Is this 308 on the up&up

Somebody should SNATCH that up!!!!!!!

It's a Euro single distributor engine, for one thing, and I question the "1980" designation altogether, maybe an error in Titling or the date it was imported...

That's the cleanest interior for a thirty year old carbed car, gotta be a restoration but just beautiful, if original in a GTS? Unreal!

The VIN is what I am using to estimate the year.......clearly "20757"

That puts this car BETWEEN my 1976 #20405 and my 1977 #22127 and 22641..

So IMO this is a 1977 308GTS in exceptional condition, a Euro dry sump motor.

European engines were NON CAT thru 1980, he's right about that in his description, but I maintain this is an older car per the VIN, making it's condition all the more notable...

 

Note the European door jamb plate.....also the Firing Order plate on the airbox intake nozzle..

*sigh*

This is either a HIGHLY original car or someone has spent a small fortune on these quibbling details to restore this thing....

I doubt the black steering wheel but being a European car that may well be correct too.

Only point of interest is why that VIN would be titled as a 1980, but such mistakes can occur, for whatever reason in the confusion surrounding a Grey Market car like this.

That's one of four or five interior colors grouped together as "tan" in Ferraris, it's actually a very striking color I'd be inclined to describe as "Saddle Tan" I don't know the codes #s on trim.

 

1st this is a GTS an no GTS was ever dry sumped.
2nd this is not a dry sump either.
3rd European GTBs were dry sumped until early 1980.

 

is it a dry sump?

 

It's actually a wet sump -- so the Seller is not quite right with the "highest 308 HP" claim. No mention of EPA/DOT papers, and the engine looks like it has no US mods.

That SN does seem strangely "lowish" for a euro with the electronic ignition?

 

The European market continued making carb cars until 1980. Also, are you sure this is a dry sump? I don't see the separate oil sump. Also, there were no GTS cars, to my knowledge, prior to 1978, and I also think that all GTS Euro cars, though fitted with the hotter Euro cams, were still wet sump; only the GTBs had the dry sump configuaration. Please clarify

Cordially,

Scott

 

Oops! others had chimed in while I was penning my previous post!

 

Based on the VIN that's a VERY early GTS.......maybe kept in Europe as a show/display car?

The part about this car 'being in a collection' is viable in my mind.........something is special about this one, it's current condition notwithstanding....

 

I'm sorry ALL of you are correct, it's not a dry sump.....I always forget that about GTSs.....

They are "hairdresser's cars"...........

Fixed my earlier post.......single distributor though!!!

 

See this points to "something" ...this car per the VIN is older than all my 1977s, yet a GTS......

1978 was the North American introduction of the GTS model, there obviously would have been prototypes, mules and show cars prior to that, as the design was developed....

Do you guys in Europe run across earlier GTSs???? This just appears to be a very low VIN for one, like it was 'sidelined" for a long time somewhere, like Pininfarina's studio!!! LOL!

 

Maybe Utah forgot to ask for DOT/EPA?

I agree that looks like a real clean Euro motor, there's not even any corrosion!

Look at those wiring loom holders and circle clip number tags on the ignition wires....

I'm jealous, I'm going to go jump off the building........

 

It's missing the clock hang tag, so THERE! I feel better........

It's probably in the books though, given the condition of the jack bag....what year did they go to those style headlight lamps??? See it in the rotor box??

 

Being a later owner he may not have the info to respond to us.....

We are just trying to "fit it in", to the known VINs of owners on here.....it falls right into the range of the ones I own, all 1976 - 77 308GTBs.
Conventional wisdom being as posted above with GTS entering the market as 1978s, which would have all been DOT CATALYST for North America.

So this is a nice car in our market. As Steve alluded to you'd want to know going in if it was DOT/EPA "papered" at the time of import.
Not a big thing as it's so old, but losing it to a crusher would be a drag.......statute of limitations on this??? I really don't know...

 

It may be worthwhile to try finding who the original collector in California was. There is a possibility the car came in on an exemption so never was Federalized. Were that to be the case this car could be quite problematic when registering.

Jeff

 

Mighty strange. Definitely re-done interior and carpet is black. My 1978 308GTS is S/N 25527. Then, check this site out:

http://www.r-design.net/308/serialnumbers.htm

they also are puzzled about this car!
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks for that!

I agree this car was built as a GTB, and cut by Pininfarina as the very FIRST GTS in the world........it's collectible!





There's just no way that stampef frame "hung around the factory for four years" and then got built as a 1980 car, IMO....

 

....except in Utah!!

That may be the way it could go anywhere as at this time any other state will accept that title and reissue one........5 digit VINs seem to work that way...

 

Wow, according the the Registry the first steel 308GTB is #20805.

But in my collection, I have a North American steel car #20405!!!!!!!

I guess I need to tell them I discovered it's actually "blue" also.....

 

FREAKING EFFING A!!!!

According to our own fchatter NNO, this is the FIRST GTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196388&highlight=20757

SOMEONE BUY THIS CAR NOW!

James in Denver

 

Though not original i'm lovin' the black Prototipo.

 

Certainly an interesting one, given the Buy It Now $$$$$$$

You have to be careful with Ferraris and the term "first" as they routinely apply it to the first example "sold to the public", labeling the others "prototypes"...

Just so you understand that issue, then as Jeff Kennedy points out the next call needs to be to Dick Merritt at DOT, to ascertain it's Import Status.....

 

I was going through the archives and read about the interior/exterior restorations on some of the cars, and the cost were in 5 digits, that makes me wonder: Sometimes does it make sense to sell your tired worn-out Ferrari and buy another Ferrari in excellent condition like this instead of restoring an it?

 

Sure, but I'm just repeating what NNO said, and from what I've read from him before, he's "in the know" more than me.

I'm PMing him just to make him aware of this thread and his serial number thread.

James in Denver