308 fiberglass values

That's about the ballpark here in the States. No glass cars for sale that I know of.

 

It's really tough to tell. Like you said, there aren't any advertised so data points are scarce and availability is limited.

The last two North American spec Vetroresina's to sell at auction, 19397 & 19505, sold for $247.5k and $192.5k respectively. 19505 (link) appeared to be a very nice car and 19397 (link) is supposedly the first US spec 308GTB.

19597 sold at Bonham's Scottsdale auction in Jan 2014 for $114.4k. That seemed like a somewhat high "308" price at the time but was fairly early in the upswing for 308 prices. For what it's worth, 19597 is giallo as opposed to rosso chairo like 19397 and 19505. link

I don't think any Euro dry sump Vetro's have crossed the auction block in the US for a long time.

I know of a few private transactions for VR's in the past year but they are tough to use as data points to say what a good driver should command.

 

This is one of those cases where a seller may be able to set new watermark pricing.

We can talk about values over the last 12 months, but if none come up for sale for a while when one does you better scoop it because you never know when another comes up.

I can tell you of the 3 other people I know that have glass cars will not sell at the prices just mentioned.

 

Totally agree Big Red. You typically don't have a lot of bargaining leverage when negotiating the purchase of a VR! I purchased 19377 because I didn't know when I'd get another opportunity to buy a good Euro dry sump VR. And I definitely would not sell mine for any of the previously mentioned prices!

 

I'm aware that the first 308s were fiberglass for reasons of getting to production faster, but I have a few questions about them, namely:
1) Are the cars significantly lighter and, therefore, faster than the first steel 308s?
2) Have the glass bodies held up well?
3) How many glass 308s were built? Are the high prices due mainly to rarity?
Thanks!

 

1) they are lighter, but to actually how much that real weight is has been debated to death. But it's noticeable between opening and closing doors on both cars if side by side. Therefore, yes, the glass cars are lighter ....Faster ? Umm, you would think there is some advantage, but again depends on the cars tested. Common sense would suggest that a lighter car is a tad more quick, but maybe not noticeable enough while driving. But even 50 lbs off a cars curb weight is enough.

2) yes they have, though the paint on glass cars with age seem to have a ripple effect with age. I suspect this is due more to the paint quality used 40yrs ago as opposed to the actual body. A fiberglass car would cost more to paint over a steal , especially if you have to fix the actual fiberglass if past patch work wasn't done correctly. If one was painted today by an expert, no reason why that paint couldn't last longer than the original and look better longer.

3) Ferrari's official number has been 712 produced with all variants, but throughout the years 808 seems to be more in line with what could be out there. The high price is due to some rarity, but more so to the fact that the glass cars were the quickest and most raw of the entire 308 line up. Plus, the glass cars have sort of been a "cult" following, when the "b" were out of fashion many of them got used up as everyone wanted a gts. Along the last decade everyone has gravitated toward the 'b' cars for its driving style, and clean line look making the gtb's more desirable. Given that the glass 308 looked the cleanest, and simplistic in style and the only car Ferrari ever made in full funreglass trim just added to the nostalgia.

I'm sure others will add, but in a nutshell, it's become the holy grail of the 308 line up for a few reasons, some of which I mentioned above.

 

Red's answers are good.

1) No, the glass was VERY thick, in the corners of the panels. It was used for expedience getting the car to market, and NOT because os some "race car like weight savings", IMO

2) I would also answer "no" here...if mistreated, they cracked and crazed. Only the climbing values, and the few pampered original cars (stored carefully indoors) give rise to the "perfect" ones you see in today's market.

3) The low number is the "712" but I have seen published higher numbers, but below 1000 probably. No one knows, Ferrari did not count very well. They were also focused on bringing the steel bodies to market, which began in late 1976.

People buy for their own reasons.

The spread between steel and 'glass was once very small. When new it was "pick whichever one" in the showroom....and for along time it was only $10K premium to get 'glass. It went crazy three years ago, now 'glass are well past $200K and steel has yet to break $100K.

There are probably only 1000 steel 1977 NON CAT cars also.
That was only 1976-77, and them America required catalyst exhaust, which changed the engine in other ways., too.

 

I have seen many differences between the cars being offered.

1.- RHD Vetroresinas

At least 6 RHD are or have been in the market lately. Sellers/brokers are marketing their cars with an added value because of the side of the wheel. However, that extra money they are asking it only makes sense if you are English, Japanese, Australian, etc. For the rest of us, the premium on a RHD does not make sense.

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2.-US vs. European (not RHD)

Would there be any differences in this markets?
Is something more valuable on one market than the other?

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3.-Originals.... spoiler, exhaust pipes, paint.


3.1.-Spoiler
Do you think deep front spoilers are more "desirable"?

3.2.-Exhaust pipes
Many have been converted to twin pipes instead of the standard single exhaust tail-pipe ("monotubo").

3.3.-Paint/Color

3.3.1.- What would carry a premium.... rosso corsa or other (good looking) colors?

3.3.2- Boxer finish..........There are books that say that boxer paint finish was an option. I've been told by an italian collector and enthusiast that they were never built that way. His life is built up around ferrari, he lives near to Modena, he is close to Marco Arrighi, and he was around when the 308s were in production. Anybody else care to comment?

 

Hi Daniel, here's my take on the points you mention:

Like all things Ferrari it's about the production numbers, not so much about which side the wheel is on more about the rarity.
So if there is a premium it's because only 154 rhd against 700 odd lhd.

People want the Euro version for the dry sump engine. This was the first use of the new aluminuim V8 and the Vetro had it fitted to homologate the unit for motorsport.
With the quad webers it was rated at 255hp.

Again like all things Ferrari, originality is everything. To take in order your sub headings, the deep spoiler is believed to have only been a dealer upgrade or retro fit on the fibreglass cars, they never left the factory like that, so not good on a Vetroresina.

The Vetro only ever left the factory with the single exhaust outlet, so anything else non-original and therefore not desirable to the fibreglass aficionado.

As for paintwork then the original colour is always the most desirable. A colour change may improve the look as some colours don't suit the car in my opinion, but of course it then becomes non-original, so again not so valuable. As for which colour, the 308 does seem to look the best in red......

All in my humble opinion of course, but hope that helps.

 

Euro, dry sump, no spoiler, single exhaust, 14" wheels... oh, and did I mention it seems to look best in red!
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Americans tend to shy away from euro models of the cars, as they are also not allowed in California because of the emissions, which just so happens to be the largest Ferrari market. The U.S. Glass seems to be more in tune in the US market, and it was also the smallest production run of all the glass cars anyway. Though we all love the small bumpers and single exhaust of the euro, the lhd, amd rhd cars do attract their own markets best, amd prices have seem to reflect that. I don't think I've ever seen a production run Rhd Ferrari on our side of the pond.

I agree that red is the best color on a glass 308

 

Come on guys, Azzurro Met doesn't look too shabby either! If it was good enough for the Paris show car it is good enough for me!
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Nice looking body Ward. I don't think color matters much on a Glass car (they all look great).

 

I don't know how anyone could look at the pic of MikeRSR's VR and say that isn't one of the best looking Ferrari's of all time! Absolutely stunning. And I agree it looks best in stock Euro form with no spoiler, single exhaust, 14" wheels, etc. Truly a timeless classic!

 

So that's what the color of the Paris Show actually looked like? I thought it was actually much clearer than that.

Regarding the best color for a 308, I believe we should ask the man who actually designed the car. Oh, wait, we already know he owned a silver one for years! Plus, Ferrari also chose to include in their promotional catalogue a red AND a silver car, with much more focus on the silver one.

OK, I'm biased anyway...