Single distrib conversion, as it takes TWO MSDs to do the standard North American configuration...... You'll find a lot of sellers of modded cars start the "do-da dance" on pointed questions...they are looking for someone to jump in it and drive away, not point out it's $5K -8K away from OEM configuration! With apologies to the Fchatters that KNOW how to properly upgrade the ignition.......screwing MSDs to a moisture laden high heat area as shown AIN'T it! Even mounted in the rear trunk they tend to have problems, but it's better....
That date plate checks out....it falls within the cars I own. We really should try to consolidate the 5 digit VINs somewhere. #21913 June 1977 *photos can get lost you know.*...
That's usually, IMO someone chasing an engine problem that doesn't want to trouble shoot the car.."ADD MORE SPARK"!!!! LOL! I have never had to use MSDs on a well sorted carbed car....I have thrown them away, though...
This car was purchased less than a year ago from a guy in Conway, Arkansas. It sold for $27K if I remember correctly. The owner kept this car with several other collectibles in a climate-controlled garage. I spent several hours talking with him and looking the car over. He had just installed new leather seats. The interior looked very clean at the time. Cosmetically, the only issues were the windshield and some weather stripping that runs along the top outside of the drivers window which had a slit in it. There were no oil or water leaks under the car. The engine idled nicely and it ran smoothly on a test drive. The transmission seemed a bit notchy, but since this was my first test drive in a 308, I don't know if that was normal or not, and may have been me getting used to the metal shift gate. The A/C and the headlight switch not work. I looked all over the car for signs of rust including under the doors, and did not see any. I know I asked him about the timing belts, but don't remember his response. I will post some photos of the car that were taken at that time. Maybe they will help someone contemplating this 308. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
no matter what is the truth with this car, the outside photos look fantastic .... damn, black looks good on these babies!!!!!
Hmm... I'm pretty sure that this is the same guy. Now, I'm not trying to talk bad about this guy, but some of the things that he said were a bit disturbing. I had my 328 in Conway soon after I purchased it and he started chatting with me. I told him that I was doing my own maintenance on my car. One of the things that I had to do was replace two motor mounts in my car. Well, he told me that he had to do the same thing, but instead of buying Ferrari motor mounts at $200 (or so) each, he purchased some out of a Ford (Taurus I think) and modified them. Now, I'm not completely against using non Ferrari parts depending on the situation. However, my impression was that he was doing whatever he could to cut corners cost wise. I told myself then that I would never buy a car from him. Gene
Quite possibly it was the same guy. I did, however, get the sense that he was honest and wasn't trying to hide anything from me (afterall, he admitted to you that he used non-Ferrari mounts.) I remember thinking at the time that this was a decent car, and probably would not give its new owner any unpleasant surprises. But, please, but don't take my word for it as I did not do a PPI -- just a visual inspection followed by 20 minutes of drive time.
Well since you have seen and driven it, you know more about it than I. I would actually like to buy it and bring it back to AR if the price was right. (Even though at the time I didn't think I would ever buy that car). Gene
do you happen to remember the status of the title or whether or not it had been in an accident ? did the doors and lids open and close nicely ? thanks for your help.
I don't think the car was ever wrecked. Don't recall any issues with panels not fitting correctly or doors not closing properly.
thanks. maybe you could answer a few more for me. do you remember if the oil pressure was pegged at 6 o'clock. did the motor feel good, as if the horses were there ? any smoke issues you noticed out of the tailpipes (white/blue/black) ? thanks very much.
Keep in mind that this was last year, and my memory of the specifics has already faded. I'm pretty good at checking a car out, and I think if I had noticed low oil pressure, I would remember it, but honestly, I don't recall where the gauge was reading. There was no smoke of any kind out the tailpipes. The underside of the car was very clean and had never been damaged by being high-centered. I was so respectful of the car and its owner that I never floored it. During a robust acceleration to 70 mph, the car did not seem fast to me, but then I've repeatedly read in these threads that one should not expect a 308 to outrun a modern car, so perhaps it was normal? Never did I feel like I was being pinned to the seat, but that was partly because I was driving it so modestly. The paint and interior were about as flawless as one could expect from a weekly driver. Although not concours, the engine bay was very clean and free of oil. I tapped around the car listening for previous body repair and did not hear any thumps to indicate there were 15 pounds of bondo under that shiny paint. The crack on the windshield was low enough and on the passenger side, so it was not very noticeable inside or outside the car. I do remember that the view out the front was distorted just a little when looking out some angles from the driver's seat, but not when looking straight ahead. Again, I don't know if that's normal given the curve on the 308 glass. For what its worth (probably not much), I felt this was a good car for any price under $25K. Looking at the carpets, pedal pads, door sills, and switch faces, I concluded that the milage was probably accurately stated. But please, don't take my word for it because I am no expert on 308s. Better to have a PPI done to verify or dispel my analysis.
Still has the original rear perforated exhaust valance, that's rare as hen's teeth, the air box is missing knurled nuts, intake hose missing belt clamps...hmmm...... GT Hill there HAS been a thread where Summit racing Mustang engine mounts were reworked for 308 application, it was nice....but there's a lot of junk going on under that hood as I mentioned earlier.. Interior seats do look nice, IMO...so just go into it 'eyes open'.
Sold for $23,900! Not bad if the car is what it seems. No old car is perfect; would rather take a few minor issues than needing a respray or rebuild! A lot of people want the non-catalyst cars, and I've seen some in overall worse shape sell for a lot more. . . Congrats to whoever is about to become the new owner of a black on tan GTB!
The 1977 cars do indeed mark the end of an era, of sorts as well as the earliest steel bodied 308GTBs....well bought, IMO but they have a lot of niggling work, to get that one sorted again!
i really, really appreciate your time on this. thanks. i was prepared to buy this car but it had some competition that was much, much closer to me. i spent about an hour this morning pouring over the other car so i could be in a position to make a decision on the ebay B before the auction closed, but i've decided to go with the other car. i know i will think about the black B for a long time. i have 2 fully setup distributors and caps raring to go and i would have loved to see them on the car. it is a rare car in a colour combo that is to die for. in the end it came down to distance and time. it was just too far away to go see on short notice. too many cars, too little time.
