Extremely Early 308GTS with Metal Side Louvres?

Probably? Definitely!

 

What is your chassis number? I want to dig thru my Urban VIN book and see where your car lines up on the production line. I'll post anything interesting.

 

'79 GTS - aluminium louvres. Horizontal gauges by my right knee (RHD)

 

33321

 

That is a very unique car. I have never seen a carbed car that way.

 

My car also a 1978 Euro GTS (25053); plastic louvers.
Rick.

 

Matthias Urban's book lists 33321 as a "BB silver/black"

He is on this site. We probably should let him know

 

Mine is an early 78 US (January) - 23481 has metal as stated previously. Wonder if we can figure out the ~1k cars or so where the change occurred...

 

Rick- Interesting that my 25125 had aluminum louvers. Must have had a supply of both at that time.

 

Been there before, Tommy. The BB reference is wrong and Matthias knows about it.

 

My 308 GTS is 26451 with a build month of November 1978, delivery date of March 29, 1979- side louvers are metal.

 

'79 GTS, plastic.

 

Well, clearly there is no real pattern to the metal/plastic use by Ferrari for this part

 

plastic '80 i.

 

I bet there is a car out there with a plastic on one side and metal on the other, when Ferrari ran out of metal ones one one side first.

 

This reminds me of the tall/flush rear louvers on the rear deck lid. No one seems to know why which cars have which.

 

yeah, this too

you're right

 

OEM, I'm sure there was a method - ie use it up until it's gone.

It's when cars get repaired that things go awry; you're metal louvres may get swapped out for plastic.

 

But unless the damage is bilateral in that area, why replace both? So if both are plastic I am guessing the car came that way. If one side is....

 

Corrosion / paint deterioration that affected both? Who knows what goes through the mind of PO's. Decisions can be just as irrational as the factory. Probably more so.

 

I dont have my car with me today but off the top of my head I think my side louvers are aluminum. I will have to check when I get home.




PDG

 

Funny think is the only reason I know mine is plastic is because I found myself out of town one day with a set of keys that, for some reason, didn't have the gas lock key on it, and I was dead empty. I had to take a chance and bend it back to open it.

This will actually work without breaking it, but don't try it unless it is a last resort.

 

Having always thought that the plastic louvers looked, well, a bit cheap, on such an otherwise magnificent car, I would love to see a picture of the metal versions.
Rick.

 

Yes.. I have seen the metal ones. Very rare.

 

Rick,

My apologies for not having a more complete picture of the metal louvers, but here is what I've got on hand right now. This is on my late 1978 308.

Jeff
Image Unavailable, Please Login