1989 GTB Production Numbers for USA?

the commonly thrown around number is 135 cars in the U.S. I think that a little over 3700 GTBs (I have a book at home with the exact numbers and in thinking, that seems really high) were produced for worldwide sales over its lifetime.

 

Don't have figures for that - but according to Blumell, total worldwide 328 GTB production was 1344 & I know that 110 were RHD UK versions.

Total production of the GTS was 6068 of which 542 were UK RHD

rgds

I.

 

I think the number is actually about 35.

That is, 35 328s GTB were imported into the US as 1989 models.

 

Since I have an 89 GTB, I have been following GTB's closely. I have heard a number of sources put the number between 38 & 42. I have VIN's for 25 so far. I believe there is roughly the same number of 88's, but fewer 86's and 87's.

Dave

 

I defer to you, as you are my original source from way back!

 

I'd go with Hardtop's numbers, similar to what little i've been able to glean throughout the years.
I have been quite interested in this at times.
Some relevant 'facts'(HA! More like deductions based on tidbits picked up here and there):


* U.S. dealers typically had an allocation of ONE 328GTB for the 1989 production cycle. Is worth remembering that back then, the GTBs were not that sought after in the U.S. - everyone wanted the open 'Magnum' look.

* If memory serves, there were 45-ish authorized dealers in the U.S. at the time. I picked up a copy of the U.S. dealer list/brochure to call various dealers to discuss...

Therefore, barring 'extra' cars that -might- have been ordered, the upper limit on '89 GTB's would be around 45.

I also know(fact!) that dealers had the option of returning the allocation to Ferrari North America if they couldn't find buyers. This was particularly relevant in 1989, as this year was a short production cycle, in preparation for the 348, which came out later in the year. I think 328 production ended late summer/early fall...

So, net is, total U.S. numbers are probably around 45 or slightly less.

 

AMA328,
That's an interesting tidbit about 1 per dealer. I think there may have actually been more than 45 dealers in '89. I'll get out my book and count. My own car was originally sold by "Big Red's Sports Cars" in Oklahoma. This is the only mention of this dealer I have ever seen. They must have been phased out during the big early 90's dealer reorganization. Some of the 89's were clearly special order cars. There is at least one green one for instance. The magnum PI influence was certainly great in the US. Just try to find a QV GTB, hardly any US cars. Another tidbit told to me by our local dealer's sales manager. He mentioned they could not give away "B's" in the early 90's. But that has really changed. I get frequent inquiries about selling my car from frustrated, would be GTB owners.

Dave

 

The plot thickens.......

I checked my dealer listing book with my car and there were 42 dealers listed (1988 publication for 1989 models). It would be interesting to see if the cars all came from different dealers, one each as suggested. I don't really know where to begin this investigation. Ideas?

DAve

 

I dug out my book and it looks like, officially, there were 1344 GTBs produced from 1986 to 1989 worldwide. I know that's not what the op wanted to know but I wanted to amend my previous post. BTW, I try to get all my accurate information from Dave.

 

Hardtop, the 'one per dealer' was told to me by a dealer and/or Ferrari North America guy in Cypress(west coast distribution point back then)...the '45 dealers' is off the top of my head/memory, in that back then i was looking for one, couldn't find one, so i bought a 1989 book listing all of the worldwide authorized dealers. Called -every- one of 'em, too. Would have to dig it out and recount to verify 45 for the U.S. bunch, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a couple more dealers in '89 than in '88, as this was at the height of the boom years.

I do remember 'Big Red' outa OKC...never went there, but remember the name.

I also can verify the biz about dealers returning allocation to Ferrari North America, as that's where MINE( ) came from. I got the last ordered(not last delivered, not highest serial number) GTB, and it almost got away from me...<whew>

 

In the April 2005 issue of Forza magazine (p. 36) the author writes that someone named "Larry O'Rourke III and some fellow Ferrari Owners Club members estimate that here are only 125-150 328 GTBs in the US." Though it took me a couple of months to find mine, I should think that the number given of 125 to 150 cars is a little pessimistic.

 

dunno for sure about -any- of the GTB numbers, but if the 1344 posted above is correct, i think we could whittle it down to 150 or so for U.S. consumption:

* GTB was far more popular in Europe, due to better handling, diff taste in styling, weather conditions less suited to GTS cars.

* 328 distribution started slightly earlier in Europe(normal Ferrari rollout), so they had a slight lead on U.S. However, remember that up to that time, Ferrari tended to phase in the GTS type models after the GTB was already selling.

* and, slightly cheaper...i think in '89, the GTS was running either $6k or $8k more than the GTB.
I even passed up a late '88 GTS with same colors
I wanted(oddball, non-red) that a dealer was willing to deal on, cuz I decided I wanted a 'B' made in '89.

* let's see now, -IF- one car/dealer per year in the U.S., -IF- 40+ U.S. dealers, over 3+ years...well, you do the math...150-ish seems about right.

* you had to be there during this time to fully realize the impact of several years of 'Magnum' solving Hawaiian crimes from behind the seat of a GTS...the impact of 'Miami Vice'...the gold chain, LaLa land lifestyle...to fully get it that a GTS was just 'what you brung to the dance' if you didn't show up in Sonny's white Testarossa...there was just ZERO demand, even LESS than ZERO interest in the U.S. for some closed up, couped up 'Italiano car with no moonroof'...

