What to look for in a 328 when mileage is questionable | FerrariChat
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What to look for in a 328 when mileage is questionable

Discussion in '308/328' started by Jay13, Mar 13, 2014.

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  1. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #1 Jay13, Mar 13, 2014
    Looking at a 1997 328GTS on Saturday. The carfax is clean and I ran a VIN search on the car (everything matches). Here's the problem.

    The first record is 1992 with about 15k. Looks like a 1 owner car to date. Second owner bought it in 1994 and put on 2,000 miles on it in two years. The third owner had it for 10 years and put only 2,700 miles on it. The fourth owner bought it in 06 and has only put on 1,000 miles on it since. Service records reflect a reputable shop serviced it right after he bought it.

    The fourth owner I can understand as he has money coming out of his wazoo and has a large, well documented car collection. But #3 is just Joe Average. Lives in a medium priced house in an middle to upper-middle class suburb and owns a small business. Certainly a car he can afford, but I'm a little surprised that he was able to limit himself to under 300 miles a year. The only Ferrari dealer in his area says they never saw the car, and I'm told the odometers are fairly easy to disconnect.

    So.... Other than the obvious pedal and seating surface wear, are there any telltale spots to look for wear? I'm probably not going to be able to tell 30k from 20k, but want to go in this eyes wide open.


    TIA

    PS - Like the old saying goes, I'm not paranoid -- I know people are out to screw me. :)
     
  2. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 134282, Mar 13, 2014
    Can you post the VIN?
     
  3. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
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    #3 Crowndog, Mar 13, 2014
    Check recent issue of Forza. Buying guide on 328 with what to look out for.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  4. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #4 Jay13, Mar 13, 2014
    Don't have it handy, but look on Auctions America's website. Ft. Lauderdale auction, scheduled for Saturday.
     
  5. George Vosburgh

    George Vosburgh F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 26, 2011
    4,347
    Pittsburgh, PA / Chautauqua, NY
    #5 George Vosburgh, Mar 13, 2014
    Jay, Any car that old with so few miles is going to need work if you want a dependable car. Every piece of rubber is dried up, every hose, gas lines, brake lines, radiator, not to mention the belts. Take 4 to 5K off the price for a belt service. You probably will need tires, check to see if they are hard and dry.
    If you put pictures up, the guys will give you some honest opinions.

    Good Luck.
     
  6. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #6 Jay13, Mar 13, 2014
    Thanks. That was a good read and confirmed the things that drove me to a 328.

    You're right where I was thinking. I figured $5k to have it gone through. Although I should mention that the last owner had it Ferrari Classiche certified and represents it as being up to date on all maintenance.
     
  7. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
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    Robert
    #7 Crowndog, Mar 13, 2014
    Check front wheel bearings. $$$$


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #8 Jay13, Mar 13, 2014
    I noticed that in the article you referred to. If the mileage is as advertised, I would hope they'd be ok. Hard to check in an auction setting, though.
     
  9. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
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    #9 Crowndog, Mar 13, 2014
    Best of luck with your purchase!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 134282, Mar 13, 2014
    The white one? It had 18,317 miles in '95 when it was for sale through Team Motorsports of Springfield, MO. It had 19,616 miles when it was for sale through a private seller in Michigan in January, 2005; and 19,620 miles when it was for sale through Kip Sheward in June, 2005.
     
  11. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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    Jim E
    #11 jimpo1, Mar 13, 2014
    White 328's are cursed. Ask me how I know. Or ask Drew, he had one too.

    Find a nice rosso corsa car.
     
  12. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #12 Jay13, Mar 13, 2014
    Yep. Missouri was owner #2 selling. Because Michigan didn't record the mileage when they registered it, I could only go by the Carfax which showed 16,945 miles on 9/20/94 in MO. Based on your info, that owner put a few more miles on before selling it. The next Carfax entry is 19,674 on 2/27/06 when owner #4 bought it, so the dividing line between what owner #2 and #3 put on the car is blurred.

