I guess if it is truly such a low mile car it may be 100% original. http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ctd/1893641654.html Anyone know what the deal is with the deal is with the "mudflap flare"?
Concur. Although certainly clean in appearance, some of the bits (pedals for one) in the photos look a tad more warn than a 2700 mile car would show.
Looks very low mileage to me. These cars get knocked about underneath very quickly and it shows a patina of age; but not wear. The modifications are just plain odd; but what's to say the owner didn't modify it to his taste and not use it? It wouldn't be the first Ferrari to suffer like this.
Looks like it was customized to the owners preferences with the door panels and seats. However, look at the brake calipers and some of the other underneath stuff. All the cadmium plating is still like new.
No doubt that it is a clean car but it should be bought on condition NOT on mileage. Some things to note: - Seats and door skins not original and totally custom - US car re-painted with marker lights filled in to look like a Euro - Euro bumpers and grill
Note also the lower fender flares, front and rear, and the modified exhaust tips. I agree that the cadmium plating and other bits, especially on the undercarriage, suggest very low miles. Accelerator pedal barely has any paint worn off. I'm going with low mileage / customized.
Headliner and steering wheel suggest either very low miles or always driven with windows up and clean hands/gloves. Wheels look impeccable. Lack of stone chips on wheel arch flares. Note, however, lumpy paint quality in photo 29 -- looks like thick paint over sanding scratches. Parking brake cable + caliper impeccable. Are urethane sway bar link bushings original or replaced? Underside of front spoiler looks to have never been scraped . . . ?
I don't know... It's got Euro valve covers with engine stabilizer (or whatever it's called) Why do you say it's a US car??
In my opinion, based on my knowledge after performing close to 50 PPIs on the 308 series, this car shows prominate signs that discourage me from believing the car has the mileage claimed. Any potential buyer should check history and body for accident damage, and also perform a compression test and leak down test. All the Best! Dave
I talked with Garry about this car 6 months ago. I found the link that his partner is using to try and sell the car overseas. I don't know if the details are true or not but do know that Garry has been around a long time and sold a lot of cars and knows Ferraris ...there was also a trophy for the oldest Ferrari which was awarded to Garry Roberts for his 212 Export Berlinetta Tuboscocca s/n 0141T at Concourse Italiano 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB One owner family from new with only 2,700 miles. VIN: 23113 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page.php/carno/85205 Purchased new from Ferrari dealer, The Sports Car Exchange in Dearborn, Michigan in early 1978. The original color was black with black interior. The buyer was an automotive engineer by trade and in the mid 1980s he retired and moved to Tustin California bringing the 308 and other cars in his collection with him. He had driven this Ferrari just over 2,200 miles by this time. The Ferrari was always in storage for the years he was in Tustin as he was a man of many projects always tinkering in his hobby garage attached to his house. He was also a highly skilled craftsman and when the Ferrari 288 GTO was introduced in 1985 he had it in his mind to personalize his 308 to tastefully resemble the 288 styling. He replaced the center section of the seats to the 288 style pleats and had fabricated front and rear dog legs to the wheel well arches resembling the fabulous restyling that the 288 had incorporated. His plan was to continue the exterior conversion to a full European spec 308 but unfortunately time was not on his side. After his passing in 1998 the family undertook the momentous task of clearing out the garage, his car projects, tools and many volumes of literature throughout the home. Unfortunately the original books for the car never found nor were there any receipts. The title was an original Michigan title which transferred to his son through probate and was re-assigned without any liens or encumbrances. Shortly thereafter the car was consigned to Garry Roberts Co. of Costa Mesa to finish the undertaking of his fathers dream conception of what the 308 would have been, closely following his ideas and bringing them to a reality. The car was stripped down externally of all body parts. Rectangular metal patches were welded in where the front and rear fender side marker lights were removed. A Euro front marker light was installed leaving the rear marker light deleted. Newly fit were European front deep dish spoiler, grill and front and rear bumpers. A major service to the engine including all hoses, valve adjustment, cam belts, water pump, tires, brakes etc, was performed leaving the USA smog equipment intact. The car received a new red paint job, Glasurit 300 single stage. The 308 has since been sparingly exercised adding only about 500 miles and has had some minor services when required. The interior on the car is amazing. It stills smells like a new car and there is no wear to any interior component. This is the first and only time that this 308 is being offered. Make this Ferrari a happy new home by someone who will truly appreciate the fine 308 GTB that it is.
What is going on with the molded in mud guards? Custom stuff like that will definitely scare off some buyers. The show up more clearly in the euro ad.
This is freaking true with many of my buddies who have couple _projects_ in their garages, one buddy who is a doctor, he had to rent someone's garage to store yet another project and the rare exotic parts that other guys were drooling about... The car looks really clean though, hope someone here buy it.
Once these changes were implemented the concept of this car being a low milege original condition car are out the window. Now its a low milege modified car. What a shame.
Clutch peddle and dead peddle show much more wear than a car with claimed miles should have, as well as areas of the under carriage. And if you look closely at the suspension bushings you will see cracking which indicates they need to be replaced, just like all 33 year old cars with original bushings. This is a time issue not a wear issue. All the rubber hoses in the car will need to be replaced, especially the fuel filler hose, which gets hard and splits. This is the number one cause of 308 gas station fires! The low mile 1980 308 in the other thread shows signs that it has oil leak issues which makes me believe that it is a super low mile car. Most of the super low mile 308s that I have performed PPIs on leaked like a sieve. Of course I have no way to verify that without examining the car. Someone who knows his business can make a car look like it is in prime condition, and it takes someone of equal ability to know where to look on these cars to foil attempts to pass off a high mile car as a super low mile car. I'm not saying this is the case with this car. What I am saying is you can never tell actual condition from a photo. You must examine the car in person! My recommendation for anyone considering the purchase of a 30+ year old Ferrari with claimed super low miles is to have a PPI done by someone with nothing to gain by the selling of the car. Otherwise you may not be getting what you think you are. All the Best!
meh, i could care less about low mile money pits. i would rather have a car i can drive, and that "works".
car is now on EBAY for about $20k higher http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-308-1977-Ferrari-308-GTB-3040-original-miles-time-capsule-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3367fb5d6cQQitemZ220787858796QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks