Looking to get back into a 308GTS

Hello gang

I'm sort of fallen for this 1978 white GTS and I have a few questions regarding the wheels.

The car supposedly has original Borani wire wheels, and I've never seen that before.

Now, I drive my cars quite a bit, and have never lived with wire wheels so there's a few things l'd like to know.

How many 308s were delivered with wire wheels?
How difficult are they to keep clean?
How durable are they?
How often do they need spokes changed or tensioned?
Do they stay true?

Other thoughts?

Other than that, the car seems very original and clean.

Here's a few pics. It's a dealer car, not private. But that's not really important to me.

Brugt Ferrari 308 2,9 GTS til salg - Bilbasen

 

Borrani wire wheels are NOT originals, not even an option on 308s...but they are pretty.
That car Is not original in many respects: modified induction, very probably repainted as the crease line is not black, "wrong" steering Wheel, etc..

Rgds

 

There used to be an owner on here... northern NY state IIRC who had proof his car came from the factory with wire wheels. His car also had custom white where most of our cars had black. All special order from the factory apparently ... so it might be possible.

 

There's a fellow here in Ontario (sorry, don't know his name) who has a 308 with Borrani's and says it came that way from the factory. Fwiw

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

Never-ever saw these wheels on a 308. I think they look superb, very nice. They suit the classic lines of a 308 perfectly. The whole car looks nice. Go for it, have the middle line painted black and the car will look smashing !

 

Look nice yes, but lots of maintenance. I would start by finding out if the wheels actually come off. They can rust in place, then you will have a real hard time getting them off. Wheels should be removed every month, and re-grease the splines. Splines/wheels can also develop play over time. If that happens they start making a "knock" noise upon braking, and acceleration. The wheels can actually spin off, if the splines are worn enough.

 

Hej AB, I don't like them but smaken är som baken. They are probably worth more than alloy wheels so you can always change them if you want. I'd be more concerned about service history and if the sodium exhaust valves have been changed. $100k är ingen sikker investering.

 

Aside from the wheels a couple of head scratchers for me - why would a Euro '78 have a diaper (cats?) and what appears to be an 85 mph speedometer?

 

Wow! That thing looks magnificent. I don't know what I was expecting, but that is just stunning.

Good luck with your hunt.

 

Would have to be US import

 

Gentlemen, it is obvious that it is an ex-US car.
Not only from the diaper, but mainly from the engine hood, which has the "328 style" louvres for hot air extraction: the grill is shaped in an "U" with the last five rows of louvres going the full width of the hood, whereas on "euro" cars you have two parrallel rows of louvres separated by the center plenum over the engine, but no "last five full width" louvres.
Usually, the engine hood being a PITA to adjust, and rather expensive, US cars imported in Europe keep it, and this is the most obvious tell-tale (associated to the diaper here).

This car has been modified, no doubt about it; what has been done exactly on it is for the time being anyone's guess, but I would check its history.
And I do like the Borrani wheels on it...(I kinda like the BBS on 308 also.)

To the original poster, if you intend to discuss the price, remember that usually US cars are valued less in Europe than true "Euro spec" cars...and that the market put a premium these days on fully original cars.

Rgds

 

Yes David, of course: we know that almost any special order would have been possible from the factory, provided you were ready to wait and to fork the money. Remember, for instance, that there is a GTS with WHITE swage line, louvres, etc...and "Dino" wheels, all factory original.
What I was trying to say is that "Borrani wheels" were not a factory available option in the catalogue. If factory fitted (if, which has to be checked) its not an option but a special order.
It may look that I am nitpicking here, but I hope not...

Rgds

 

Okay all, so had a closer look, and it's not the car for me.

As has also been noted here, a lot of things are not original and it has been repainted - and not very well.

I've been out of the 308 game for a long time, but seeing it up close, made me realize that it's not an original special, but just a very used US car imported to Europe.

Maybe something will turn up in the future.

Thanks all for your inputs.

Best.

 

A case of "beautiful from far, but far from being beautiful" as we used to say in French ("belle de loin, mais loin d'être belle"). Too bad, that's a pity. Good luck with your research.

Rgds

 

That's a great saying.

 

I had second thoughs about my translation, perhaps it would have been more accurate as "beautiful from far away, but far away from being beautiful" (?). Well, anyway, you get the idea...

Rgds

 

In English it would probably read best as "Beautiful from afar, but far from beautiful", although that's probably not the most literal translation. I'm going to try to remember that one because it could be quite useful at certain times.