Meh... For Sale: 1979 Ferrari 308GT4, 81k miles, red/tan, will need belts in next 2 years, minor oil leak (don't they all?), tons of receipts, runs like a scalded ape after recent tune-up, Compomotive wheels, other tasteful (suspension) upgrades. Accepting offers Monday, 1/22/07 after 5pm or will consider trade for concours-ready 246 GT.
Sure, at least. Oh my, mine with the rare combo of Black with Boxer trim = $390,000 Only negative press I remember reading was from a period FOC UK club quarterly magazine review, where the editior was not pleased with it's looks. Will scan and post soon...
Ferrari Owner's Club UK quarterly magazine: "Ferrari", Volume 6, number 1, Autumn 1973. Edited by the late Godfrey Eaton. Last paragraph is where he mentions he's disappointed by the looks. Quality of scan is a bit poor, as the pages were wavy due to water damage: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Have to chime in on this one. Offering: 1974 Dino 308 GT4 Series I, SN 08140 (Complete with letter from Ferrari North America stating this is a Euro model) 64,283Km. No noticeable wear on interior and carpeting. Full major service and complete mechanical resoration at 62,000Km (about 30 months ago). Minor flaws on paint (the car is driven). Two sets of wheels - 1 set of 5 spoke, and the original Dino wheels. No scuffs or scars on either set. Also Offering: a Thule bike rack that fits the roof (no charge) if the asking price is met. (Carbon fiber Specialized road bike available at an extra cost). Price: One Ton of cash.... or interesting trade that is equally as fun to drive.
I have never understood the criticism of the GT4's looks. Even when it was new I thought it looked fantastic - aggressive but poised. And what an overall package - space inside/mid engined/boot (trunk) space in back and front (a bit) and its shorter o/a than the 308/328 model. Drives like an adult go kart, sounds great and goes like stink. Bertone deserved a lot more credit for their work on this than they got either then or now. I've got a 328 as well and I'm still not sure I really like it......... Just my 2 cents Cheers Mark Taiwan/UK
Price: One Ton of cash.... or interesting trade that is equally as fun to drive. [/QUOTE] Well....looks like you'll not likely ever sell it on a trade in basis. Seriously is there a vehicle out there that's as much fun to drive?
Well....looks like you'll not likely ever sell it on a trade in basis. Seriously is there a vehicle out there that's as much fun to drive?[/QUOTE] Curses... Foiled Again !!!! You have revealed my scheme to keep my forever....
Jim Were you buying the blue one in Indiana. I stopped by and saw it last week and it really was a good car for the price. I was there when the liaison for the owner called to say no go at that price. Turns out the guy owes $25k on it still. They sent the car up there from Atlanta only to not accept a firm offer.
Doug, YES, I was going to buy that car. In fact, the car was scheduled to go in for a PPI with Leakdown/Compression testing the next morning. My offer was contingent upon that. Then the no go from the seller. Brian said he'd give me 1st right if it comes back on the market. Not sure if its going to happen or not. Its a nice car, but NOT a $25K car. It has some history, which I was willing to live with at the price I offered. Maybe its a sign from Enzo. I drove 10hrs RT to Evansville to see the car. It POURED rain almost all the way down there. I thought for sure that I would not be able to drive it, but the rain stopped for about 1hr. just in time for me to drive it. I'm hooked on the GT4 after that! Drove like an adult go-kart, just like it was described many times here. JIM
The car was driven from Atlanta to Evansville. Nice testament to the strength of the car. I was very curious to see what the leakdown showed..The motor felt very strong! Did you drive it? JIM
If he was a bit disappointed by the looks, he must have been very disappointed when he discovered it only had 2 valves per cylinder!
Knew I had some history on that car in my archives. Took me a while to find it, sorry. #09884 January 1975 production Series One 1975 308GT4 September 1984 offered for sale at Shelton Ferrari in FL. Red/Tan 13k miles June 1985 in NJ with new owner 1985 crashed, effects; both rear quarters & left front 2001 offered for sale via private party in AL, $19k with repainted non stock blue exterior. 41k miles 2002 car in NY with new owner February 2006 car in GA with new owner December 2006 for sale Bixton Motors in IN, $18k
Dave, I'm impressed with your database! Nice work. It is dead on with the history that I was told. For accuracy's sake, the car was at Buxton Motorsports in Evansville, Ind. Dec 2006. Interesting to see that the car has only been drive 4,000 miles since 2001! This car, should it come back on the market drives great and feels very strong motor wise. There is a small oil leak. Definetly worth looking into at the asking price ($19,800) That is IF it comes back on the market at that price. Rumor has it they will want $25K if they do. We'll see what happens. JIM
Be careful in buying a Ferrari that has been wrecked. Standard stuff, go over it with a magnet to make sure it had new body panels and not a bunch of bondo. Check VERY carefully to make sure the tube frame didn't get bent and was repaired poorly. Nothing wrong with it if it was a first class job, but very few people can do it first class.