I'm a little surprised we even see much of any of these come up on the market, as the type of guy/gal who'd buy a GTB is probably more interested in the cars vs. lifestyle, and more likely to hang onto it for the duration...

Mine has a door plate of 'May 1989' on it, and from keeping my eyes peeled for many years, first through Hemmings, then through the web, i think i've only seen one or maybe two U.S. GTB's with a later serial/date...

Just not toooo many of 'em out there - thaz part of what makes 'em S-P-E-C-I-A-L

 

Ric,
I came to the estimate of 125-150 as follows. It has been fairly well ascertained that about 40 89's came to the US. I have serial #'s (as you know) for 24 US cars. It appears there are a similar number of 88's, however, 86's and 87's are much fewer in number. If they imported 40 each year, that would be 160, but with fewer 86-87, I figure 125-150 tops in the US. AMA328's comments about the Magnum PI effect are dead on. 308 QV GTB's in the US are much rarer still. Almost no one wanted one. Larry ORourke and I have been working on the list for a while with help from others as well.
As an aside, Bill Orth at FOD once told me that in the early 90's, you could not give away a GTB. That has changed as you know. I'm really looking forward to seeing your new car and when Ryan gets his, we have to get the 3 together. Not often do 3 GTB's get together in one spot!

AMA328: Do I have the serial number for your 89?

Dave

 

"* you had to be there during this time to fully realize the impact of several years of 'Magnum' solving Hawaiian crimes from behind the seat of a GTS...the impact of 'Miami Vice'...the gold chain, LaLa land lifestyle...to fully get it that a GTS was just 'what you brung to the dance' if you didn't show up in Sonny's white Testarossa...there was just ZERO demand, even LESS than ZERO interest in the U.S. for some closed up, couped up 'Italiano car with no moonroof'...

I'm a little surprised we even see much of any of these come up on the market, as the type of guy/gal who'd buy a GTB is probably more interested in the cars vs. lifestyle, and more likely to hang onto it for the duration..."

That describes me or at least my purchase decision to a T (or is it B).
I own a US Spec 1984 308 GTB QV. #052027. Nero Metallic with Crema Leather. I've owned it for 8 years and hope to be fortunate enough to never sell it.

John

 

No, i'm somewhat reclusive/privacy oriented, almost didn't put the above stuff out on a public board, but went ahead anyways.

Nothing personal, btw...might open up a bit more somewheres down the road, however.

 

I have:
33 US 328 GTBs for model year 1989
35 US 328 GTBs for model year 1988
29 US 328 GTBs for model year 1987
26 US 328 GTBs for model year 1986

Total = 123

Jonathan

 

Jonathan,
You hae a PM.

 

Jonathan,
Since you seem to know a lot, could you breakdown the worldwide production of GTB and GTS between the non-ABS and ABS (MY 89)?
Thanks in advance

 

For what it's worth, the original owner of my '89 GTB from whom I bought the car said he bought it from Wide World of Cars in NY and that they were one of the only dealers to receive 2 '89 GTBs (one of which he bought, obviously).

 

+ 1

michael brown 89 328 GTS (82054) US 3rd owner

Thanks

 

That 2nd GTB may have been a swap with another dealer, or a GTB returned to FNA by one dealer, which was shopped around/picked up by another dealer.

As mentioned in my above post, my GTB went back to FNA, but due to lucky/quick timing, the dealer was able to reinstate it and eventually sell it to me. As was told to me, when calling -each- U.S. dealer, every dealer was allocated/given/dumped ONE GTB. Remember, there was not great demand for these things, so I'd imagine many dealers really didn't want 'em. The dealer I bought mine from was quite surprised(thrilled, actually) that I called him up. Not just cuz it was one more sale, but because there was someone out there who actually WANTED one of these cars.

Wish I'da knowed more at the time, as I would have optioned it slightly different, but back then, there was NO internet, NO 'How to Buy Your First Ferrari' guides, NO NADA. Just print ads and a telephone.
All in all, it worked out fine, however.

 

These imported into the USA numbers (123 cars in four years!) are not encouraging for someone looking hard for a late model 328 GTB. The best / only thing to do is just keep looking. And looking...

 

Anyone out there interested in seeing if their car is on the registry, go to:
www.328gtb-registry.com

I hold the registry for U.S. 328GTB's. So far, 93 cars have been accounted for. I owe Dave (Hardtop) in Colorado much credit for assisting in finding a vast majority of the cars out there. These cars are definately rare. Apparently, the factory in Maranello sent out a press release many years ago saying there where approx 125 U.S. cars mfg. Who knows if that was ever correct ? They may have alloted 125 VIN numbers, however, because GTB's never sold well in the U.S. & by the time the production run was coming to an end in early to mid 1989, they may have just stopped building cars for here altogether.

I have owned my 1988 1/2 (s/n-77394) for eight years. If anyone out there knows of any car(s) not listed on the registry, please list it on the registry link or email me directly.
Best Regards to all,
Larry O'Rourke
[email protected]
www.mulhollandferrari.com

 

Larry,

I have created a FerrariChat US 328 GTB Registry that can be located here:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312511&page=4

I have taken information from your registry and added some information over the past year.

-F