308 GTB Vetroresina

The Bonhams car has been sleeping in a Japanese museum for 25 years, the high estimate was actually 100K£, so I guess it didn't disappoint the seller.

 

Euro #19681 is up for auction at Gooding & Company's 2016 Scottsdale Auction. Presale estimate is $300k to $350k. LINK I can't remember a dry sump VR selling at auction in the US since the yellow '77 that sold at Mecum in 2009. Anyone remember the SN of that car? LINK

 

The yellow (originally blue) dry sump VR that sold in 2009 at Mecum was #20041. Anyone know where the car is now?

 

Totally gratuitous pic of the Vetro's engine bay!
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Mike, I love your engine bay! What is the finish on your cam shaft covers? Is it painted?

 

Thanks for that! Cam and belt covers just been re-done, they were vapour blasted so now a great original look. They were polished so looked a little blinged up before!

 

Facebook just reminded me of this photo I took 2 years ago. The car behind the 308 isn't a giant 4WD...it's a Golf! How tiny is that 308 hey?
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Each time I see such pics, it reminds me of the fact, that the 308 has the same wheelbase like the good old Austin Mini.

Best Regards
Martin

 

Just to update the Vetro thread thought I'd mention rebuilding the heads on mine.

I wanted to safeguard the car for years ahead and the sodium valves were beginning to worry me. With horror stories from my mechanic and on the forum here, they did seem the weak point to an otherwise bullet proof engine. So we decided to rebuild the heads while the car was off the road for the winter, we'd do springs and guides and at the same time and refinish the cam and belt covers as they were polished and looked a little blinged up!

Here's the engine bay as we started with the polished covers and then a couple of pics of the new finish to the covers after vapour blasting.
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After extensive work by Aldo Riti new valves are in and all ready to go back together, and the rear bank built up ready to go back on the car.
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Obviously a rather quick overview of quite a lot of work over a few months but thought I'd share, hope you enjoy the pictures.
The new look to the engine bay and ready for some serious use this year!
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Great photos Mike!
BR,
Jez

 

and just a reminder of the car.....any excuse!
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Shameless, I love it!

 

Well, you certainly got good life out of those sodium valves! What condition were they in?

 

A big THANKS for posting this. I am presently restoring a similar car that someone tried to "bling up" in the identical manner. I have been wracking my brain searching for a satisfying solution....then EUREKA!!

 

Mechanic couldn't believe how lucky we were! He thought a couple were on the brink of letting go, so the replacement was not a moment too soon.
Next time I'm in the workshop I'll do a couple of pictures of them.

 

Well, those polished covers were not terrible (done on motorcycles all the time) but your finfished product looks sublime!!!

 

Sorry wrong information there when I said they looked close to letting go! Talking to the mechanic today and he said the thing with the original
sodium valves is that you can't tell if they are about to let go, no visible signs as they go brittle in the stem from the inside before snapping.

 

Try snapping a couple of them. You'll get a big surprise about how easy it is on a couple of them, I'll bet.

 

Bump for the thread. All quiet in the Vetro world, anything happening.....?
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One thing that is happening is #19681 is going on the block at Gooding & Co., in Scottsdale in two weeks. The car looks all correct with a Classiche Certified book. The estimated price is $300 to $350k. Car is lot 112. Plan to visit the car and will report back.

 

1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina | Gooding & Company

I think this is our very own Roma1280's car who's contributed to this thread on occasion. Amazed he's selling as it's only recently back from a full restoration in Modena,
so it's a fantastic buy for someone who wants the best! Will be interesting to see what it goes for, but I think it certainly should do well!

 

86392 clocked up but looking fantastic!

 

Here's hoping that the estimated price range is achieved!