1988.5 328s

I have read/heard from several sources that the 89 cars carry more value because they are the final model year (true of most cars). But I've never heard a peep about the 88.5 models being considered special or unique, or having a valuation bump. Certainly they are more unique though, and sometimes that will make a car sought after far into the future.

All the production numbers I have come across group 88 and 88.5 into a single count. I have never seen the 88.5 models split out. For the combined 88 and 88.5 models, 334 GTB's and 1548 GTS's were made.

I have heard people steer towards the 86-88 models because they prefer the looks of the concave wheels, or steer towards an 88.5-89 model because they like the convex wheels. I doubt that translates into a valuation factor though.

 

personally don't like the convex wheels of the 88.5/89 cars. also the abs doesn't work that well and the pump is super expensive (if you can find one). love my 88!

 

Hey Chance, do you live in the LA area by any chance? If so you're welcome to kick the tires on my 89. I'll probably never use the ABS, although I've heard it is good to exercise it periodically. I just do not drive that hard. Personally, I like the convex rims. It fills the wheel - well out a bit more. A bit more substantial. One nice thing about the previous models (concave) is you have options for aftermarket rims. I have very few options.
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Thanks. Best of luck with your search. You will get a lot of help from the guys here.

 

As for the figures, it is slightly more complicated than that...
Once again, there is no such thing as an overall "Model Year" world designation for Ferraris of this vintage; the United States was using it, but other countries did not, or have a different starting point (might be Juy 1st, for instance, whreas it was usually September in the US)

The factory figures are production by CALENDAR YEAR, from January 1st to December 31st.
If we admit the usual 30% of production going to the US (much less than 30% for GTBs) the US received, let's say "about 560" cars from these totals.

From these 560:
Those produced from January 1st to end of March, approximatively (about 1/4 of the 560) were MY 1988.
Those produced from "about the last days of March" (approx.) to mid September (approx.) were the so-called "MY 88 1/2".
Those produced from mid September (approx.) to December 31st (and later) were already MY 1989 (#78835 is the first US MY '89, although an earlier car, # 78479 already has a "K" VIN)

Let's say that a ballpark of 250 1988 1/2 for the US market should be close from the truth.

In the "rest of the world", it didn't apply as ABS was an option (= you had to ask for it and was charged extra to get it) from the start of production with the new suspension (= chassis # 76626, although you will find some later-produced cars still with the "older suspension and concave wheels", mainly RHDs, after # 76626) already, and remained so until the last chassis produced (# 83136).
It means that in the ROW, you might have some 88 1/2 already with ABS, and some 89 without it (the telltale is the brake fluid reservoir).

Rgds

 

Those of us "in the know" who buy these cars to drive, generally value the non-ABS cars over the ABS ones, all else being equal.

 

Well said Nerofer.

 

I don't know about that ...I bought an '89 specifically because it has ABS. I "exercise" the ABS at least once in every drive and, despite claims to the contrary, it seems to work just as well as the ABS in our two 2019 cars.

 

The question posed in the first post is whether non-ABS 88.5 is more or less desirable than 86-88 cars, not whether ABS is better than non-ABS.

I believe the anti-dive suspension geometry upgrade is an improvement over previous models. I used to prefer the concave wheels, but the more I compare them, the more I favor the convex wheels. So, for me, the 88.5 is a little more desirable than any that came before.

 

The nicest 328 I have driven (so far...) was a 1988 GTB with the modified suspension and without ABS and without A/C: GTB, so sharper and stiffer; and about 65-70 lbs from the no ABS and no A/C, so lighter, and even if the difference was not that noticeable, somehow you felt it.
Agreed, I wouldn't mind "no A/C" in my neck of woods where A/C is rarely, if ever used (I never use it), but I know that in some parts of the US "no A/C" would be simply unbearable.

