How much is a pristinely restored 1980 308GTBi worth?

I've finished restoring the inside of my 308 GTBI. Just wondering if it's worth restoring the outside. I'm planning on taking the body down to metal, then having new paint applied. The paint job is going to cost approx $7,500. Don't want to be wasting my money, the current paint is in pretty good shape. However, it's not perfect.

Thanks,

GT

 

Any chance you could post some pictures?

 

good question, let me know what my carbed nut and bolt restored 308 is worth too.

 

I would say some where between $23-28K

 

Using the NADA guide:

$23,000 low retail, $24,900 average retail, $41,100 high retail.

High retail is for an almost perfect car, but not a 100 point show car. Those are always going to be higher. Average is probably higher, nearer to $30, while low is probably about right to maybe a bit to high.

But are you trying to have and keep a show car, or looking to sell it later on? If your trying to have a car you can drive you may want to hold off on the paint if its a good looking car.

 

26,500

 

$25,617.43

 

I don't know if it's "pristine" unless it's done by the factory. Perhaps you should call FNA about the Classiche program...

 

You're telling me for a better-than-factory fresh 308, detailed to Pebble Beach level, with modern paint/sealing techniques, you'd only cough up mid $20K?!

Sheesh...

A ratty QV would go for low $20K, right?

 

-----Joke-->




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You

 

A friend last year sold his 1982 GTS Euro for $41k, it was absolutely the best looking and most pristine 308 I had ever seen. The paint always looked wet. I think people will pay over market for really nice cars. After looking at worn out, beat up, and band aided cars most will pay more for real quality.

 

Don't go there. This could get ugly. What does it cost to ship a car to Maranello? Sorry, couldn't resist.

-F

 

Nothing!!!

 

....except your reputation, lol.

 

Sure:
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Looks great. Considering lowering it an inch or two?

 

Why do you want to paint it? It looks great in the photos.

 

The paint looks good from a distance and in photos. However, being somewhat of a perfectionist, the paint is not perfect. The car has some small dings and scratches. I'm wondering if it's worth 7.5K to have the car repainted. My concern is that I might never be able to recoup the money if I ever sold the car. The car has 28,000 miles on it, and the wheels were upgraded to 16" with 255-50-16 tires. The belts were just done and I went through the pain of re-greasing the window motors - what a PITA. If it's worth 35K or so in excellent condition, then I pull the trigger and have her painted. The shop doing the paint job will do a better job than Ferrari, show quality. Otherwise, I'll just enjoy driving her, then sell her at the end of the summer.

GT

 

Looks like Dr. Tommy is serious, though.

 

Your 308 looks excellent. For $7500, it should be a very good paint job. But who else will pay for $7500? unless Ferrari owners?

 

I wouldn't pay over $30k for an "i" 308 unless it was a show car with show paint and I was a show person. But then you can't drive it so you'd have to buy ANOTHER 308 just to have fun.

If I'm going over $30k I want a QV and the rustproofing.

Ken

 

No offense to anyone, but anyone looking to buy a really nice 308 is likely willing to spend good money for one. Cavallino shows the early injected cars with top values up to $60K the last several issues, so obviously people are out there paying good money for the nicer cars. While everyone says they dont like them, or they would rather have a QV or a carby, the 2V injected cars keep bringing good money, sometimes MORE than a QV. Maybe its basic simplicity and simple reliablity outshine the other cars performance advantages?

 

I'm not aware of anything the 2 valve injected cars do better than the QV unless you're going to put a turbo in or something. How are they more reliable? They both need belt changes and the i cars are more prone to rust and have less power. Can anyone point out what they do better than a QV?

Anyone who pays $60k for one overpaid IMO. That's not to say someone somewhere didn't pay that but you'd be hard pressed to get him to admit it! That's pristine 328 money.

Ken

 

I see you said that the car only has a few scratches and chips, since you plan on selling it by the end of the summer, why don't you have it professionally detailed and have the chips filled. You would be suprised what a top notch detail would do. $7,500 just does not seem worth it if you are going to sell.
Jason

 

It's the old story -- a car (or anything else for that matter) is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. More important, what is the car worth to you? If you are not planning on selling it right away, the cost of the paint job is irrelevant. If you are painting it to sell it, then you don't want to have more into the car than what it is worth. But if you plan on keeping it and enjoying it, the question is not what you could sell the car for. It's how much enjoyment will you get out of seeing the car in "pristine" condition, rather than as it looks now. It's two very different questions, and only you can answer what's in your head and your heart.

As for the price of a paint job, if you are doing the prep work and they are just spraying it, $7500 sounds a bit on the high side, unless you are expecting a near-concours job. If they are doing the prep work, painting and finishing, then $7500 is pretty reasonable. Don't expect a "concours" paint job for $7500 if they are doing all the work. But the car should come back to you looking good on a "driver" standard.