How do you read Serial Numbers (VIN)?

The F US VINs before they went to the 17-digit system in ~1980 are just random/made-up combinations (so they can't really be "read" for information). They usually are just some combination of model and/or SN and/or engine family and/or body style -- e.g., my ex-'78 308GTS VIN was "308GTS25375" and others have reported things like "F106AS*24033" or just "10785".

 

Maybe -- get the engine family number as shown on the engine block near the water pump (F106AE is '78-'79 US version -- although the photos show F106A from someone's '73-'77 US 308). Also, if there are no tapped holes for the air injection nozzles in the heads this would be non-US. The presence or absence of an oil tank should confirm/deny whether it's a dry sump or not (I don't have a picture of the 308 dry sump oil tank handy, but other have posted such before)
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Luigi, what's your car's serial number...? Is it a '79...? Also, check the driver's side door jamb for a plate that will tell you if your car is US-spec or European... How about the engine compartment...? Are there all sorts of smog labels and such...? Go sit in the car and flip open the console between the two seats - is there a tag on the underside of the console flip-open thingie...? What does that label say...?

As for the 11-digit, pre-1980 "VINs", those aren't actually, VINs, rather they're serial serial numbers and chassis type numbers put together in an attempt to make a VIN for the DMV... The pre-1980 chassis type number for a 308 GTS is: F106AS (1977, 1978 & 1979)...

Hey, Steve, 10785 is a 275 GTB/4...

Do you now own 24033...? The engine number you posted doesn't match your ex-308, S/N 25375 (engine number 00455)...

 

So savant like it's haunting.

 

I just made up a 5-digit number (I didn't realize that I HAD to use one that corresponded to a 308 ).

No, it was just a random "F106AS + SN" VIN example that someone had posted earlier.

The photo is not my ex-308 -- but I can confirm that when I sold my ex-308 in Dec 1999 it had an F106AE engine marked as 00455 if you'd like to make a note

 

You've got a sharp eye there, Carbon. Those are pictures of my engine block and identification plate...1976 308 GTB S/N 19399.

Barry

 

Matt, "savant-like" should be hyphenated... For a second there, I couldn't understand what you were trying to say...

 

Luigi...

Ferrari 308 GTS S/N 27817 is a 1979 European car... It's been in Florida for at least 11 years now...

 

Yes. The VIN on my registration is 308GTB19399
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Barry...

The motor number on your 308 is 01503...? That's pretty high, no...? I don't know much about motor numbers as opposed to serial numbers, so if it's not high, then nevermind me... Did Ferrari not stamp these motors in relatively sequenced order...?

 

For some reason, we already have that information... But thank you.

 

http://www.ferrariclub.com/faq/vin.html

 

Well you just proved my point again

 

Yes, they were stamped in relatively sequenced order as you said. Remember that the Type 106A engine was also used for the 308 GT4s. In late 1975, engines with numbers in the 01200s were being fit into GT4s.

Barry

 

I'm pretty sure USA cars have catalytic converters whereas Euro cars of that era did not have cats... But I'm really talking out of my ass now, as I don't really know if that's true or not...

 

So, Barry, is it just an odd coincidence that 19399 has engine number 01503, which is much higher than engine number 00455, which is in S/N 25375...?

 

My engine number is F106A 01503 (May, 1976 production GTB). S/N 25375 is a 1978 production car with a different engine type: F106AE which superceded mine. They started numbering sequentially all over again for that engine type.

S/N 25375's engine block identification plate should be stamped F106AE 00455

Barry

 

Carbon,

The Type F106A engine was the early noncatalytic engine used in the 308s (1975-77). Keith Bluemel elaborates on all the different engine types used in the 308 series in his "Original Ferrari V8."

Below is my Certificate of Origin.

Barry
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Barry, thank you...! I learn something new everyday...!!!

 

You're welcome, Carbon. It's nice to see that you're soaking up every bit of information. Just the way you did when we met at Classic Coach three years ago.

 

Seems like a lifetime ago, huh...? I saw so many cars that day that I'd never before seen in the flesh... It was magic...