Quoting this from another thread... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136428482&postcount=14
Hello to everyone interested in the '75 blue/tan 308gt4 serial #0998. It is a wonderful car and I hope it goes to a good home. I would like to first tell you what I definitely know about this car. I owned it from 2002 to 2006. This car is pretty well documented since the middle '80 and I am writing this purely out of my memory but I do have a copy of all the records which the next owner should inherit.... In the middle 80's, iit was sold by Shelton Ferrari to a new owner who reside in Syracuse, NY... This gentleman initially did service work at Luigi's in Montreal, Canada... he soon moved down to Arizona and kept it there until he sold it the next owner in the early '90 who resided in Alabama. The bulk of the service records including a couple of major service with timing belt was done by the gentlmen who lived in Arizona. While he owned it, he brought it back to its original Chiaro Blue exterior... the red is the incorrect color... the gt4 registry shows the original color to be Chiaro blue.... I personally saw the painting receipt which included doing some rust repair and came out to be in the mid $3000... I don't ever recall seeing any description of car requiring three new fenders and all the work was done in Arizona not New Jersey (ultimately I could be missing out on an entire separate painting record, but I highly doubt it)..... The new owner in Alabama was a intelligent and caring but a "do-it-yourself" type who did mostly little things including clutch, pair of Crane 700 electronic igniotin, Borla exhaust, new set of front interior, and winshield as he cracked it in the garage, and had to repaint a few panels becaue of garage mishap... he told me that the panels were not perfect and the doors didn't align perfectly, but I bought the car sight unseen never-the-less. When I picked it up, it was way overdue for a major service since the last major was done prior to the gentleman in Alabama picked it up... I shoud also mention that less than a thousand or two was placed during this entire 10 year period in Alabama. While I had it, I did the following repair to get it to a respectably well running Ferrari 308gt4 between 10/'02 to 8/'03: I am fastidiously anal with my service record, however, I misplaced a good portion for this car, so you just going to have to believe me... please remember that I have already sold this car and I have no vested interest... and when I do find the records, it is just matter of time, I will pass it on to the next owner..... 1. steering rack replaced with rebuilt one from Maranello auto parts 2. front koni shocks replaced with near new used shocks 3. replaced all the worn out bushings result: steering tighter, front bouncing resolved, dam creaking noises all gone! 4. major service which essentially included replacing every seals, gasket, next to engine out service, timing belts, tensioner, all accessory belts, all and every filters, all fluid changes....shift-shaft seal and bushing, oil and transmission pan gasket, replaced internal of the crane system which wasn't working properly, one or two engine mounts, get rid of dam loud, horrible backfiring Borla for classic mild steel Ansa exhaust in good used condition, all necessary fuel and oil hoses and lines.... while the valve cover was out, the internals were closed scrutinized and looked really clean... result:engine will start at any weather, hot or cold in an instant and settle down to a quiet idle.... it will rev up to 7K without a hiccup, it has plenty of power and has a rather flat torque bend all the way to 7K, and will get up to 80mph deceptively smoothly and quickly. it does puff up at start up but clears up right away... when i firt got it, it had puddles of oil spot pretty much mirroring the entire diameter of the oil pan and then some..... I say 90% of the floor staining is resolved. the clutch housing and seal was not changed since he clutch was replaced by the previous owner, but replacing the seal for additional $700 will get rid of another 5%.....I read another thread of a gt4 newbie asking the diffference between the '75 vs. later '78 and '79.... the later models even with cat converter feels beefier and torquier, but not necessary fast, but the '75 with the optimistically rated 240hp are "deceptively" quick and will get you into illegal speeds more quickly.... at least this is my opinion in the matter.... the tranny is very positive and syncrhos are all good and the gear will go in as quickly as you can shift smooth, and ratios are perfectly set up for road and highway use....and clutch has a very smooth take up brakes are more than adequate....front squeal when cold but seem to go away as you use it more.... pads have plenty left... I have added 16 wheels from 308qv, and put on new z rated Yoko AVS which should be still like new.... I added a nice "Cavallino" Momo steering wheel which adds a whole new sense of added pleasure to the driving experience... when you look and hold these wheels in your hands, you will know what I mean... the windshile is like new so it is real pleasure looking out, and the dashboard is perfect, and all gauges work perfectly.... The drivers mirro which had a cracked stem was finally found in nice shape, and replaced the boring three red llens tail light assembly was replaced wth euro assembly which brakes the boredom with a yellow lens the rear bumper had ugly heavy looking bumper which only came in on '75 and early '76..... I looked high and low and finally found a nice rear bumper of later model alll the gauges work perfectly, headliner is perfect, the interior door panel and rearseat (last dyed by Shelton I believe) should receive leatherique treatment, which should make the interior near perfect. The carpet and mats have been replaced and while not Wilton quality, are deep and near new in apearance. I think 4K miles is plently in a Ferrari over four year period... I do have a few other cars...I drove it up to Lime Rock for Ferrari and Vintage racing weekends and put my kids in the back seat thru a wonderfully windy road called Taconic State Parkway, which can