328 EURO value

If you’ve already bought this car, were you able to register it? What are the smog requirements in NY? Here in CA you wouldn’t be able to register it without smog equipment and possible other federalization requirements. That’s an 80’s car where it was quite common to import grey market cars which had to be federalized before they could be registered here.

 

The problem with a car like that is that it will be difficult if not impossible to register it in an area that requires emissions compliance. California and Colorado are two of the strictest states where that's concerned, as our air is so bad. As a consequence, the pool of potential buyers is limited, which limits its value. Is it more desirable? Well, it's got 10 bhp more power (because no cat), which is nice but 90% of drivers couldn't tell the difference unless track driving. More valuable? Doubtful. I'd pay more for a US spec than a Euro, because I live in Colorado and it would never be able to be registered where I live. Others may feel differently though. If you can find a local buyer in NC or SC, maybe someone will pay a premium for it.

 

Here in CA a visual inspection of the smog equipment as well as passing the sniff test is required.

 

The french historic importer for Ferrari was Charles Pozzi, and they affixed their own reference plate in the engine compartment at the right of the constructor's data plate. See the one of my '89 GTB (chassis #81085) on the enclosed picture. Your car might still have it, or perhaps the rivet's holes.
Pozzi in Paris usually answers simple enquiries, and they might tell you if your car was sold by them or not.

Rgds

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That's your door jamb plate, affixed after the car cleared the imports' process in the US. But it won't tell which country it came from.
To check if it was sold new in France, you might try to contact "Charles Pozzi" at their generic E-Mel adress (which was managed 18 months ago by Pauline Minetti, Marketing Assistant) at the « generic » mailbox [email protected]

And five-six years ago, these two persons were very helpful, but that was five-six years ago...don't know if they are still working there.
[email protected]
[email protected]

Rgds

 

I’m not able to answer that question, you’d probably have to take it to a smog station to see. But another consideration is that from my experience grey market Porsches had a “ZZZ” in their VIN number which immediately flagged them as grey market. The car had to be federalized at which point you get a BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) sticker to put near your vehicle info which said it had been done. I’m not sure if the Ferrari VIN has a similar convention but I notice that both your Euro car’s VINs start with ZFFWA and my 88 US version starts with ZFFXA. Anyone have any input on that?

 

The W in the fourth place is for Euro 328/mondial 3.2; the X is for US as per red-headed.com

 

The engine, that's all; your "X" stands for "catalysed engine, US version, 260 hp"
(there is another catalysed engine for 328s, the swiss version, engine type "046", 255 hp, fourth VIN digit is "C").

Also notice that your US VIN integrates letters that are a code for the "model year" of your car at the 9th and 10 th digit. After the sequence:
"ZFFWA19" for an "Euro", non-cat GTB or "ZFFXA19" for an US catalysed GTB;
"ZFFWA20" for an "Euro", non-cat GTS vs "ZFFXA20" etc for an US, catalysed GTS...
you have a sequence of number/letter that reads as a code for "model year", a concept that did not exist for "Standard Continetal Euro" Ferraris at the time, which explains why the VIN of my '89 GTB reads "ZFFWA19B000081085" (9th and 10th digits are "0" because "model year" did not exist for "standard continental euros" Ferraris at the time)

Rgds

 

Very interesting stuff! That W which indicates non-cat is the possible red flag though, as far as CA is concerned. I’d contact the DMW to see if there would be an issue or not in registering it here.

 

Maybe in some places, as not all states/cities have the same emission standards. In Colorado, not a chance.