308 GT4 Series 1 VIN query

http://www.dino-gt4-registry.com/Reg-1974.htm

 

That registry does not show the VINs in calendar order, during 1974?

Assembly Line passing!!

 

What about the Engine ID plates on the frame rails, under the bonnet?

Those are also date specific, in that they will state what year the Emissions were designed to.
From the Registry (your VIN not shown) id does appear you are in a run from 1974.

Congrats that looks like a fine example.

 

The only real riddle in everything you stated is the recessed nose badge.

An early example as yours would have had the horizontal DINO logo (matching the VIN plates as a DINO)
Changing that to the vertical Ferrari badge would have been an unusual amount of work, on a dealer owned new car.
A testament to a former owner, if they paid to have the metal work done.

Or a crash repair using later parts....:/
Could have happened.

 

I see the edge of a Euro ID badge, to the right of your VIN plate?

A Euro model would have had the grill and lower lights as a "FLash to Pass" requirement and I'd bet it's wired that way!!
They are not driving lights, as on a North American car.

 

Hi, Gavin!

#08856 was definitely produced in late 1974 or early 1975! I have many 308 GT4s in my database, some of them had been Ferrari Classiche certified and I noted the production / delivery date stated there. I personally owned #08852 (engine 00321), which was finished on February 3, 1975. The production sequence doesn't completely match the serial number sequence, but almost. For example, #08912 was sold new in Switzerland on October 8, 1974. I also owned (and restored) #09080; Ferrari Classiche certificate says produced in 1974 and delivered in May of 1975. And I did own #09094; sold new in Italy on May 21, 1975.

The Ferrari badge on your example isn't original, your 308 GT4 definitely left the factory with a Dino badge. Many importers, dealers and owners replaced the Dino badges and logos by Ferrari ones, as we all know.

 

Urbans book on serie numbers says ?08, 1974. Not sure if 208 or 308. I have a 208 from 1975, 11310. So 1978? No way.
/Peter

 

Welcome!

I have #08964, a Series 1 first registered (in the UK) on 01/01/75. Still sports the original Dino badge (amongst a lot of other less original bits...)

Yours looks great and must be a rare sighting in SA - I grew up in Jo'burg in the 70s and remember plenty of Alfas and Beemers but can't recall ever seeing a 308.
Cheers

 

Look up through the grill to the underside of the nose panel. There is a chance you will see some evidence of what happened to the Dino recess. On my GT4 I could clearly see the horizontal indentation that was invisible under the Bondo from the top side.