be very narrow in certain section for 120 miles nonstop, and felt perfectly tight, safe, and always in total control... The car was driven by my close close friend when he came to visit me in NY from Atlanta... and when time came for me to sell, I kept my promise in giving him the first crack at it...he now desparately has to sell this car due to his progessively worsening health conditon.... In an earlier time in his life in the '80, he had a similar chiaro blue '75 gt4 and used it everyday for four years racking up more than 80K miles!!! Getting this car meant the world to him but he has no choice but to let it go... As all of you know, you have to buy the best you can afford.... I hope I have convinced you that during my ownership I put I lot of effort, time, enegy, any money to bring it to a good to exellent driving Ferrari.... I believe it is a bargain at $25 and you will not regret it....don't forget, the service on these bargain Ferraris cost as much as any 308 or 328 varieties, and your required budge will escalate very, very quickly... and of all the models, these gt4's have been owned by many who deferred the maintenance and repairs.. and naturally when you go test drive them, they drive about as strony as Fiat spyder with 1.8 liter engine, and yet you will be tempted by the low prices... don't be tempted.... I have driven many carb 308g4, but for some reason well sorted gt4 drives and feel so much beter than 308gtb/s (sorry to the owners). A nice carb set up will provide you with as much power as excellent qv or good runnig 328... ONLY if they are well set up...I am sure there are better condition gt4 which will provide with more power and pleasure... but I willl tell you you won't be dissapointed with this car... as a final though, these wede shaped bortone models looks best in silver, black or blue in my opinion....especially with 16 inch wheels with near period correct tires, and classic but still menacing looking ansa quad tips sticking out.... all the hard work on this car has been done... you just need to drive it and enjoy... hope one of you guys personally check this car out and enjoy the stink out it.... all Ferraris deserve to be used and enjoyed.... this is not 355 or 360.... I have never done a compression or leak down on this car because as long as it felt great by the seat of my pants, the leak down and compression willl simply tell me I am driving a 30 year old car which has never had an engine tear down..... lots of luck to those interested in this car.... If you have any questions feel free to contact me... JK
the gt4 interests me. i like the looks of it. clean. how much does it weigh? can someone turn me onto a spec page? it looks like it would be hot in an autocross. tom w
'75: 3270lbs, 240bhp @6600, 195.2 lbs-ft @5000, 3.71:1 final drive ratio, o to 60 @ 7 seconds, 8.1:1 compression ration , 7700 rev limit '79 3405lbs, 205 @6600, 181 lbs-ft @5000, 4.1:1 final drive ration, 0 to 60 i 7.8 seconds, 8.8:1 compression ratio These cars were not built with autocross in mind in my opinion... they are too heavy and underpowered and suspension is way too soft.... However, these gt4's provide an amazingly unique driving experience which I don't even think the engineers realized at the time of its conception.... in the early '70, there was a strong rivalry between Mr. Lamborghini and Mr. Ferrari (I am sure most of you know the story behind this..) It is not clear exactly which firm came up with the idea of mid-engine 4 seater, but the credit supposedly goes to Lamborghini Urraco.... The Maserati and Ferrari each introduced a mid-engine 4 seater of their own..... Ultimately however, it is the Bertone desinged gt4 which proved to be best of bunch by a huge margin.... In the process of attempting to fit a real 4 seater into a mid-engine design, the first "cab-forward" desgin was incorporated into a road-going machine... What does this all boil down to when it comes to the driving experience you ask?? the tubular chassis (which significantly adds to the weght of the car) is amazingly strong structually and provides a rigid ride, yet the suspension is relatively supple..... and you got four down draft webers gulping and popping in as much fuel and air as your right foot wants to waste, and then you got that unique "flat-plank" crank providing a delicate (yes delicate) symphony of two four cylinder units firing in perfect harmony....and finally you have the snarl and gluttural of the ansa exhaust.. if you ever get a chance look at "Victory by design" by Alain de Cadenet and when he is drivng the 312pb on the track, that only a few mortals like us can ever dream of doing...... well you can go pick up one of these cab-forward gt4's and go for a blasting drive on your favorite section of fast sweepinhg windy road, and all of sudden you won't envy Alain so much in his 312pb... this is what driving and enjoying a gt4 is all about.... the newer, fancier Ferrari may be more powerful, svelte, and achingly grippy on the taramc, but will not provide anymore pleasurable driving experince if you what you want is a taste of '70's vintage race car feel... It is really not about absolute speed.... your grandmother's Honda will be faster... it is all about the "Unique Feel and Experience" of the drive..... it is like no other.... If you want a successful Italian autocross toy, stuff the biggest engine into the Fiat x-19 and beef up the suspension, and go have fun.... Just my two cents, JK
As much as I hate to say it the gt4 design was originally showed to Lamboghini, who refused it and one other before accepting the Urraco design. I have a big Lamborghihi Book with the picture it looks almost exactly like the gt4. Ill try to scan a pic.
it sounds like fun. thanks for the details and weight information. i campaigned my mercedes 500sec last year in scca autocross at 185 hp 250 ft lb and 3655 pounds last year so this would feel like an f40 in comparison. i am thinking of selling my pf coupe and getting something more suitable for autocross and doing something different with the rest of the money. tom w
Series 1 = 255hp (cars produced through June of 1975 not ALL 1975's) Series II = 240hp Series iii = 205hp
