I was looking at this on Forza's website and was wondering what the asking price was going to be. It looks to be immaculate. It's too much red for me but that is just personal preference.
Once again, can I ask the dumb questions and can you tell what you see here that makes you say that? I’d like to train my eye better on those online auctions. what I see here is a great car with no service records at all and was driven only 7k miles in 37 years. Probably say for years in a row. Useless Carfax with no info, really. So lots of issues for an online auction, something most people will bid on without the benefit of a full PPI. I’d be extremely surprised if that went near $100k because of all those question marks. So what an I missing in those pics that makes you feel that one is a gem? of course, you don’t have to answer but I’d appreciate you (and other seasoned members like @rob above) educating this newbie
Let me preface by saying that I have known these cars since they were in production. Being in the Ferrari trade, I have had hundreds of them pass through my hands over the decades. I have observed examples that range from the finest specimens to the shabbiest. Yes, most self proclaimed experts will cry foul that it hasn't had 14 belt services to date, but the reality is that a lot of the damage to the authenticity and originality of the cars is done in the workshop. The most damage (exclusive of accident damage) is the result of how much water/sun the car has been exposed to. This particular example has obviously eluded these perils for the past 4 decades. It has clearly eluded having the seats painted or "re-dyed" as most examples (including the one that brought $150K) have. Another thing that makes this one a standout to me is the specification. The combination Red carpets and piping plus deep front spoiler are exceedingly rare for North American spec. examples. The overall condition leaves no question that the mileage is correct. You just don't see them like this anymore. Twenty five years ago, cars like this would come up rather frequently, and not sell for much of a premium. $40,000 was a forcefield that few 308 could breach for a very long time. Yes, The subject of differed maintenance is a concern for most, but for me it is a plus as it has not endured the working life of a "cheater Ferrari". It hasn't been the car that the main dealer or independent service shop threw to the new kid to learn to wrench on because it was "just a 308". It hasn't been molested by a stereo shop. It hasn't been modified in an attempt to make it any faster. The presence of the original tires proves that the previous owners were not interested in the Stoplight Grand Prix championship. Hopefully, this will go to a true connoisseur who will have it recommissioned by someone who really knows and loves these cars. It won't be cheap, as I would budget around $40K to get it perfect, but the result would be a car that is virtually unrepeatable. Just my two cents.
The spec is a gem IMO; I agree with gdl203 the unknowns & price expectations are all concerning. Needs a full PPI with compression/leak down test which should be the norm for any Ferrari purchase unless you are a highly skilled DIY'er. In which case the DIY'er is essentially performing the PPI. The sale price compared to current market would be negotiated due to these factors during a proper sale. Recent meteoric sales on BAT 308's may not be due to such data justified rational. Takes all kinds to make a world.
Sun/water is a clear factor, but average ride mileage is also one. 12k miles can mean 2,000 6-mile daily trips or it can mean 200 60-mile trips. Very different wear on the seats, especially on cars like 3x8 where some people really drag themselves in and out.
If anyone is looking I was recently offered a Euro 308QV GTB...red/black It's immaculate to my eye..... 100k miles (maybe km??) and he's looking for $100K So not the "low miles" of these cars, but it IS a GTB. Looks very nice, like P car clean, if you get my drift, they even detail the bottom side, in that world..
You're obviously careful when you get in and out. My car's previous owner only had 5k miles driven by him, but he ravaged the driver side's seat bolster and piping.
I didn't download the picture to zoom in, but they definitely have visible markings on them. Did you zoom in and do a google on what's there? They don't look familiar to me at all.
Strong money for being plucked fresh out of a septic tank.[/QUOTE] I love how it was “stored in a vented air chamber to preserve originality”. Wouldn’t want to let the newspaper stuffed in the crevices rot or anything.
I'd be willing to wager that your daily driver isn't trimmed in Connoly Vaumol either. Ferraris of the period that were trimmed in darker colors (Nero NM8500, Testa Di Moro VM890, Blu VM 3282 Nuvola VM 3015 and Rosso VM3170) have less delicate interiors. Ferraris of this period with interiors trimmed in colors on the lighter end of the spectrum (Tobacco VM846, Beige VM3218, Sabbia VM3284, and Crema VM 3997 are increasingly delicate the lighter you go on the spectrum. Connoly Vaumol leather of the period was only surface dyed and the hides are natural full grain, as opposed to the ultra processed vat dyed leather used in any mass produced car. The Connoly Vaumol leather is very porous and absorbs contaminants like a vacuum. the delicate surface dyed finish on it literally wipes away if you attempt to clean it with anything stringent enough to remove the dirt. Again, Connoly Vaumol in darker shades mentioned above are a bit sturdier. If you don't wear dungarees, have a smaller build and you are careful getting in and out; you can get more mileage out of a lighter shade interior in a 308. If you are a bigger fellow who slides down the seat bolster to fall into the car, the interior will look awful in a matter of days. Leaving the top off of the car and exposing the car to smog, dust, or getting caught in a cloud burst for even a moment will leave a lighter colored interior looking pretty shabby.
I agree 100%. The Magnum thing has nothing to do with the positive or negative aspects of the cars, only that one appeared in a TV show. It's so tedious. I regret with all my being that T Magnum didn't drive a Beetle, then people would have to give up the non-stop inane comments . Just an old guy's opinion, not based on fact of any sort.
Part of the allure of the 308 is attached to Magnum PI. Just as there are many that relate the TR to Miami Vice. The Firebird to Smokey and the Bandit. You can't take away the pop culture aspect of the car. It's what makes it so recognizable to many today.
