I have a 1984 308 gts with red with black leather and 2 tone "boxer trim". My first choice would be a solid color, but the longer I have it the more I like it. The flat black bottom is easier to clean and hides any light scratches. It also hides/camouflages the big USA bumpers. My car is a factory 2 tone as I've investigated with Ferrari and it is in the data base as a "bi-color". I've been told the 2 tone cars started life as a solid color then masked off and sprayed the flat black. I can see on my car the mask lines and some red showing through over time as my car has original paint. The factory didn't take any pains on prepping and applying the boxer paint scheme. I would like to know the percentage of 308's with 2 tone paint.
Well, about your question on « how many cars left the factory in the Boxer paint scheme” or “what is the percentage of cars in the Boxer paint scheme”… Some people on this forum know that this is a topic that I have been interested in for some time; I have answered this question a number of times, so to some it might look as I am beating the proverbial dead horse here, but, to this day, the best answer I can give you is… “no-one knows”. Some may have an idea, some may come with numbers, or percentages. But no-one is able to give you a dependable and reliable source, and therefore cross-checking any affirmation is impossible. To this day, there is no such thing as a complete and accessible list of all Ferraris built; the factory may have one, but even this is not sure. They do have more information for cars built after computerization of their data-bases, which I understand to have been “at the beginning of the eighties”, let’s say 1983-84 (?). But for the cars built before that, there is not much information accessible. You have a dedicated number of individuals painstakingly collecting chassis numbers and any information about their colors, either for the whole list of cars, or for a specific model. But unfortunately these will never be complete because: - some cars are no longer extant: destroyed in accidents, crushed after having rotted outside, or having been stolen, etc… - some are indeed still extant but far away from our prying eyes, in faraway countries or hidden in private collections. So the complete list will never be achieved. We do not even know today how many 308 survive. Some figures / numbers are in circulation, but these are usually impossible to cross-reference because no-one is able to give a source; usually, it goes like “I have been said it is true by Mr X who, in the old days, used to know Mrs W who had lunch from time to time with Mr Z who was the doctor of the chief of production…” . Many owners also like to think that their Ferrari is “different”, usually the first of something, or the last of something, or the only one in something; a friend of mine has been told two weeks ago by an owner that “my 328 GTS is the last produced”; and that owner believed it, even if we have already at least 200 chassis numbers for 328 younger than the one of his car; and that everyone knows that the last one produced is 83136, and it was not his car…but, he genuinely believed it to be true. From time to time the factory leaks some information in an “official” publication or magazine on a specific color, for instance “did you know that only one car left the factory in such and such color combination” but never the full range of numbers of cars of a specific model produced the whole range of colors. Some importers in the old days were known for readily giving a bit more information like others, for instance Maranello Concessionaires in the UK published numbers of different models imported, etc…and when they say “we imported X cars in that color”, this is usually reliable. For others, it’s more difficult: we researched the original paint scheme for a 1977 308 GTB sold new by Pozzi in 1977; someone here was able to help, but on the period file it was only written “ordered new in dark blue”, without the name or exact reference of the color; other importers have long folded over, like “Auto-Becker” in Germany… So except for the top tier-models (for instance, the original paint schemes for the ten original 275GTB/4NART Spider are known… no one knows for sure and is able to substanciate his claim. Unless solidly proven by a source, take the numbers you read here and there more like a ballpark on a scale “rarest / very rare / rare / not that rare / fairly common / very common”. I guess, but it is only a guess, that the boxer paint scheme is “rare”, but not very rare; my guess would be something like 3-4% perhaps from the cars produced? Perhaps less, as I know of at least one or two friends who were looking for a carbed 308 GTB in that scheme in France, and they are still searching… Remember also that taste in colors vary from one country to another. Rgds
What if you did it the other direction, like the 458 or Gallardo "bicolore" option, with the A-B-C and roof blacked out? Anyone ever photoshop that?
Set up a poll and see what numbers come in. The % given by respondents on this forum will be a close enough guide.
Agree with you Paul, although this would give an indication for the United States market. Have you already seen one in the United Kingdom? New question: How many 308 were produced in the "Boxer paint scheme" and in Right Hand Drive - scusi: "Vetture Guida Destra" in Ferrari parlance... Rgds
I don't think there'd be a significant difference. Yes, I've seen both boxers and 308s in this scheme.
This has always been frustating. Porsche owners can order a certificate of authenticity from Porsche, and these tend to be very complete back to the early 1960s, in some cases into the 1950s. Paint/interior, options, engine specification and gearbox numbers. It was all done on a Kardex system, and Porsche made more cars (more than 60,000 356s through 1965). Is Ferrari making an effort, through Classiche (?), to construct anything like this? I have to believe that if you paid to send a beat-up glass 308 through Ferrari's own restoration service they would find a way to know what color it was when it left Maranello.
Agreed on Porsche. It's the right way to treat people passionate about your product. You have to pay to receive any info from Ferrari.
Another top-notch detailed post by nerofer. As far as the list goes, if we could just get someone to figure out how to research the current registrations for each model year (76-85) in every state it would give us some idea where things stand as far as what's left. Then, add back in some percentage for shoe rack 308s that have been sitting in garages for years. But if we could just get a list of the current registered cars at least we would have a starting point for the cars left here in the US. I would think this might be even easier, or perhaps not, in smaller countries.
Love it. What to do what to do.... Nothing like it BTW here is a pic of my car today Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
sean here's a pic of mine with the lower euro front dam that may help you decide...notice the Italian handbrake? I maybe putting it up for quick sale... a buddy found another car for me on the dark side anyone interested in this 21k mile 80 GTSi 2 owner local car? asking 27500$ regards hf Image Unavailable, Please Login
Beautiful car. Wheels go great as well. Is the dark side a lambo?? Also good article that shows a 2 tone yellow 308 The yellow family » Ferrari Magazine - For Ferrari cars owners and fans
I think this one is a model car but I sure like to see it in reality. Image Unavailable, Please Login
