with my GTS. It's a bit of paint on the roof. It's a styling issue, not a claim to be a GTB. By all means take issue with the styling intent (god knows why). But don't accuse me of trying to pass off a GTB. Not happening.
     
  18. andyww

    andyww F1 Rookie

    Feb 7, 2011
    2,775
    London
    +1

    Owners club purists prefer the black. The other 99.99% of the population who dont know the top is "supposed" to be black prefer the red.

    Painting a spare top red does not in any way mean converting the car into a GTB. Its still a GTS but with a red top. For that reason there is no way I would do anything to the side louvers though. They are a defining feature of the GTS.
     
  19. Todd308TR

    Todd308TR F1 World Champ

    Nov 25, 2010
    11,074
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    Todd
    Generally speaking I think the coupe versions of sports cars look better than their roadster and targa counter parts, but I enjoy the car from the driver's seat with the top off.
     
  20. chrisbinsb

    chrisbinsb F1 Rookie

    Oct 20, 2011
    3,675
    Santa Barbara
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    Chris B
    Agreed - the coupes almost always look better but there's nothing like having the top down on a nice day. Decisions, decisions. Have to both, I think...
     
  21. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,593
    Gates Mills, Ohio
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    Jon
    #21 Bullfighter, Jul 6, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The 911 always looked better as a coupe; 308/328 were designed as targas from day one.

    I think the GTS louvres accentuate the front-to-back curves of the car -- Pininfarina never figured out how to make the rear quarter window fit the design. GTS solves that problem, IMHO. Also echoes the rear deck lid sheet metal perfectly.

    But GTB's also look nice - plus you get to enjoy air conditioning the way only the Italians could do it.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  22. Bradley

    Bradley F1 Rookie

    Nov 23, 2006
    2,831
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    Bradley
    But, you didn't actually **** up your GTS! Paint a second Targa top body color, and have the look you want, there's nothing wrong with that. But permanently welding questionable sheet metal into the space is a travesty.
     
  23. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
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    Paul
    For sure. That's just stupid. Buy a GTB for Pete's sake.
     
  24. Dino246gt

    Dino246gt Formula 3

    Mar 26, 2007
    1,038
    Winnipeg, Manitoba,
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    Dennis Ezmerlian
    As admirers of 308s the last thing we should be doing is GTB owners bashing GTSs or the other way around, they're both stunning!!!!
     
  25. Bradley

    Bradley F1 Rookie

    Nov 23, 2006
    2,831
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    I agree. . . But I don't really see anyone doing that.

    I love 308's in either form, GTS or GTB. However, I think they should be left as they were made, rather than "converted" into phony GTOs, chopped up to make a GTB a phony GTS, or welded to make a GTS a phony GTB.

    I don't object to painting a Targa top body color, but I do object to welding and/or cutting an original car - or adding questionable aftermarket metal - to turn a genuine Ferrari into something it's not.
     

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