whats the dif.. GTS and GTSi

i hear mention of the 80-81 308 being an oil burner,
how so, what is the evidence of such you should be on the lookout for (blue smoke, compression test, etc?? if there is an etc.?)

just trying to learn how to weed out the good from the bad before spending the bucks on a PPI on the good ones

thanks
gord

 

I'm really confused and maybe someone could explain the build sequence/chassis numbers to me.
I have a 1981 308 GTBi, # 34531, build date of November 1980. Per the list there were only 494 of them built, yet the chassis numbers listed (# 31327 through # 43059) suggests there were 11,732 made ???
Can someone clear this up for me??
Thanks,
Confused in Bel Air

 

Some were but the problem was confined to the 80-82 inj cars only. Many had factory engine replacements that did the same thing still. The other odd thing was that there seemed to be no pattern as to which cars would do this either because many didn't.
In all honesty it really doesn't matter if it does. The only thing it will mean to you as an owner is that you just need to stay on top of the oil level. It won't hurt anything otherwise. Big deal really. 308's use a lot of oil anyway, not counting what leaks out, and you won't be driving the car everyday in the first place.

One tip when looking for one: remove the rear license plate. If it is a little extra greasy behind it, it may be one of "those" cars (how many of us take the plate off when we wash it?)

Good luck.

 

Dear Confused in Bel Air:

Road cars were consecutive odd number serial numbers in those days. In addition, the range of serial numbers you referenced also included other Ferrari models produced at the time.

Barry

 

It is actually only 5866 cars between those two chassis #'s because back then Ferrari only used odd numbers for the street cars. Of the 5866 cars only 494 were the Bi. The rest were Boxers, 308's Mondials, and 400i's

 

My 1980 308 GTSi has GTS on the fuse cover. It is #31495 (number 11 for America) with a March 1980 build date. Runs great and uses a quart of oil every 400 miles or so.

Bob

 

Thanks Tommy,
Is there a list of the 494 308 GTBi cars somewhere? It'd be interesting to see where these cars are now and how man are left.