308 real-world use

Hello everyone! I'm looking to purchase my first ferrari, hopefully, later this year...specifically a '77 308 GTB (I prefer a carbed car). This will be a weekend-type car, that is, not for track use or commuting to work. My current daily driver is an '00 Acura Integra Type R.

I have been doing some research through periodicals and books, and I looked through the search function on this great site, but was unable to locate discussions related to my queries...please forgive me if these are ignorant questions but I need opinions from those in the know as I currently do not have access to a 308 to play with...

1. How are carbed 308s in real-world use, such as, if I get stuck in summertime traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, should I be sure to have the battery fully charged in my cell phone ?

2. How heavy are the clutches, that is, how much leg effort is required? I'm used to the fairly light clutch in my Type R. Will I need to start building up some leg muscles in order to work with the clutch?

That's it for now, I'm sure I will be back with more questions in the near future as my search for the best car continues...thanks in advance for any insight you folks can provide!

Regards,

Joe

 

Hi Joe

I have a 76 308 GTB that I am currently driving every day. My BM was vandalised some months ago so I have had to press the 308 into service. I have done 6k miles this last few months with no hassles. Provided the car is sorted you should have no worries on the mechanical front - as for the clutch you can always sort that one by regular visits to the gym.

Good luck!

Ken

 

I have a 78 308 GTS, I drove it everyday for 2 years with minimal maintenace. BUT, I did have an engine compartment fire that almost totalled the vehicle. Just make sure to strap a fire extinguisher in for emergencies and full coverage insurance and you will love it for a daily driver.

 

In the summer I put a decent amount of mileage on my 77 GTB without any hassle. Heavy traffic, is not a problem and the clutch for me is not an issue at all. In fact you get used to it really fast and personally I don't really know what the whole fuss is about. The key here is in having a car that is sorted. Buy a car with a nice thick stack of recent receipts and a car that has been driven. A 10K car that has not turned a wheel in 5 years may sound like a dream but it is a nightmare. A few things to do to ensure trouble free driving:

1. If the rad was not changed recently, change it or have it re-cored. It makes a night and day difference on cooling and boiling them out does NOT work.

2. Make sure your cooling fans work and I recommend changing out the OEM fuse blocks. Lots of threads on the subject and you can do it for under $100.

3. Make sure you have a good battery that is no more than 3 years old.

Remember you are buying a near 30 year old car so buy the best one you can find. Even the best will have lots of stuff to do on it so be ready for it.

Muteki reminded me: CHANGE ALL THE HOSES!!!!! Fuel and coolant unless you have a receipt showing them changed in the last couple of years. Make sure ALL of the hoses were changed.

 

If you are in NJ make sure to ask for a good mechanic to inspect the car before you buy. We have a lot of people all over the northeast

 

i have a 77GTB also. soon to be for sale to make room for a Boxer. i drive the car on weekends, or when i am off ( like today!) . get one with the new fuseblocks, the improvements throughout the whole car were incredible. my car has a QV radiator and fans. the car is fine in traffic and a joy on the highway. i had my belt service done 2 months ago and had the clutch checked and adjusted.carb cars rule, i had a 78 308gts and there is a big difference in the way the early cars sound and drive compared to the later carb and injected cars. i dont like the 14 inch wheels at all. my 16 inch wheels are leftovers from the other car and are mixed up. i have like 3 fronts and one rear. i would recommend new wheels unless you are a concours guy. if i can help with any specifc questions let me know. many of my threads have lots of pics, they should help. Michael

 

Thanks very much for all the replies! I feel a little better about the drivability issue now that I've seen some responses. A full PPI is definitley planned, when the right car comes along...and as advised, I plan on looking for the best car I can find, one that has lots of receipts and reasonable mileage.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply!

Joe

 

I have a 79, and it's a great car. I've been stuck in traffic on the NJ turnpike in august, and not even close to overheating. I've put regular miles on the car, and it doesn't skip a beat. These cars run better the more you drive them. Carb's rock!

 

I forgot to mention that I live in Guam, where I drove my 308 and its about 90 all year round here. The a/c is very strong for the car and I have been trapped in traffic numerous times in the car. Never had a problem with overheating. Its true usually the a/c was off since the TARGA was open...hehehh

 

as for the clutch, the early carb cars did come with a 60 lb clutch. later they went to a 34 lb one. a simple part change to cahnge the mechanical advantage when you have the clutch done will update that (if it hasn't already been done).

 

I used to live in NJ...it does not matter what kind of car you have, if you are stuck in traffick on the NJTP, you will most likely overheat before any car. I thought moving to South Florida would be much better traffick...WRONG!!! Miami-Dade County through Palm Beach County has some of the worst traffick I have ever encountered.

Buy a 308 and enjoy it...and remember, they are meant to be driven.