As for the ABSs, even if it is not the matter here, we have discussed it a lot of time already; frankly, and I do agree with Mike, it is a no brainer. I'm rather happy that my GTB has it; I take that car usually at first light in the morning, when the roads are empty, and it has saved quite a number of cats or squirrels already.
It doesn't hinder your driving the slightest, and it is the Teves MkII, so a very common system. People keep saying that the pump is super expensive, but I don't recall many threads here from people looking for one?

(Agreed, as our cars - and their drivers too...- get older, one day or the other the pump will probably fail...)

So, I don't know if a "88.5" should or would command a premium, but I would say that an US GTB 88.5 should, perhaps...rare beast; the best driving 328, as a driver's machine, probably.

Rgds

 

Look, I have had my 89 for 23 years and 105,000 miles.The brakes on these cars work fantastic on the road, I have heard tracking is different, with that being said, I read about a rental 308 outfit for driving on the track in UK , and the owners said no problems with the brakes. My car has never been an every day driver , so I maybe have used the ABS one time. I would rather have, and Im happy to own an 89 , they are the best of the run , ABS or not. I also prefer the concave, and not the convex. I have 17 inch Compomotives, so they look like the stock wheels on steroids. Im glad ABS is on my car in one aspect, but not for the fact that I cant use the type of Compos with the deep dish that Tuason has on his 308 , they look the best. My car can slow down, lets say from 100 MPH in what seems like no time at all , they have great feedback, and the car stops evenly on all four legs, in other words, the front end does not dive down under hard braking, thanks to a great over all engineered machine. Ninety percent of the time, ABS kicks in because people follow to close, and when things stop all of a sudden, it helps keep them from slamming into the car in front, ( most of the time ! ) I know Im guilty of that, and my ABS has kicked in quite a few times in my trucks over the last 30 years, other than that, it never gets activated. ABS more crucial on a motorcycle in my estimation .

Big G

 

I would pick the non ABS for myself.

I don't want or need the headache if/when it acts up.

If I were flipping them, it wouldn't matter.

 

There's no headache. It doesn't "act up", it either works or it doesn't. If it stops working due to a component failure that can't be fixed or sourced, then you simply disconnect the ABS warning light from the dash wiring and disable the ABS computer by putting it in permanent diagnostic mode. The regular boosted braking will continue to work just as if the car was not equipped with ABS.

The ABS pump is very reliable; they don't commonly fail. One reliable source tells me they can be rebuilt. The accumulator can sometimes leak, but it is not common and replacements are readily available. The pressure regulator that signals the pump to run is also still available. As far as availability of parts, the wheel sensors are the biggest problem. But here too, the sensors don't commonly fail.

 

If the solution to a potential expensive repair with a difficult to source part is to simply turn it into a non-ABS car, I see no added value in the price increase for the ABS.

 

I'm not really sure there is a price premium for ABS. I think it's more that the ABS cars are mostly 89's, and are preferred just for being the last model year.

I bought my 89 for other reasons, but in my view having ABS is a positive. I've never needed it, but it's nice to have, just in case, for as long as it keeps working.

 

Probably mostly it's the 89 think like you say

 

If you are looking for rarity, maybe better going with a "328" turbo, built for Italian market only: only 75 units of "328" GTB turbo M.Y. 1989 were made. The car is the same, only the engine is different, performances are more or less the same even if their output is much different.

Coming to your question, the front suspension is completely different from the 88.5 models due to an antidive geometry necessary for the ABS correct working: that new geometry -basically it's the Mondial 3.2 front suspension- forced to use convex rims, exactly like it happens with the Mondial 3.2....

I can't judge - despite having both- which is the best of the two, but the newer one makes the car feeling easier to handle for a not talented driver like I am. This with or without having ABS: many 88.5 and 89 models haven't the ABS despite all having the convex rims.

Maybe my book can help, if you you want to consider a "328"turbo and not only the well known - and very common- 328.

This said, the 328 is a fantastic car indeed.

Ciao

PS
Here below the only "328" GTB turbo M.Y. '89 ever produced without ABS and A/C from Factory: my #80173. I do recomend to find a 328 without A/C - only if you live in a place where you can survive without it, of course - as the weight reduction is big and the handling raises to another level.

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