The 288GTO is considered by many to be one of the best-looking Ferraris ever; and by even more to be the ultimate in looks of the classic era. So, the question is: Have you improved your 308 by putting GTO body panels on it? Or have you cheapened it? Good thing or bad thing?
I think a 308 with wider fenders, GTO front & rear spoiler, and GTO mirrors looks awesome, and that is what I am building. However many from the completed conversions I have seen look ridiculous, funny, plasticky or over the top because the owner/builders doesn't limit themselves. The "Jim Carpenter" kit that is mostly used looks so wrong with the short wheelsbase, and then the rear hatch is hacked to make it look like a GTO rear lid while still everybody who knows sees it's not a GTO. And then they have a "real" GTO badge, that is so wrong. Who are you trying to fool? Those who know what a GTO is, and that a GTO is worth 10x the pice of a 308, will also know your kit is not a GTO and laugh. People who don't know what a GTO is, just see a nice wide&low Ferrari and anyway think that every Ferrari is worth as much as a nice house. Anyway, of course I voted for it's your car, do whatever you like.
I did a couple bolt-on GTO parts, the front bumper and valance. I just like the way look, I think it cleans up the lines a bit....it also gave me more room and air flow for my intercooler heatexchangers. I don't see anything wrong with a full rebody either
Ive actually been thinking about a GTO body on my 308. Not so sure i want to do it bcus my 308s body is in good shape. Seems more like something to do to a beater. How much work would be involved in taking the original panels off & replacing them with complete Fglass panels ? I just dont want to hack into the nice steel panels. my 308 will go in for a respray soon, from black to Azurro. I'm bored w black now
"Its your car, do what makes you happy"... Was my vote. I like the looks of a 288 GTO, but would never be able to afford one. So, given the chance of finding a shabby/needs a resto 308 GTB, I wouldn't pass up on the idea of putting a fibreglass GTO body on it. FWIW: I'm not sure if they have it on stock, but you can get about 90% of the original panels and other related parts from FerrariUK... For a price! I suppose one could build their own GTO from parts and still pay less than an original. There's an idea for you rich guys out there.
I think the 288 GTO is the sexiest F-car since the 250GT California, and being that many of us will not be able to afford a real 288, I see nothing wrong with paying homage to it by modifying a 308. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, yes? Of course, unless it has a longitudinal twin turbo motor, I wouldn't put a GTO badge on it myself. I'd be happy with the looks of the car just to please myself, but being upfront with what it really is, is the more honorable and respectable thing to do. My dream list of mods to a 308 would be a nice supercharger on top if it were a fuel injected model, or a custom intake manifold with triple Weber carbs and eight tall velocity stacks popping out the engine panel, if it were the carbureted model. The GTO front end is high on the list, as are a set of HRE wheels and Recaro Trophy seats, a catless race exhaust, and replacing every body panel I could with the fiberglass versions to lighten her up. Whether those body panels would be GTO, that remains to be seen. I'd love to have a voluptuous GTO body on it, if done nicely. But the car as a whole will be tastefully modified.
For you to order those panels and parts you have to provide them with the chassis number of your GTO! This is indeed to avoid people building too convincing replicas. Allthough I'm sure there will be a workaround for someone determined. Apart from the Norwood record car, that didn't have a Ferrari engine, I have never seen anybody using genuine GTO panels on a 308 with the correct wheelbase and longitudinal engine. I did see a convincing GTO Evolution based on a 328 once, allthough the panels looked very fiberglass up close.
I suppose so, but, I was able to purchase without questions/hassles, some 288 GTO exhaust bolts to retrofit on my GT4. I did notice, however, that key components of the GTO chassis and other parts that would have the car's S/N stamped onto it (ie: the engine cradle/framework), are actually available on a core-exchange basis only... You don't have the original, you don't get the replacement!
Mark, I love your car. Any word yet on your blower kits for sale? Turning a 308 into a GTO using panels is rather expensive. I know because I looked into it myself. You're probably better off find somebody else's rebody and finish it up. I always find it surprising how people do half baked jobs. Just slapping on the panels is only a first step. There is so much more to a true conversion. Personally I have decided to follow Mark's route: Use styling elements from the GTO and improve the looks. So I'll probably change the front and the rear to make it more 288ish.
The GTO is a very sexy car and I've seen many 308's personally with the panels on and they look great but its not something for the traditionalists.
Putting GTO panels on it is a sure way to double your investment in the car, and turn around and half what you'll get when you sell it. Besides that, unless you replicate all the mechanical differences of the 288, you'll just be a fool that ruined a perfectly good 308.
Another way to look at it is that now you can take it to a prestigious race track and run it in Historic Races events as this guy did just a week ago at Road America: Some GTO conversions were done on on cars, which had an accident and then it makes even financially sense to replace the original parts with new ones. Besides: The car will get a lot lighter this way, which translates into improved performance. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I like the look and if mine got wrecked I would look into doing the conversion. Unless you have the money to spend I wouldn't just take a car with good sheet metal and do a conversion.
I have an 85 QV that is all original and I'll keep it that way but I will be on the lookout for a low end GTB so I can do a converson someday. I want a 308/288 with a turbo in my garage for sure. check out the guy on ebay who make the parts. he has 2 new product vids in the auction and his finished 308/288 is beautiful. S
But once you pull the deck up to reveal the engine and it becomes known that it's NOT a 288, won't you appear to be just like those kids that take a Honda Civic and plaster it with all kinds of fiberglass stuff, stickers, and a nice loud fart can and pretend that it's a race car? This is a bit different I suppose...But I'd still rather go the other way and have the 288 running gear in a bone-stock 308, if it were possible.
true. but if you remove the rear storage area so you can fit a turbo and badge it as a 308 you're ok in my book.
+1 It is unlikely you will ever reach the performance of a real 288 GTO, but you will increase (read double) what a 308 is capable of and that's pretty spiffy. BTW: You don't need to open the hood to see whether it is a real GTO or not: The transmission at the rear end normally gives it away. Or one look at the instrumentation (it is nearly impossible to get GTO instruments).
The conversion is pretty good. A lot of work has certainly gone into it. But for me converting a 308 - arguably one of the prettiest cars ever designed and built, doesn't need to be reshaped to look like a 288 GTO. Ferrari have never given the GTO title to their cars too lightly (that could be argued with the current GTO). The 288 GTO is the purist combination of design and technology coming together. Why mess with perfection?
Agreed. For me and most of us the 288 will never happen but the 308 is close. I just like the mean look fo the 288 and the conversion is almsot like a wide body 308. As our 308's age many of them just aren't worth restoring so why not do a conversion. There are plenty of 308's out there that would fit the project. Rust and crap mods are everywhere.
Thank YOU!! While the "new GTO" may have the performance numbers it is just missing that "something special" that the 250 and 288 had. Great car... but worthy of the GTO badge??? dunthinkso.... Rick
I don't have a problem with using a donor car that was in an accident and had the body badly damaged anyway, but destroying a beautiful 308 to convert it into a GTO look is a waste if you ask me. I'm in the camp that believes the original lines of the GTB are much better than the testosterone pumped GTO version. I always felt that the conversions look wrong unless the wheelbase has been changed as well. I certainly wouldn't have a problem with the turbo though.
I know this thread is old - but not to me; I just found it. And Birdman, I agree with everything you say here. Only if my beloved 308 GTB were to be in accident would I consider this re-body - and maybe not even then. Boring it out to 3.5, however. . .
