'79 308 restoration | Page 18 | FerrariChat

'79 308 restoration

Discussion in '308/328' started by Newman, Dec 30, 2003.

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  1. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Newman
    I had a 94 Z28 rag and a 97 SS 6 speed. I liked them but they rode like a floor jack. An F-body makes my boxer feel like a cady over the bumps. Ill wait another year to get the 69.
     
  2. Jeff328

    Jeff328 Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2006
    2,293
    WI
    I think the combination of a Ferrari and a muscle car is lots of fun!

    My '88 328 GTS and '67 Pontiac GTO each scratch different automotive itches.

    To me it would be hard to sell a 308 that I had so much effort invested in. However, having a Boxer to fall back on would certainly make it easier.
     
  3. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
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    Newman
    Exactly, two different purposes, both fun.
     
  4. blk911

    blk911 Rookie

    Apr 25, 2007
    35
    Paul,
    I admire the heck out of your work on this. You absolutely, positively unequivicably have to be bat **** crazy out of your effing skull to sell this car and replace it with a camaro. There should honest to goodness be some sort of statute or criminal law against such a manuever. I am not kidding. Someone will be getting one unreal 308. I wish it was me. great job, and please perhaps seek some professional help if you really think selling this for a camaro is a good idea. WTF.
     
  5. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
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    Newman
    LOL, I did it for the love of it and desires change over time. i thought I would die a mopar owner, that changed over night and im glad I did. My loss in a way but I learned something about the marque that others may never know unless they take the route I did.

    Thanks, I think?
     
  6. blk911

    blk911 Rookie

    Apr 25, 2007
    35
    This to me makes about as much sense as when Hugh Grant was knocking the bottom out of Elizabeth Hurley then gets caught with that prostitute. I guess his "desires changed" ;-) I get what you're saying. Sort of. Still I cannot imagine selling this car for a Camaro. It just does not compute. That is not to take away from the Camaro per se. It has its place in auto history as an iconic car, but alas it is not a Ferrari. All things equal the best 69 Camaro does not compare to a fully restored F car. That is what make me think you're nuts! Then again you knew you were nuts when you started this project. I am in awe and truly admire your skills.
     
  7. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
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    Newman
    If I was getting out of a ferrari all together to buy a domestic turd I could understand your disgust (maybe). I like what I like, sorry it upsets you so much, seeing a boxer and a 69 camaro ragtop in my garage doesnt suck too badly.
     
  8. Toronto308

    Toronto308 Formula 3

    Sep 8, 2006
    1,008
    Toronto, ON
    Full Name:
    Esteban

    Hi Paul,

    First of all I greatly admire you restoring a car like a 308 to this degree. I also appreciate your decision in going for diversity. I've got an old '60 Healey that's won shows and I've got a not-so-clean Fcar that I drive a LOT more. I agree with you that you fulfill more of your car obsession with wildly different cars. And I think we should all recognise what may be the biggest point, your wife likes the camaro too!
    Big Red's right. The car will only be perfect until the first chip or scratch or leak. If you sell it after you're done, not only will you have a happy family life, you'll have an eternal memory of perfection, rather than a painful 'it was perfection until...' memory. Ask me how I know! But I'm curious, do you have the restoration bug and always have to have a project on the go? I was like that, then I got married and had a baby. But I have to say your photos are tempting me back to the dark side ;)

    Keep up the fantastic work.
     
  9. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
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    Hi Esteban: Ive always had the bug, I cant leave well enough alone. The boxer will get a similar treatment in the future at least mechanically, the paint is still very nice so I could leave it alone and go for the guts to make them spotless. The 308 started as a paint job and snowballed into a restoration. The original plan was to keep it but at that time I didnt have a boxer nor did I think I would. I have to thank TBakowski for showing me the boxer and leaving me no choice but to buy it. Thats where my direction changed.

    The 308 and boxer share a theme, the parts are different but only slightly, you can see they are related closely so restoring the 308 will never be a waste of time in my mind, just a satisfying learing experience that the boxer will benefit from. Also, how many restored 308's are there? How many are this clean? Only a handful. Someone will get one of the nicest 308's out there. I wont say its the best since there is always something better out there no matter how hard you try.
     
  10. bernardo66

    bernardo66 The Crazy Cat Man
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 14, 2003
    26,526
    Montreal Canada
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    Bernie
    Paul, I'm absolutely speechless!!! Amazing with what you've done to the car.
     
