I've been wondering about this for ages, so for all you 308 experts out there, when did the 308 acquire its muffler bra (so to speak)? My car is a 1977 308 GTB (S/N 22891) and it has the bra. However, two other 1977s that I've seen (both slightly younger than mine, and one of them a Euro) have a different (and in my opinion, cleaner) rear-end treatment, as in the following: S/N 22817 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-Ferrari-308GTB-Showroom-model-with-25k-original-MI_W0QQitemZ200115749389QQihZ010QQcategoryZ6212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem S/N 22781 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290123157785&rd=1&rd=1 I'm really curious about this, so if anybody knows the history of the muffler bra I'd love to hear it. Thanks.
My first 77, US car # 22237, had its factory cover when I bought it, along with the original heavy factory exhaust. That cover was a lattice pattern screen-like affair. Unfortunately when I bought a replacement Ansa, the tips wouldn't fit through the cover openings, so I took the cover off. My second 77, # 22051, had an Ansa and no cover when I bought it, but it has the mounting holes for the same type cover. Presumably a previous owner had the same Ansa fit issue. In 1978, catalysts came along on the US cars, and Ferrari went to a heavier looking cover with horizontal slit-like openings. I don't think the early single-exhaust tip Euro cars had any cover, just the semicircular recess in the lower body- colored panel for the exhaust tip, but I'm no expert there....
The Euro's had a different single outlet exhaust and no cover. US cars with no cover and a non-OEM exhaust likely took it off and it's....in the scrap heap. Early US Cars came with a funky sheet metal perforated grill cover thing. Later cars had the diaper.
all USA cars have the diaper. Euro cars do not. design was completely changed when cats were added in 78.
I always presumed the idea was to protect the exhaust system from rocks/etc., is that the case? Any other reason for the "diaper"? I'd like to create a rear grill that show's off my aftermarket exhaust and blends better with the rear of the car, has anyone seen anything like that for a 328? Jeff PS-I was immediately drawn to this thread with the word "bra" in the subject. Back to the pictures of girls with Ferrari's thread.
Probably required by a dumb US nanny law so that you couldn't burn someone as you reversed over them.
