Hello All, already an F-owner with a 355 but just picked up a 1983 308 QV and had a quick question, (well the first of many questions), The car is Grigio Silver and has alot of minor blemished on the front of the vehicle that I want to have painted. My question is, on the hood and fenders, are the vents suppose to be painted the color of the car or black? I have seen so many photos but it seems it goes either way. I would just like to make it whatever it was from the factory. Thanks for your help, incase anyone is wondering, car has 23k, will need a little TLC, all minor DIY things. Looks to be originally a euro car. Thanks John
Wait, let me guess, it wouldn't happen to be the 308 from this thread, would it? http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267652 I guess we can all stop looking for it now. Ace
John on A Euro 308 Qv the vents on the front bonnet and guards(you Americans call them fenders)were factory painted the same colour as the rest of the car....U.S. Market cars were painted black on all models..... Cheers Pete
From the factory, cars had body colored vents up to 1982 when QV engines came about (late 83 in US & Japan). At that time, for extra cooling, a mid bonnet vent was added and all 3 vents were black, (as Pete notes) for US cars. Black cars had body color vents throughout. Of course, exceptions within the Ferrari community are common, often on repainted cars per owner's desires. Rear engine vents were modified when cats were added roundabout 1978. It's interesting that we in US are more accustomed to model year upgrades as complete changeovers. Ferrari made changes/upgrades in bits and pieces and even feeds them into different countries gradually and even the month was different year to year...perhaps as parts ran out. CIS fuel injection for example was added to other models a year ahead of the 308, and QV came to Europe a year before the US. The 3.2 engine came a year earlier to the Mondial than the 308. I always wondered how they kept track of model body/engine content on the line. Gotta wonder if Ferrari's goal was never to make two identical cars.
Ace, Yes, Thanks for the link to the other post. That is the vehicle. I am a local wholesale/retail dealer who normally buy and sells your daily drivers but most wholesalers know I collect a few classics/exotics for myself. I got a call from the wholesaler who buys from the store the vehicle was traded into and always wanted to own a 308/328. To everyone else, Thanks for the update. I guess I will have to decide whether to paint them as a US car in black or keep them the Euro Color of the car. Thanks again John
