1976 308GTB Mystery

I think the number overlap between glass and steel from 19,000 to 22,000 VIN number. Some glass got 20,000+. Some steel got 19,000+.... got me confused when I first got the car as well.... But they are all got Vitaloni Californias side mirrors....hehehe.

 

According to the "Mercato" section in Cavallino:

- 712 (fiberglass) GTB's were produced between 1975 & 1977. (sn. 18677-21289).
- 2185 (steel) GTB's from 77--80 (sn. 20805-34349).

As for your car, I would do a little investigating. See if you're able to get some confirmation from the factory. Are you able to trace its history? An original bill of sale?

Could it be that yours was originally a fiberglass model, that was later repaired with steel panels? VIN numbers switched (at the same time as the mirrors)? I know my suggestions are off the wall...but you never know.

 

Rick,

It appears that you're quoting from Robert Retzlaff's 308GTB Register website (http://www.r-design.net/308/index_e.html):

"The first serial number given to a 308 GTB is 18677. Before the start of production, there were three prototypes (18317, 18319, 18321). The last fibreglass car is, according to most of the books, s/n 21289. The first steel-bodied car is regarded to be 20805. But there is at least one steel car known in the USA with a lower number, having definitely a steel body! Experts claim that all 308 GTB's destined for the US market with numbers higher than 20000 are steel cars. And most of the literature says that the last carburetted 308 GTB built in 1980 was s/n 34349. But according to the Servizio Assistenza Tecnica of Ferrari, after this there were manufactured another five: 34377 - 34379 - 34389 - 34465 - 34503!"

If you study the Serial Numbers page a little bit more, he lists some examples of steel US version GTBs with "numbers higher than 20000" which precede yours. The earliest one I found on his list is S/N 20169.

Gerald L. Roush (Ferrari Market Letter) is an authority on the early GTBs and has published several articles on the subject. See this old post for some further information:

http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/discus/messages/251280/276331.html

You can contact him directly. He has always been responsive.

Barry

 

I looked at the serial number list on Robert Retzlaff's website again and found:

S/N 19999 308 GTB (steel) US LHD 1976

So there are a number of articles and books published on serial numbers. Not all are in agreement.

The 308 GTB prototype had the Vitaloni Californian mirror too.

Barry
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I meant by e-mail through the owner's site...in english.

Mumbling.....wiseguy.

 

You need to register with the factory Site as an owner, using your VIN#

They will then confirm any specification on your car as original, you can tell original color, interior trim and any factory options.

Barry is about the smartest guy here on the glass/steel issue..... so pay attention, when he speaks......

And as stated the glass steel cars were mixed together for a period, and my two steel cars only 300 VIN #s apart are totally different, using "left over" glass components.

One has glass US front valence, later car has steel front valence.

Use whatever mirrors will keep you from hitting me when changing lanes.....LOL!

A '76 steel isn't really rare, it's just one of the earliest......looks like you have a pretty clean example. Even the "glass cars" referred to fender/door panel material, and used many steel components such as rocker rails, etc., which of course, lead to corrosion, on neglected cars. It's also noted by some that the glass was so thick, to avoid cracking, there was little performance benefit from weight savings.

It's "rare" from the standpoint, it survived!
Now, fix those mirrors!

 

The California Vitaloni on that prototype is mounted about 3" too far foreward on the door, for a Texan...........LOL!

It's blocked from view, by the vertical wing window molding........for my seat track adjustment, anyway.

 

I almost bought a 19XXX car from a guy in Cali. Steel '76 production date. I think I have the pictures at home and I'll see if I can find them and the SN on it.

 

the book is wrong about 20805. i have 20433 and its steel, november 1976 build date with "250A" code on the left side chasis plate by the coils.

nothing special about our cars.
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Ahem...they're ALL special!!!

 

You know we are just giving you a hard time about the mirrors, right??

You cannot see a damn thing out of those tiny Vitaloni Californias, and they are prone to 'drooping' and breakage as the unit ages.....

Individualists pick Ferraris to drive.....not followers.

Do whatever you want with the car....drive and enjoy!

You've just fallen in with a bunch of guys who enjoy the research and historical accuracy of the model, and we feel we are pretty lucky to own one.
Barry can probably tell you which boat his car travelled on to get here!


Or two, in my case....#22127 and 22641. Even my two cars followed radically different paths. While one was blowing engines and trying to outrun Canadian Tax Authorities, the other sat unsold new for three years, before spending 25 years in the garage of a 78 y.o. PG&E engineer. I felt like I was robbing his joy, when he handed the keys and the title over.....

Google my Ferrari World's Fastest Art Car if you want to see a 'paint' job! LOL!

 

I have a steel GTB #20783. Build date of January 1977 although every single date stamped part on the car is 1976. I too have the correct Vitaloni Californian mirror. I'll have to join the gang on this one and say that your mirrors should be burned. Put a Vitaloni on it; it totally suits one of the most beatuiful cars ever built. When was the last time you saw a supermodel with hairy armpits.

 

Yea, but there was one day last summer I walked out to the car and the mirror was gone!

The heat caused it to release from the glue and CRASH! to the ground below.

I took it in cracked to my local glass guy, and he cut a new one for $5.

Still in there!

I don't think models come with hairy ANYTHING anymore....LOL!

 

They'll probably cost you more than your paint job. Vitaloni RULES!!!!!

 

Vitaloni OEM mirrors can be purchased at any bike shop that caters to Ducati. i have a friend with a Ducati and his bike HAS THE EXACT SAME MIRRORS ON IT as the Ferrari.( my GTB only has one mirror though.) he broke one of his mirrors and got a whole new one for $39.00

 

FWIW - my 1976 steel 30GTB #20425 red/tan is alive and well in Massachusetts with the correct single useless Vitaloni mirror. Nice original car- took silver award at the Ferrari Club of America Concourso in Hartford last June. Thanks for the interesting thread.

 

Welcome Rich!!!!

Good to hear, have you met Barry up there with his 'glass '76???

I have 1977 #22127
and also 1977 #22641....

Put 'er there!

*secret DOT NON CAT handshake, ('76 -'77 ONLY)*

 

COOL!!!! thats the closest one to *20433* that i have heard about. good for you .

when was your car built ???????