Is an '89 328 GTS/GTB worth more than an '86, '87 or '88???

I was wondering what everyone thought of whether an '89 328 GTS/GTB should be worth more than an '86, '87, or '88? According to Keith Martin of Sport Car Market, in his latest Pocket Guide of classic car values, a pristine '89 GTB is worth $57,500 or $12,500 more than the other model years and an '89 GTS is worth $70,000 or $20,000 more than other model years.

 

If this one is anything to go by then yes (133,000 USD):

Used 1989 Ferrari 328 328 GTS for sale in Hampshire | Pistonheads

 

I think opinions here are mixed. It is the last of the line/most developed so that is a plus. On the other hand, many people HATE the convex wheels and have no need or want for the ABS so would not pay extra for one.

In reality, I suspect there are enough people that want the unique features of the '89 (probably just because they are unique) that they will continue to command a premium.

 

The market in the US has always placed a higher value on the ABS cars.

 

It's immaterial whether or not anyone agrees/disagrees with the reasoning. The market speaks: 89s are worth more.

Dave

 

+1 Dave

whenever I see an '89 for sale, the price much higher...they have some kind of reputation...

 

Is it true when the ABS goes out - we are SOL?

Seems like I just read somewhere that no one can repair them anymore for some reason.

What is the back story on that?

 

I've heard that too...can anyone verify this?

 

That was me. We had a nice 89 328 GTS here and it had to have the whole ABS assembly replaced from a used 328 as NONE of the suppliers could source one. The shop that was well known for rebuilding these units in the past in Texas was no longer servicing or rebuilding them due to lack of parts and corrosion damage that cannot be repaired. The owner tracked down the retired guy who did the rebuild and sent him his assembly. The nice man in Texas said it was not repairable.

Note: This process took many weeks and the car sat dead in its parking spot until a used part was found, and it was $$$$$$$$$$.

Car was running and driving fine until one weekend when the abs light started to indicate a fault in the system. The accumulator was replaced. Switches and relays were replaced. The fault was internal to the abs system.

So call me the sour puss but in no way would I consider a car with unobtainable service parts to be " the best" just because its the last in the series.

 

I have not had to but I would be a little surprised. The componentry is all shared with other cars and there are a number of companies in the US alone who repair ECU's. If something cannot be made to work I would be surprised.

The ECU shows as available. 7 grand but available. All the other major components show up as good numbers too.

I suspect it might be a case of not wanting to pay the price.



Bottom line is from the day they quit building 328's the ABS cars have had a pretty good premium on the price tag and strong demand.

Ours is not an ABS car and I don't feel shortchanged but that does not reflect the market.

 

I had an '87 and would have paid a premium for concave wheels and no ABS, so I think it's a case of enjoying the discount.

I had early Teves ABS on my '92 Corrado, and it was rubbish compared to modern systems, so not sure I'd personally pay more to see how it was in '89.

 

The last year but without the ABS option would be the way to go, and you still get "those wheels"...

 

Would it be possible to just scrap the ABS system and go with brakes from an earlier model?

 

I remember it was you now! I knew it was about in the last month or so but I couldn't remember what "magazine" I was reading...

 

if the ABS system is dead it works like standard brakes.

 

I would pay extra for concave wheels. I hate those convex.

 

I've never even heard of a company in Texas but there are several very large companies that specialize in Teves ABS repair. They are all over the world. Teves systems were used in many cars and I have never heard this from anyone else.

BBA Reman all by themselves is a very large multinational company.


Getting things like this fixed is getting easier, not harder.

 

I have had ABS save me twice from an accident. Neither would have been a big deal but you never know and both were in some really bad weather (one rain and the other snow and ice). Neither of which I would have had a 328 out in to begin with.

$7000 would make it hard to fix on one of those. Especially knowing it would just be "regular" brakes if the ECU went out.

Not sure what I would do but at least now I would feel better owning one knowing it wouldn't be sitting in the garage indefinitely if the system had problems. I have been looking for a 328 and had crossed the 89 off my list after reading Carreaper. It's back on the list now.

 

You sir know more about these cars than many of us combined. But that was NOT the case with this 89 328GTS. The rear brakes would not work at all, and the fronts had limited bite. It was something internal to the passages, it was not my car so I don't know the rest of the details.

My 328 is an 86, and being the first year of the new model, it's the one most people shy away from. But the owner of this 89 abs car and several others commented that I have 64,000 trouble free miles on my '"simple" 86, and my brakes work and are easy to service.

This car was not safe to drive with its ABS in this failed state. Saw it, touched it and knew the car well. Others results may vary.

 

You are correct. That was an overstatement. There are hydraulic components that can fail and take out the brake system just like any car. When I said that I was just thinking of the electronics.

 

So should I put te 89 ABS model back on my avoid list

 

But if the pump fails there is virtually no braking, similar to a servo failing on non-ABS. Its not a useable car. In fact most types of failures on these systems would result in "get you home" braking.

But, the system is very repairable as there were millions of cars with it. There are Jag XJS ABS parts on Ebay UK which are the same. The accumulator is cheaply available as a pattern part and seal kits are readily available for the ABS unit.

The Teves MKII system was known to be a good and reliable system, if rather complex. There is masses of repair info on the web.

 

yes and you can always disable the abs part leaving it the same as non-abs as long as preasure is retained and boostler valve operates. and worst case one can down/upgrade to a newer system like Powerbrake for example..the whole new system with installation is not an bad idea and Teves systems is anyway non Ferrari...no harm done to originality...so there's no worries boys..

 

An FChat NOOB who just bought an '89 328 is having an emotional meltdown after reading these two conflicting posts. Glad I've been here long enough to know the rules of the game. Trust no one, verify everything.

 

As a fellow 89er, I'm with you. Not long ago fog light lenses were unobtainable.