1988.5 Ferrari 328 GTB 78555

I am a signature away from agreeing to buy 78555 which appears to be a very nice GTB. I already own a 1989 GTS so I thought it would be fun to have what looks like a matched set. Other than the roof and the carpet the cars are pretty much twins although my GTS has lower miles.

The car is being sold through a dealer called San Francisco Sports Cars so I have no connection with the owner who lives in Northern California. I know his name but will not post it here because maybe he does not want it out in circulation. For a 16,000 mile car it looks exactly like what I would expect. The funny thing is that there is one right here in Houston which has outstanding records but is a lot more money.

Other than a receipt for a service in 2017 at a Ferrari Specialist but not a Ferrari Dealer there are no service records for the car. The owner does have a one page "statement" that outlines its history which appears to be consistent with CarFax. It is Classiche Certified in 2018 so at least a Ferrari dealer confirmed four years ago that it is, what it is. The car was judged Platinum in a 2021 FCA Concours so it has that provenance as well.

The purpose of this post is to find out if anyone else knows about this particular car? It was at the FCA Pacific Region Concours on August 14, 2021 and the judging sheet looks good.

 

See post # 569 on the enclosed link, and the following exchange of posts:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/328-gtb-registry.312511/page-23#post-147714588

Rgds

 

that's one pricey 328...

 

Agreed, and I am still "... one signature away".

 

But you wouldn't regret a GTB, ever. You'd love it.
I have both a GTB and a GTS, both '89 and very close on the production line (#80515 GTS & 81085 GTB). They are different enough to justify having both. Both have their advantages, so much that I have been keeping both for more than eleven years now, but the "B" is by far the better driving machine.
(Of course, I'm not the one forking the money...and I bought both when prices were about half of what they are nowadays)

Rgds

 

Unless you are planning on keeping it, I wouldn't pay that.

It will be difficult to flip it in this economy and the direction it is going and make it worth it at the moment. In other words, I don't see that car being a $275,000 car in the spring. especially after you put some miles on it.

 

Difficult to say something useful or clever, being in Europe where markets are not the same and GTBs are rather common...except that 275.000 is A LOT of money!
You would find a very, very nice 16.000 miles (= 30.000 kms) GTB for no more than 120.000 euros here. And a true "time capsule" (less than 3.000 miles) for 160.000, but agreed, these are rare.
But, well...this is a very personal matter. Depends on how much one wants the car, etc...

Rgds

 

I agree.

Pay what you feel you are willing to pay, but I would be very cautious at that price if I were viewing it as an investment at the moment.

 

This car was offered ( not sold ) at Mecum auction in Monterey, California, Saturday August 20, 2016, lot N°16 "comes with the original books" IF the books still with the car it should have some stamps
It was also offered by Dave Olimpi, Middlebug, Virginia as "one owner car" but in end of 2009 ( until 2011 ? )

I'm surprise that a car like this one have not any service records in 5 years. The owner don't want to drive it, never !?

 

You can't drive it unless you want to lose your ass on the "value"

That asking price over 200K isn't just because it is a 88.5 GTB, it's that 16,000 miles.

 

That is the case with time capsule car under 2000 or 3000 miles, but with mileage 16.000 ! Do you think you loose so much if you put 500 miles on it ?

 

Not really. But just because you and I know that doesn't mean HE knows that.

 

Thanks for everyone's comments and advice. I have been on Ferrarichat since it started but I rarely post. If I pay too much I will be irritated but that is not really my main concern because I tend to hold on to the cars for a while which is why I still own a 5000 mile 328 GTS. I just thought it would be fun to have a matched set and if I don't get this one no matter how rare they are I know there will be more. FYI, if I buy this car it will be my 3rd Ferrari 328 and I bought the first one new so I know the good, the bad and the ugly. I am not a huge collector but this will be car 23 in my assembly of red cars. What I was really hoping for with my post was if someone knew this actual car, or had any experience with San Francisco Sports Cars, to give me a "heads up". I had a terrible experience on a 69 Shelby with a dealership in Cleveland, Ohio that does a lot of Ebay transactions (initials "MG") so I am gun-shy with any dealer -- they are always your buddy until the car gets delivered. I am surprised on a high dollar car like this that the paperwork is so weak but that does happen. I can tell that San Francisco Sports Cars is not rushing to sell me the car either so my guess is that they are not foisting off a pig. Basically, I am personally questioning whether I want to mess around with a car in California when there is one right here in Houston that is represented by an excellent dealer who has a stellar reputation (initials "MF"). But the story always ends this way: the one right here in Houston has better service records but, because it is significantly even more money, it may make a trip to California make sense. If anyone knows this car or has experience with San Francisco Sports Cars let me know.
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I wish you every bit of luck with either.

I believe in the free market, so pay what you feel comfortable at but since I really didn't know your intentions I just wanted to point out that is really REALLY strong money for that car and it is unlikely you will get any ROI out of it it this environment if you planned on selling it later.

Anyway, good luck. Keep us posted

 

The GTB at San Francisco Sports Cars has now been Sold!

 

Good luck with the car

 

So #78555 is back on the market for $195.000

https://www.mohrimports.com/for-sale/ferrari/19885-ferrari-328-gtb/1395.html

 

I like the price setting and the NO WARRANTY.....

 

I thought US spec 328's were rated at 260 hp, rather than the 270 hp that the rest of the World got, due to the emissions equipment on it, and had lower gearing to make the performance back up?

And $195,000 with no warranty? - That's not exactly showing much faith in the car!