Nearing the end of the gold 83 GTS
I don't know what to tell you guys. My 308 GTSi is now 40 years old and has 20,000 miles on it. It was garaged in 1997 and I took possession of it in later 2022. I didn't want an old car that broke down everytime I took it out. So here is a little list of what I have done to the car. Rebuilt all 4 calipers Rebuilt master cylinder new tires Removed, flushed and repaired Radiator, Expansion tank and fuel tank new fuel pump new injectors Rebuilt Bosk Fuel injection pump replaced all flexible brake lines replaced all rubber hoses, including the front to back radiator hoses replaced all engine seals replaced plugs, wires, rotors and caps replaced all the relays replaced all the suspension bushings Rebuilt the shocks replaced the timing belts and belt tensioners, used the upgraded belt tensioners. Deep serviced the window motors Serviced the horn compressor Converted the AC to 134r When looking at a car on BAT you want to know the status of these items.
If you have the time and skills to do the work, costs can be somewhat controlled. The key is to make a serious decision as to your love affair with a 308 to commit to future deep repairs. I made such a decision back in 2019 and chose to do a full refurbish that took almost 3 years to complete. I now have a virtually new 1980 GTBi that I kept as original as possible. It gives me all that I want in a car...I like to be involved in the driving experience and my car allows me to assist her as we go motoring down the back roads. I could have spent my money buying a newer Ferrari that would be faster and more technically advanced, but I get all the smiles and enjoyment I need taking my old friend for a drive...It was not cheap, but definitely worth the expense (over $150K). John View attachment 2095155
My 1980 308 GTBi that I've owned since 1985. It now has 81K on it (1700 miles since total engine rebuild). It is good for another 40+ years of driving pleasure.
I don't know where the 348 came from...The photo below is my car...I guess I misread the link...My bad! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi I am the owner. Can you elaborate on what expensive work? I had everything on the list checked off like on Muller's car except the bushing and ball joint job. Thanks in advance.
I got quoted for the bushing and ball joint job at a cost of labor only 5-$8,000. That seems a bit costly. thx
Did you see the finish on this glass US car (yeah, vetroresina) today on BaT? Reserve not met / high bid $69K https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-ferrari-308-gtb-vetroresina-3/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-07-30
This one is hard to figure out why the lack of bids...Something is wrong or lacking in detail. At first blush it seems straight, though not totally original (wheels, muffler system etc.). Perhaps it will show up again with more info. I do know that fiberglass cars can have serious frame rust issues...there could be pending issues with the engine...I'd like to see more history before considering the car. John
Did the North American vetroresina cars have a license plate indentation as this one does? I know my Euro vetro has a flat rear panel (no license plate indent). For some reason I thought all vetro cars had the flat back panel. Also, would the North American car have come with a full size spare? The US market required numerous mods to allow sale here. I'm not that well versed other than the obvious stuff, no dry sump primarily.
I think the license bracket gives the illusion of being inset...I see a flat panel which is proper, and the roof/pillar split is proper. I don't know if the US version had back up lights mounted in the rear bumper or if that was just on European models...What stopped the bidding on what appears to be a sound car!?! JM
There is definitely an inset in that rear panel, which, again, could be particular to US/North American cars. Good catch on the reverse lights. I forgot about that completely. I think only euro cars had them inset into the rear bumper, but, again, I am not as knowledgable as I should be about all the differences between Euro and US/NA cars.
My guess is possibly the presentation was suboptimal... the dealer doesn't seem to be a 308 person (used the choke). Things like having all the tools and books just photographed in the trunk, and a lack of any usable undercarriage photos, doesn't help. From a wheels standpoint, a US/NA glass car would have come with five (including a full sized spare) in 14"x7.5" Speedlines, Campy's or Cromodora's. To be correct, they must have 1975 or 1976 date codes on the back. I won't share what I think happened to the original wheels... It would have been fairly straightforward to replace the mirrors with correct Vitaloni Californian's. The red carpet is a nice touch, but my guess is they were added later in it's life. By the photos, I'm thinking it's possibly some original and cracking glass body work. From a rear license plate panel standpoint, I think only the Euro glass cars were flat, the US/NA glass have an indent fitted to US plates (see this Glass US GTB coming up for auction by RM/Sotheby's in August). The later Euro and US Carb cars have the wider (Euro accomodating) license plate indent.
