What would it take to get my 308 to concours standard?

My understanding is that the Ferrari Club of America is non-profit organization founded and operated by enthusiasts and is independent from Ferrari Corporation. According to the FCA website, it is the largest Ferrari Club in the world with 6.000 members.

About the Ferrari Club of America

 

It must be accredited by the factory to be allowed to use the Ferrari badge. Not financed or run by them though.

 

If I read the FCA concours rules correctly, I don't think it's that much of a problem. In essence as long as it's stock, it's concours worthy. So changing out a few wheels (or even just keep them for display purpose only and drive it with 16 inch repros) isn't that much of a burden.

I've never been to the US but have seen a few UK concours events. The amount of work that goes into cleaning the cars entered is mind boggling and I always found it amazing to see whole families crawling under and over these cars armed with Q-tips!

My mechanic is going to try and give a rough estimate for the cost involved in the small list of things I posted originally. Anyone else care to take a guess? I've seen prices on Ebay for a single 14 inch wheel in the range of 500-1,000 euro.

 

Yes its all very silly really. In the past I have managed to overhear judges talking, and once heard them marking down for having visible grease on the door hinges!

 

The factory has no input whatsoever in concours judging methods or standards.

I won't comment on the advisability or desirability of their input.

 

Ferrari s are not meant to be judged at these chicken **** cars shows,,they are made to be driven,,Keep them up to your standards,,,maintain them,,,and drive them,,What does it matter anyways,,My friend has a multiple platinum 85 308,,,The car sits in his garage 90 % of them time,,because he s afraid to put miles on it,,or chip the paint,,and hes got deep pockets...which ,makes even less sense,,,Enzo must be spinning in his grave,,,With that being said,,,my 89 has 98,000 miles on it ( 90% driven by me ) and it runs like its brand new,,,and Its never been in a car show,,,,and never will be,,,

 

+1111111

If your car needs a restore (like my drysump needed), you can try that: I spent 60 k euro and I'm very lucky as I'm near Modena where you can find almost everything at a reasonable price and Ferrari experts are not so expensive as abroad. Markus 2281GT is right: it's easier to spend 100 K (just in the restore...) rather than 60 k to have a condition 1.
I did the car for me as I like condition 1 cars, but if you do it for money, it's a mistake.

Otherwise, there are many that are looking for a car to drive or simply they don't care about that and a condition 2 or even 3 is ok.

Your car is not bad at all: he just was the wrong customer. A condition 1 steel drysump is 120+ K euro on the market: not many want to spend such big money.

ciao

 

Peter,

Wasn't your car sold originally in Switzerland when new? If so, your quad pipe exhaust might actually been the one the car was originally fitted with, as it seems that a lot of swiss carbed GTBs where originally fitted with the quad-pipe exhaust, to the point that it might actually have been a "standard dealer option".
So there are limits to originality...

Rgds

 

I'm not living in the USA, but from what I have read here I do believe that 60-70k will probably be "too short" for a very, very clean low miles 1989 328...
'89s usually command a 10 to 15% premium on the average market price for 328s in the US.

Rgds

 

You are correct, it is indeed a Swiss car. I wonder though how an original quad pipe exhaust would have looked like, especially how the lower valance would have looked like. Would the tips have protruded below the valance, like many aftermarket exhausts, or would the valance have looked like the one on a QV, with two cut outs? when I look at my rear valance it seems it was not designed to accomodate two cut outs when new.

 

Preaching to the chior. I've put almost 30.000 kms in five years on the clock. No problems. It's just about broadening the potential buyers pool. If someone is looking for a certain condition, I can show him what the condition is and what it would roughly take to get it to the desired condition. I think it would benefit potential buyers because I've learned from my own experience when looking for a 308 that it's rare to find a car that exactly meets one's desires.

 

I agree. I don't see getting a great 328 for that money especially an 89.