I’ve recently been searching for a 308 GTB Vetroresina (fiberglass). These are rare items indeed and a couple that I had lines on sold within hours of becoming available leaving no time to react. In any case, looking at these 1976 and 1977 308 GTB models, are there any visual cues which may separate the Vetroresina (fiberglass) bodies from the steel bodied examples? An example may be different size mirrors or door air intake, any sort of styling cue which differentiates a Vetroresina from a steel body. Thanks in advance. BHW
Yes 1: The rear panel between the tailights where the number plate is mounted is flat on the 'glass cars, on the steel cars the panel is recessed for the number plate. 2: There is a small join line on the "A" pillar, between the roof panel and the top of the "A" pillar 3: Single exhaust on european cars 4: Rear indicator lights are different too. On the Vetro cars the reversing lights are in the rear bumper, on the steel cars the reversing lights are in the centre of the indicator lens. This is not reliable, because many have been changed for the later style The attached picture shows 1, 3 & 4 M Image Unavailable, Please Login
and don't forgot the small ripples in the bodywork of the fibreglass cars if you catch it in the right light! Pictures of the differences here, rear lens, flat rear panel, reversing light, single exhaust, bodywork and 'A' pillar join. Image Unavailable, Please Login
US glass cars had indention for license plate (small size like USA state plates). Image Unavailable, Please Login
And again for the record, Euro glass and Euro steel cars do NOT have much of a weight difference. 50-80lbs at the very most. Glass cars vary in weight car to car, but the weight difference to a steel car is never much. For example, a steel rear engine cover weighs 55lbs whilst the glass counterpart weighs just 11lbs less, I've weighed both. Between the other remaining panels (roof, doors, front and rear clips), there's just not much more there to be gained with the factory glass. Now, the fiberglass kit Makela currently make are very light indeed.
True! 95% same car. Even dry sump. This is why i got a 79 steel euro. Best deal today...fast, light and beautiful. For not SO much money. I love it and i would suggest to purchase euro steel carbed cars now until they are still available ....people are wacking up on those
I agree with Emilio. The only things that really differs between early steel Euro and Euro vetro are the current price, and the value increase potential. Market will probably always go for the earliest models, but who knows how close to the maximum current vetro prices are? In other words, I do believe early euro steel cars have a good potential and are good value for money, but it still may be better to go for a vetro if those continue to rise like they did in the last few months.
In all honesty of course, and more importantly in the real world, there is absolutely no difference between early steel and glass cars(bar perhaps the fact that body panels won't rust). Any difference in price between these cars is purely speculative based on the greed/demand of the so called "collectors" who value, for some strange reason, that because the glass cars are earlier and built in relatively lesser numbers with minutiae detail differences, then they are more sought after and by inference be worth more. In the end its just a matter of bragging rights really amongst collectors and a feeling of superiority that it bestows upon them having something fewer people have. It's nuts really this collectors mentality. I find it very strange. I classify it as an illness. And I include myself as having this disorder too, although in defence I bought my glass at little difference in price to a euro steel car but more importantly all my cars are plastic and so my glass 308 just fit in with this theme..... I don't think I would have bothered had this not been the case really and I certainly wouldn't have paid a crazy price differential over a steel car that's for sure......
I believe they offer a Gr IV kit only. Last I inquired was a couple years ago though. For extremely light individual glass components I know formulagt make very good quality doors and rear deck.
I have had both glass and metal bodied 308 GTB's on the race scales: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/141101656-post32.html The glass cars are in the region of 50kg lighter than the metal bodied cars as a generalisation; but it is dependant on specification of the individual cars.
IIRC - US glass cars have reverse lamps in the turn signals, only Euro cars had reverse lamps in the bumper.
Is the profile of the window frames on the fibreglass cars the same as the steel cars or are they more flat? I understand they are painted as opposed to the anodising of the later cars, any pictures of a later frame... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The glass cars have the body bolted to the frame while the metal cars have the panels welded. I would think that the method of attachment plus the difference in the materials would make the metal cars stiffer. Is that correct?
It might. But on the others hand the vetro had a heavier chassis. So ferrari might have relaxed the chassis of the steel one's because the welded panels added stifness. MAT prefers the chassis of the steel cars As these are indeed the lightest ones.
I've never heard that they lighten the frame. I thought they changed to metal for the improved fix and finish along with strength. The improved strength made the GTS possible.
For the GTs the reinforced the chassis on several point. And they might have not deliberately have lightened the chassis for the steel cars But mYbe without " pointe to attach the glass panels they simply came out lighter. In the end the early steel GTB chassis is indeed the lightest version around.
I was not aware of any "painted vs. anodized" finish on the window mullions?? What is your source, on that?? They should be black anodized, although many have been painted by now, certainly....they bleach or wear from polish.
