Are these welds stock? Trying to figure this car out..

Welds are stock, hasty and terrible but functional. Extremely easy to match with a mig welder

 

Have you bought it Rob? In today’s depressed market it’s only worth taking it on if it’s really cheap and you are doing the work yourself.

 

Ferrari welds of the period are crap...
The front end looks like it's been in an accident in the past. How bad? Who knows. But the inner fenders on ones I've seen don't have that seam. The column collapsed into itself is also suspect as the tang is cracked.
That said, finding an accident free 308 will be a chore.

VIN search usually brings up something.

 

Search the VIN here in Fchat... You never what might pop up.
Also you could try Google. Given the low production numbers and unique Ferrari VIN.

Clarify... The VIN is only 5 digits? Or are you referring to SN? ( Serial number)

 

A vintage Ferrari is a very different ownership situation; Porsche makes more cars in 5 years than Ferrari has ever made. (My numbers might not be perfectly accurate, but you get my point.) The parts availability reflects this. Similarly, the construction methods are vastly different. For a 911 fender dent - bolt off the old, bolt on a new, a paint. For the 3x8, cut the welds, find the panel (have fun with that, bring your checkbook), weld it back on, spend 200 hrs sanding, then paint it.

Perfect real example: my alternator died a couple months ago. After tons of searching, it appears my particular alternator was regularly used on only one other car - the Countach. I couldn't find a new replacement, only a listing for a used one for $600 (and the listing was old and expired.) Even rebuilding it was a challenge, to find the proper parts and exploded views.

Sometimes parts are more common, of course. The trick is learning how to avoid the Ferrari Tax; IE, don't buy Ferrari 308 CV joints for $900 - buy the Porsche ones (identical part) for $80.

Not trying to dissuade you... but just to point out - it's not like owning a Porsche. It's an incredible car, but also can have incredible demands on your time and your wallet. The purchase price is simply the price of entry.

 

Best advice I can give... Buy the best example possible, or buy the best in your budget. In other words, a fixer upper is going to cost a fortune. Parts are hard to find and getting harder. They are simple built vehicles, so that's a positive.

They do need to be driven regularly, so a daily isn't going to kill it. The electrics leave a lot to be desired so expect to be fiddling with little things. There's fuse box updates and lots of other wiring pointers here.

If you're seriously looking and haven't found one yet, I know Nick is looking to reduce his collection. I've noticed that the good ones sell on back channels via word of mouth and not listings. Collectors are funny that way.

 

Sound advice - and something I'll add to that: I'd personally (if I had to) rather buy a car that needed engine work, than bodywork. I can absolutely pull the engine myself and rebuild it. At worst, I'd buy a rebuilt performance engine from Nick Forza and drop it in.

But repair rust and weld and shape panels? No way... that requires (expensive) artistry that I'm lacking, and will never have the time to perfect.

 

Do you buy a car to drive, or to make profit off of?

One reason so many of these cars seem to have a lot of issues, is nobody ever wanted to put any money into maintaining it, or upgrading it, so they get worse, and worse and worse with each subsequent owner, as time goes by.

Eventually, and we are probably already there, is there are a few really nice cars that can command some $$$, and lot of crap that can't.

Doug

 

I'll make this suggestion.... Before paying a penny for the car, find a local Ferrari shop to go over it.. a PPI. Yeah there's always going to be something wrong, not the point. You want someone who knows these chassis to put their eyeballs on it, they can give you a good idea of what you're getting into. Well worth the cost, worst case you're out a couple hrs shop rate.. That saves you potentially thousands.

 

Wasn't Rock's shop in Toronto?

Who else is there, our member Nightlife??
Sounds like you have a good handle on where this car is at, condition wise.

The other thing BaT shows you is an over the top resto can out you in a place you will never be made whole!

Early 308s are simply not valued like, say a Dino.
When I bought my 308GTBs I sat in a Dino that was asking $60K.
It was kindof beat down, so I passed.

Wring answer in retrospect!!

 

When i bought my 308 in early 1984, for just under $20K (from a private party), I had previously looked at some at Sheehans place in CA, where he had several 308s in the $25K range, and he said i could get a nice Dino for around $16-$18K if the $25K was too much. I said no, i wanted a 308.

Wrong answer, also.

Doug

 

Yes Rocco’s shop is in Toronto. He does really thorough work judging from what I saw when I visited.

http://www.rocksauto.ca/company.html





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Surely he meant a 308GT4??
Maybe not, depends on the time frame I suppose...

 

THANKS so much!!

To the OP, HERE is your guru, he no longer can post here for 'political reasons"..he has done a sweet 'glass car, I would highly value his opinion!!

 

Tell him BigTex said Hello......

 

And from the guy that flew from Tulsa to drive his 308GT4


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