That is not true. Maybe the case for US spec cars, but my old 1977 Euro dry-sump 308 (#21747) also had a zipper cover up front. And so does my friend's GTB (#21635). I have to say that although I favour originality, I do like the nose job on this one. I also like the exterior colour, and I have to say that the colour of the seats is to die for! I love it! This what I have from the first and only other time I saw it on eBay: EBAYItem number: 4625778008 April 2006 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB coupe. S/N 21163 Gold/brown leather. Odo: 37,800 km -- 23,625 miles. Congratulations on buying this car!
James, I sent you a PM last evening hoping you might repond so that I might apologize and explain my post in a more personal manner. As you have either not seen it, or have chosen not to reply, I'll say it here... Your desire to help others in their search for a Ferrari is well taken. However, unless you have actual knowledge of the car and people you speak of, your input has the potential to harm more than help. Yes, noting descrepencies in Mr. Tillack's work orders is a good thing. Picking up the phone and calling him for clarification would have been a far better idea. At that point you would have known exactly why the grill, brakes, and wheels were on the car. Rather than expounding upon "major warning flags" you might very well have seen those items for what they were. A showcase for his wares destined for Concourso Italiano in 03. That's all they were. No track time involved. Would I have made those modifications? Not on your life. And I fully intend to return the car to stock. And no, I highly, highly, doubt I'm going to be "upside down" on the car. This isn't my first experience with the marque. I also own a damn near 100pt 78 GTB in addition to a slightly lesser 79 GT4. I've spent 30 years in the automotive trades in one way or another. That doesn't make me some all knowing Ferrari guru. It only makes me confident in the decisions I make of my own accord while purchasing these cars. I don't look for others to PPI them. I don't look for others to service them once bought. And, other than in this thread, I rarely talk about it here. As for my statement regarding Mr. Tillack not being a hack, I was not implying that you had. Tex seemed to think I was "lecturing" everyone. Not at all. He was the one that took that ball and ran with it. I was purely noting that the car had not been butchered while the grill was installed and that returning the nose of the car to stock was not the job it would appear to be. Same with the brakes. Unbolt the Brembo's and discs, bolt on the stock pieces. I have several sets of them on the shelf. I just don't see the "nightmare" involved in that process. It's not. The side markers look like crap and will obviously go away being replaced with the correct pieces. The firm that federalized the car is known and I seriously doubt that "hacksaws and chisels" were involved. I guess I'll just have to take that risk. One I'll gladly take considering how difficult it is to find one of these cars in the shape this one's in. Gladly... As for the car as a whole? Look for it on the grass in Watkin's Glenn along with my green car. You can all judge them there in person along with the FCA and IAC/PFA crew. Like you guys, they don't miss much either... So, with all that said, let's let this thread go. Ok? Jame's, I do apologize for the way I came at you. I hope you can accept that. I sincerely hope that you find the car *you* want and that you have a lifetime of fun in it. Regards to all, Rob Stewart
First, thank you James for responding in a sincere and respectful manner. However, I am not placing blame on you; I just want to make recognition on how I appreciate the tone of your reply. Too often, on this board and others I frequent, people a too quick to bash, be arrogant and just downright unpleasent to communicate with. Thank you for not perpetrating the ugliness. Second, I admire "off color" Ferraris and although browns are not high on my list, I think this car is extremely rare and probably looks striking in person. Congratulations to the owner for what appears to be a very special Ferrari.
Whew! Sing "Cumbaya" ya'll! 8valve, I missed a comma...meaning "1977 US cars DO have the zipper cover!" Rob, any dry sump on our shores is well bought these days...congrats! INteresting also how little time this car spent "on the dock" indicative of Original Owner knowing the ropes... I don't mind the color at all, that's truly a personal (Emotional! LOL!) decision... Mine are yellow/black/black carpets. Boxer trim blue/crema/blue carpets. Boxer trim ..and an incoming red/black/black carpets...NO TRIM! Where's my Krylon!........HTH.
Good find on the parts! I noticed a US grill for $65 last year....Gone! And the wheels and bolts are a PITA also, IMO......big bucks to find OEM..
Thanks, Tex I've actually got three complete sets of original wheels with spares at this point. They're a pain in the ass to keep around but I'm loath to let them go. The green car currently has 328 rims on it and the GT4 has the early original 16's. Those are the *really* tough ones to find. They're going on the gold car asap for road use. They just look so much better than those bloody Speedlines... You know, I always envisioned myself as being the red/tan sort of owner. But then my wife found the green car down by you with Joe Maniaci. The GT4 is the red/tan but now this new car comes along and ends up being gold. Not that I mind it. Just not what I would ever have imagined myself owning. The interior on both the green and gold cars is identical. Ferrari called it Tobacco something (in italian) on the hertitage certificate for the green car. Not bad in person and a hell of a lot easier than tan to keep clean. Your take on how much time the car spent on the docks is *exactly* right. It's too bad the gentleman passed on as I would have loved to get the real scoop directly through him. The detective stuff you have to go through is all fine and dandy but... R Oh, and if you happen to see Joe or Grady down there, tell 'em Rob and Jody say hi. They're both finest kind...
