Finally managed to get my hands on a UK RHD Vetro! I traded my 1994 512TR against it , which may sound crazy, but i couldn't be happier! Just going through the process of fresh paint and new tan interior at the moment, but the car should be on the road by the Spring with luck, following a full service ..... then the tinkering and obsessing can begin in ernest!! BR, Jez Image Unavailable, Please Login
Another angle of her while she's in the trim shop. I've managed to locate an original single exit exhaust .... which i guess in the interest of originality , i should fit to this car , but what do owners think of single vs quad exhaust, with regard to sound , in particular? I have a quad Bell exhaust system on my '77 steel 308 GTB, which sounds great, but cant seem to find many examples of sound clip on Youtube for the single exit , to compare..... BR, Jez Image Unavailable, Please Login
Anything other than the original single pipe exhaust would be madness on a Vetro! Especially being rhd, where the induction sound is next to your ear with the window open, making for one of the most wonderful and unique sounds you can experience behind the wheel.
Nicely done! love the red carpet! I have a quad exhaust on mine, in my opinion it sounds the best between to two.
Hi Peter, I know a gorgeous flat 12 for a v8.... i struggled with this for quite a while. I really wasn't using the TR much and it was just coming up for 28k miles ..... i was made an offer that i found hard to refuse by my garage ie to trade my TR against a RHD 1977 low miles vetro and they agreed to doing the restoration , inside and out as part of the deal. I just think i will end up using the Vetro more than the 512TR , which i loved, but always somehow felt a little self conscious driving..... can't think why??!!! BR, Jez
Excellent Christian ..... Was your thought process on this decision just the same as mine, i wonder? BR, Jez
One of those weekends, drop me a message and come to my place, I'll let you experience the sound of a single exhaust vetro!
Yes, i love the look of this iconic flat V12 and i know my nero/nero with 17.000 miles perhaps was one of the best TRs but i drive it not much, it was not that big driving pleasure and it was more a beautiful piece of art to look at. And i have not enough money and space to keep them all. I enjoy the special drive feeling but i wanted a classic Ferrari which use mich more and i'm sure the small 308 will be this classic for driving and also it is a design iconic too and a steel dry sump was always on my list.
Hi Mike, Perhaps its just the symmetry that concerns me! If the sound doesn't really suffer, then that certainly helps with my decision. I totally agree that on the Vetro, originality is clearly becoming increasingly important. I may also choose to go down the classiche route for this car, as i did for my Dino GTS as i found this a pleasant (if costly and long!) procedure.... but haven't quite decided yet. The car was originally Azzurro Metalizzatto 106A32 with a dark blue interior, exactly like my dino and a former steel carb 308 i once possessed for a short time ..... i seem to attract this colour scheme! I must admit , i am still tempted to convert her back to original.... maybe in the future! BR, Jez
Hi Franck, Of course .... i forgot your Vetro has the original single exit exhaust and you live just down the road from me! With this very mild weather we are having currently in Tokyo, are you still taking your car out, or is she tucked away for the Winter now? BR, Jez
Sounds like we went through the exact same thought process, Christian! ..... i have to say that it did feel very counter intuitive at the time... BR, Jez
Welcome to the "308 Club." You will quickly learn that they are wonderfully nimble cars and great fun to drive.
Well, during the course of my life I've gone from V6 to V8 to V12 and back to V8. I'm interested in seeing that I'm not the only one! I really enjoy my 308 and wouldn't even consider a V12 again where my head is at ATM.
I've own my 308 for near 17 years now. Bought a Testarossa to get the famous italian 12 cylinder car. Loved it. Just sold it at the end of the summer. Not ready yet to let the GTB go. The little V8 is the love of my life. Not a crazy move at all you've done!
Thanks Claude. Its very reassuring for me to hear from fellow flat 12 previous owners!! There is just something about the early 308's, as you say ..... classic , but still very usable and still very enjoyable in the real World!
Hi Peter, Hmm.... i'm not going to say never back to a 12 , as i think i would jump at the chance to own a Daytona.... Never owner a front engined Ferrari V12! Prices for Daytona's seem to have stalled for the moment, so maybe now is the time? BR, Jez
Jez, there is no such thing as a winter break in Tokyo, and if there is, it lasts 10 days, tops. So I took my car yesterday to go see Jimmy and get a ride in his 16M (very different experience, driving it makes the 308 feel, well, different. Both are enjoyable experiences!). So, whenever you're ready, I'll be waiting for your message!
