i found this on ebay tonight: GTO conversion and wanted to gauge the official opinions and attitudes of the ferraristi here. in other words, it this considered lame? or okay if done right? i will abstain from my own comments until a later time.
Not a fan. The thing that makes a GTO a GTO is that it is a GTO, not that it looks like a GTO. It's the turbos. It's the rarity. Its the race breeding. It's the power. It's that it was basically the first in a line of Ferrari supercars. A nice 308 is bona fide in its own right and I don't agree with modifying the "looks" to simulate a 288. I have indeed seen one in person, did nothing for me.
It looks like a Franken-ferrari with a bunch of cobbled parts. I'm not sure I'd buy this particular car. That being said, I've always love the 288's looks. Sort of a super 308 or what a 308 should have been initially. I've though about converting my '81 GTBi but I'm not ready to do it. Bottom line is, if you like it buy it! You have to make the payments, you have to do the service, you have to live with it and drive it. I wouldn't mind driving a good 288 conversion. Just my 2 cents.
Conceptually I view almost all Ferrari rebodies dispassionately as a group-- the same as I look at most things, if it is a racing car rebody on a 250 GTE, cut Daytona or a 308 GTO rebody. Each must be taken as what it is on its own merits. The key is it must state to be what it is and not pretend to be somethinng else. Have fun and enjoy the car above all else
GREAT and done nicely. I think they should have done the 288 interior just to set it off correctly. I like it and if I could afford to do it I would.
Well Norwood is to be respected for doing incredible things to Ferrari engines. The first Ferrari I ever looked at really considered buying was a 1986 328GTS with a Norwood turbo on it....just mods to the engine not the body......this car you provided the link to does not do it for me....I would pass on it....I like the car body and engine to match....but that is just me ......Mark
Doesn't really look like a 'conversion' to me. For example, the engine is still in the transverse orientation. Looks more like some GTO inspired bodywork.
ok good honest replies so far. for those that feel a rebody is allowable, provided it is made known to be as such, what if this GTO conversion did have the engine as well converted to approximate the real GTO? ie, with turbos and is configured properly? as well as the interior appointments? no illusions about it, it is still a conversion, and would be stated as such to ferraristi at events and gatherings --so what about that condition? i see the merits for and against a rebody, not just with the GTO but overall, so i am hearing and considering all replies.
What's the point? I mean it's the old silk purse from a cow's ear adage, IMO. A GTO is a special car and therefore very valuable.. A 308/328 is also rare as measured against a Corvette, and one was destroyed to make this offering. I'd rather they use a Fiero for a science project like this...I'll pass. To take a 308 to GTO specs you'd have to do EVERYTHING the Factory did, it has a longer wheelbase, special body panels as well as the drivetrain mods....it'd take probably as many real world dollars as you'd need to buy a real one!