I seem to recall the green car, at FoH? I certainly will! Joe and I have similar musical tastes, so I see him often! Stop over if ever in town..... I have several sets of 14"s also! Run lesser 16" rims, on the street. Those early 16"s are pricey indeed! For the Record: my '46 -04's are the die casts, GTHill mentioned them in his "visit to Houston' thread.......added some '06s and the 166 since then! LOL! Post pics when thru, as this will be a fine and unusual car.....
You'll be able to keep the Brembos then with 16"s hopefully... GT4s should really stay on 14"s!! I'll get Goodyear to run us some nice vintage tires.....they have a 14" 'Z' rated in Showroom Stock series, just not quite small enough! I'm talking to 'em....slicks and rains......
Also agree on Tobacco vs. Tan or creama which wears quite fast.. Black is even better! You can do it along with your dress boots......
Someday, ( Now I said someday) when a poor guy like me can actually buy a 308 it is very important that the people on this sight help people like me that don't have the infinite knowledge as some of you do. I personally appreciate anyone who can point out "concerns" on a car which I would be looking at purchasing. My point is that I hope when I finally get ready to buy a 308 you guys will still be around to assist in guiding me in an "enjoyable" purchase and not a nightmare. Pointing out possible flaws in a car is very helpful to someone like me. Thank You. Pete
Moku, Excellent post. I, being a lesser man, would have simply responded to James in Denver with this: Image Unavailable, Please Login
I know this car. I know it well. It came into my hands at Brembo in costa mesa, I was the one who used it to develop the 308 brake kit that brembo sells. It came to me after having been in storage a long time, and as a non-running car. I also saw the transformation it went through after delivery into Tillacks hands. Every part of this car was gone through. Doesnt even seem the same car apart from the unique color combo. The car has been driven hard, and driven on the track by several people (ahem) including Steve Tillack himself. That does not equal abuse, its a sports car and was made to drive some track laps. I wont comment on values or "good deals", every exotic car is a "box of chocolates". None are perfect (even when they leave the factory). I will only say that Tillacks reputation is well earned, and the car recieved alot of TLC from when I first saw it. ...needs a Girodisc rear kit to balance it out though....;} Cheers Eric
I like the odd color. But I have never liked it when owners pull the fender vents and paint them black. I think that just needs to be left on the US QV's. Of course that is just my own personal taste.
LOL, Dr. Tommy....I was squinting at the pics but could not tell...they did appear black but that's easy enough to fix... Sounds like the new owner knows what he's doing...three sets of OEM wheels! I thought I was the only guy stockpiling them.........
Lady Valeria's has black ANODIZED fender vents and a matching rear spoiler, but they were Dealer installed on the 1977 in Summer 1980... Maybe per request or maybe Ron Tonkin was desperate to move it after 3 years on the floor...
Tracking back through ebay then going to the website listed, there is a wonderful spread of 30+ pictures of the car on the following website: http://www.stickwithrwd.com/308_gtb/ This includes a ground level shot looking at that grill. Again, very pretty, IMHO. James in Denver
I sooo wanted this thread to slide of the bottom of the page... Eric: Correct on all counts. It's a safe bet to assume the car will be back on the track in short order. That's where it belongs. I'm not one to keep cars tucked away in the garage. And we haven't even begun to talk about my wife yet... I suppose I'm the luckiest guy on earth. You see, most women have issues with their men and sports. Football, baseball, basketball, whatever... any sport will do. In our household things are slightly awry. The Tivo dutifully collects *every single* available form of racing that Speed has on. This woman doesn't miss a thing. Christ, belt sander racing fits in here somewhere. Her driving skills have just come naturally to her. She picked up her regional license last year and I've done my best to provide her with a capable car that she can toss about. That she will, and does. If you're in the Bay Area and see a rather low green thing behind, be careful. You're either gonna need some horsepower or damn good driving skills to lose her. The only issue keeping her from utterly spanking most anything around is that of shocks. The car has a set of VariShocks in it now which have proven to be far less capable than I had originally hoped. They're getting swapped out for a set of Penske 8300's in the next few weeks. Live and learn, I guess... Brian: Isn't that funny? I was trying to figure out a way to stuff a little stealth motor in the GT4. I've got Phil Airy's euro cams and carbs and a single dizzie I picked up somewhere last year. With a little help from BK, and your block, I was thinking I would put together something hot to go have fun in. Just might still do it so ring me before you toss the thing... This thread brought on a ton of requests for pictures of the cars. The green car is a very pretty piece. The red, a bit more tattered but an absolute *blast* to drive. If any of you have put thought to scoring a GT4 just go do it. I promise you in every respect that you won't regret it... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You'd better request a Mod close/lock it, then! It's deteriorated into the archtypical 308 'fender vents, wheels, hi po mods' discussion.... Have the last post say: "SOLD!!!!!!!" You and Sean F. can deal via PMs.......
So true... and I guess I'm just as guilty of perpetuating it as well! Ok, folks. Let's move along now... nothing here to see... the exit doors are forward and to your left... move along please... R