    If you don't mind my asking, what service do you use? It's obviously more detailed than Carfax and makes me even more curious. First, it would indicate that the Michigan owner only put 1,300 miles on it in 10 years, not 2,700 as I had guessed. To me, anyway, 130 miles a year is a sin. Second, unless Sheward allowed him to offer it for sale while it was at Sheward's (perhaps being fixed or freshened up?), something's wrong in that google earth tells me this guy lives way more than 4 miles from Sheward's. But thanks. Sheward didn't show up as having actually taken title. Now I have a place to go and see if they have any service history.
     
  13. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
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    #13 spirot, Mar 14, 2014
    So as a 328 owner you are going to always have some maintenance -

    seals perish - need to be replaced,

    belts - time worse than miles .. every 5 years
    hoses
    fuse box and connectors - burn up brittle wiring


    but - most of the 328 is very robust - and with so little miles i think you can plan on slow restoration vs. outright overhaul

    most important - compression & leak down test - compression for sure. leak down if you get wild descrpancy in the numbers - look for 175 - 180 range with no more then 5% vairance in the compression.

    immediate service pre delivery:
    belts,
    coolant flush & fill
    Brake flush & fill
    oil change and gear box oil change
    and then you are good to go.

    its true you can disconnect the spedometer etc... but really you are looking at condition of the condiditon of the engine and then overall condition of wear - body work down low - rust on a pillars etc... very un likely - and accident damage - other wise 328's are one of the best Ferrari's out there.... I'm biased, but it has pretty much the whole Ferrari experience wrapped up!
     
  14. furmano

    furmano Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #14 furmano, Mar 14, 2014
    One place to look are the two black screws the hold the speedo in. If they have been removed then they typically show tool marks, unless the screwdriver used was a plastic one.

    -F
     
  15. NickinLA

    NickinLA Karting

    Feb 12, 2014
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    #15 NickinLA, Mar 14, 2014
    I am glad that you started this thread, Jay, because i am looking at a 1987 328 that lists 18K miles. The CarFax starts in 1987 with a first list of 7,500 miles a year later, then 11,669 miles in 2004 (driving 4,169 miles in 16 years is plausible, but seems a bit unlikely especially since it went through 2 owners during that time). Then in 2004 a CarFax comment stated that a broken odo was reported. There is no odo reading with that comment, but it was listed between 11,669 miles and 11,825 miles. If it had broken, it could have been repaired or replaced between 7,500 miles and 11,669 miles, but by then it would have been fixed, no? Confused.
     
  16. NickinLA

    NickinLA Karting

    Feb 12, 2014
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    #16 NickinLA, Mar 14, 2014
    In connection to my last post, does anyone have any info on the black and tan 1987 328 GTS listed with 18K miles by New Hope Auto Sales, PA? Not sure how to post a link here (newbie), but the VIN is 72553. Thanks.
     
  17. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 134282, Mar 14, 2014
    I have dedicated my life to recording the histories of every Ferrari ever built. I recently decided to stop working so I could focus on this passion full time. I'm currently seeking sponsors - wanna send me some bread and cheese? :)

    It was purchased new from Steve Kessler by Anthony Gray of NY, NY; Nero FER 1240. In 2004, it was purchased by our very own Augustine Staino (FerrariChat: AJS328) of Atlantic City, NJ; he purchased it in June, 2004, and then sold it a few months later in September, to a Dr. Bracco of New Hope, PA. Gus is the encyclopedia of 308s and 328s (and Leonardo Fioravanti in general); I treasure him as both a friend and bottomless well of information. I saw this car listed for on Cars.com, for sale through New Hope Auto Sales, on 25 February 2014, listed with 18,470 miles, but a picture of the odometer shows 18,790. I'm assuming you saw it on Cars.com or on New Hope's Website.
     
  18. Jay13

    Jay13 Rookie

    Apr 6, 2011
    14
    #18 Jay13, Mar 15, 2014
    Bread and cheese? You Ferrari guys. I'm more a PB&J kind of guy.

    The 328 was nice, but ended up hammering for more than I wanted to pay after buyer's premium, shipping and use tax. Really no bargains -- cars were pretty much going for what they should.
     

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