So I [almost] bought a Ferrari [Mondial 3.2 Coupe] Sight Unseen for $2000

You have zero downside. Every piece of steel in the car could be reduced to iron oxide, and you'd still be able to part it out for more than 2k$, and if you can't you'll get more than 2K$ of pleasure out of telling the story for the rest of your life. I've paid more than 2K$ for a Fiat X1/9, for crissakes.

And that's where you need to be careful. If the car is too far gone, you'll be financially better off parting it out and buying something more promising.

As with any rescue mission, there are three questions you have to ask yourself:
1) Will being upside down (spent more on the car than I could sell it for) bother me?
2) What do I have the skills to do myself, and do I have the money to pay someone else to do the stuff that I can't do myself?
3) Will I count the time I spend bringing this car back to life towards the entertainment budget, or is it a chore?

 

Life is to short of us mid 40 yr olds for anything less than 99.5%

 

It's a car...and a pretty robust one, at that! Replace belts, any deteriorated hoses and flush fluids and go for it. Get it running with $250 worth of parts and you make $18,000 easily. Or just drive it.

 

$250 will barely purchase the oil for the motor and gearbox.

 

Not at Wal-Mart it won't

 

Do yourself a favour, before you buy anything take it to a real Ferrari mechanic and get a PPI done. For a few hundred you will get a full list of what is needed and what work is needed. This way you have a more or less educated starting point. This can become a bottomless pit quickly. Or you may have that gem dreams are made of, unlikely, but who knows.

 

only words that i can think of:
GREAT BUY!
congrats!!!

as bad as it could be you got a 308 for 2k and not a burned one

let me put it this way: i would buy it for 3k$ for it sight unseen
so you already made 1k$

 

We are just curious, we want to see the basket case is all, and it isn't hard to snap a pic and post it.

 

Now I'm getting really worried...what's a Porsche 948?

 

Grat buy, i guess we all dram of something like that (at least the ones of us who can't afford a 100% pristine Ferrari) Hope you get luchy and eagger tto mee the car!!...Hell, if it doesn't work you can still use it as a garage queen!! Some guys spend millions on much uglyer cars and never drive them!!! At list the 308 it´s one of the most beautfull cars ever designed!!!

 

Even if I was 1000 miles away, for $2k, I'd be straight there. Great buy, hope it turns out well.

 

I do not believe a word of this story from the start of the thread on.

Show me pictures And mayby i will change my mind. Up to that: i call BS

 

I really don't understand the kind of upbringing that leads people to be like this.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to call the story BS.

But "questionable…" now there's a good word.

 

People with fake stories normally do not ask such pointed and informed questions so I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt here. $2K of course seems too good to be true but then again there are people out there who value their things differently and really just don't care that much about getting fully researched top dollar every time they purge their garage. Let's give it a week to see if photos materialize but for now I'll say good score and good luck.

Regarding getting the car on the road, if it is your intention to hold on to the car for a while, PULL THE ENGINE! You will need to replace every piece of rubber in the engine compartment and on the motor or you are risking a big leak or worse a big fire. Having the drivetrain on a table lets you do a ton of jobs miles faster and with less cursing than in the car especially if you do not have a hoist. Not only that you will have full access to the engine bay to change fuel and coolant hoses. Realistically belts, tensioners, hoses, some gaskets and seals, and fluids should be obtainable for around $1K. Yes you can spend more but if your goal is a driver and not a concours special that budget is healthy for the engine compartment.

Also while the engine is out be sure to check the alternator and starter both of which are terrible to do when the engine is in. Other considerations are to check the condition of the radiator, see if the shocks are seized, and visually inspect the shock and suspension arm bushings. You may find that the suspension is not too bad. From what was described I'd feel quite confident of being able to have the car on the road for some $5K in parts and lots of personal labor (which is always free).

 

Awesome! For 2k, even if it is a POS as others have said, you will easily be able to part it out for more.

If it can be made a good runner, then just go in knowing how much time and parts that can take.

Good luck and have fun above all else!

 

When I recently purchased an 11,200 mile 1987 328, stored inside its whole life, 2 owner car (previous to me had owned since 1990) it atrophied in most places. I assure you, a 'cheap' belt service will not serve you well.

You are sitting comfortably enough financially in that car to do a good thorough service IF you intend to keep the car. Otherwise, you'll be chasing ghosts until they finally catch you.

The best way to diffuse the disbelievers is with pics and proof of this beast. Til then, best wishes, should be fun.

 

Assuming this is more than fantasy, were I to receive such a car, I'd consider doing a leakdown test to see if the valves has some sort of problem, knowing the history of the non-QV (assuming that's what it is, as you haven't told anyone what year it is!) engine and the possibility of a broken valve. That test could only tell so much but it would be a start. Then a thorough "PPI" to assess what can be found, at least. I'd assume it would take a full major service, plus whatever else might have been neglected or damaged. You can save on some things- coachwork, interior work, and so on but some stuff ought to be left to professionals experienced in that particular car.

So, keep it in your garage just to sit in/stare at, or put it back on the road? Might depend on your finances, or else desire to see the project through, whatever the cost...? Whatever you decide it couldn't hurt to make a very complete assessment of whatever you have, before doing anything, so you don't just jump in blindly.

Sure be nice to see some pics!

Cheers,
Rich

 

Assuming this is more than fantasy, were I to receive such a car, I'd consider doing a leakdown test to see if the valves has some sort of problem, knowing the history of the non-QV (assuming that's what it is, as you haven't told anyone what year it is!) engine and the possibility of a broken valve. That test could only tell so much but it would be a start. Then a thorough "PPI" to assess what can be found, at least. I'd assume it would take a full major service, plus whatever else might have been neglected or damaged. You can save on some things- coachwork, interior work, and so on but some stuff ought to be left to professionals experienced in that particular car.

So, keep it in your garage just to sit in/stare at, or put it back on the road? Might depend on your finances, or else desire to see the project through, whatever the cost...? Whatever you decide it couldn't hurt to make a very complete assessment of whatever you have, before doing anything, so you don't just jump in blindly.

Sure be nice to see some pics!

Cheers,
Rich

 

I would question the "Porsche 948" part of the story.

The rest... whatever, entertaining thread regardless. It's hard to conclude anything without seeing photos, but it's interesting even hypothetically because if you're given a 308 at essentially no entry cost, and then need to restore everything mechanically, I think it would be hard to be in the black financially. I.e., once you disassemble the car to replace engine mounts, seized shocks, etc., there's a pretty long and expensive "while you're there" list. And I'm not writing this with a platinum/concours car in mind -- just getting all systems into proper, safe driving order.

 

Don't even bother parting it just sell it outside of kalifornia.

 

Well I hope this is real but the internet in me make me think otherwise.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I am also anxious to see pics and am curious about the chassis number as well.



PDG