  11. irondogmike

    irondogmike F1 Rookie

    Sep 8, 2006
    2,532
    San Diego area
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    Michael Tucker
    hi paul, theres a simalar car out here in walnut creek,ca that went through a costly restor, the people who owns it has it in the showroom there at prestige autohuas, any way its a 1977 308gtb blk/blk euro its been said that money was not a problem, its show cond. and their asking 55k dry sump single dist, but to tell you the trurth yours out beats this one, if you do decide to sell, I'll send you the deposit now. keep the good work up
     
  12. blk911

    blk911 Rookie

    Apr 25, 2007
    35
    Paul,
    I guess since you have the Boxer and are going to give it similar treatment I can concede your diversity with the American muscle for some balance. Keep up the wonderful work. I love seeing the updates and pics. This is truly an amazing job you have done.
     
  13. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
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    Newman
    #438 Newman, Jun 5, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I tackled the parcel shelf panels today. I would rather fix an oil leak than cover panels with foam and vinyl, woohoo what fun that was. When I first removed the panels the studs that hold the upper curved piece and the flat panels in place broke off. Yesterday I dealt with it by drilling out the rivets that hold a plate onto the bottom of the panels so I could insert a new stud then rivet them back on - fixed, wasnt hard. The curved piece under the window was harder to do since the plates with the studs on them are submerged in fibreglass. I cut them out, replaced the studs and bonded them back in with a body adhesive we use to hold body panels on cars, its strong stuff. Then it was onto covering them again. I replaced the underpad/foam then glued the vinyl on. I found the original foam had long turned to dust, a function of time I guess rather than miles on the car. They feel soft again, cushy and as new. Well worth the headache. Also the axles are ready to go in.
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  14. irondogmike

    irondogmike F1 Rookie

    Sep 8, 2006
    2,532
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    Michael Tucker
    It's been a while Paul, hows things going with the car? hope everything is coming together nicely. like to hear from you.
     
  15. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
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    Dec 26, 2001
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    Not a lot on the car but rather restoring things like the rads and collecting parts. The boxer has my attention right now since the dinoplex went on the fritz. 2 ferraris and neither runs, not a good situation so Ive been spreading myself over both but ill get more pics soon!
     
  16. J Ingram

    J Ingram Formula Junior

    Aug 12, 2006
    443
    Moreno Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    Jesse Ingram
    Awesome thread, Newman! I can't wait for you to start on the Boxer. It will probably give me the crazy idea to commit financial suicide by restoring mine. I have been toying with the idea of repainting it completely red, but even that is a $20k job to do correctly. I could do so much more around the house with $20k. Priorities!
     
  17. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
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    Dec 26, 2001
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    Thanks Jesse,

    I cant wait either, once the 308 is done Ill turn to the boxer for sure but ill go the concours route this time rather than some personal touches like I did to the 308. $20K would just about be right to do the boxer paint. My prep and paint on the 308 with a bare shell on casters cost $7K and that was after I did the metal work. Turned out very nice though so im not whining.
     
  18. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    Newman, are you still planning on selling the 308 when you are done? (I still can't believe that, after all that work!) If so, make sure you give everyone here a heads up, as I'm sure there will be no lack of interest in a car as beautiful as this one is.
     
  19. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2003
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    I agree, i'll think the bidding should start off at 125K
     
  20. carb308gtb

    carb308gtb Karting

    Oct 20, 2006
    188
    Svezia
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    Patrik
    Newman, what silver color did you use for the fuel tanks and the engine
    compartment, I think it might be heat resistant?

    /Patrik
     
  21. F&M racing

    F&M racing Formula Junior

    Feb 26, 2006
    668
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    JimF
    Newman,

    When you were dismantling this car did it seem possible to remove the dash top without removing the windshield as someone did in one of these threads? My first 911 I replaced the dash without removing the windshield, seems to me the 308 would be the same way.

    Jim
     
  22. blk911

    blk911 Rookie

    Apr 25, 2007
    35
    just wondering if there is an update. It has been a while, and I love seeing the latest developments with this car. I cannot wait to see the finished product.
     
  23. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2003
    43,171
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    John

    I don't know what Paul's experience was but I just did mine too. Someone said you could remove the dash without removing the windshield but I think it would be awfully hard to get it out and even harder to get back in. There is a piece of trim that holds the front edge of the dash pad down. It doesn't rivet through the dash pad itself so you might be able to pry it up enough to get the pad out. Getting it back in would be a whole nother story though!
     
  24. Tour de Corse

    Tour de Corse Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2007
    259
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    Full Name:
    Morten
    Newman - what a fantastic job you have performed ... 'thumbs-up'

    I will soon start doing exactly the same, strip my fibreglass car into millions of bits and pieces ...and then create a replica of a Michelotto group 4 rallycar :)

    All the best

    Tour de Corse
    Denmark
     
  25. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
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    Newman
    The car is progressing, mainly in the collection of new parts. Currently the aluminum trim is being dealt with, the carbs and more plating. Im expecting a load of parts shortly then I can put the car on the ground and focus on the interior and glass. Unsure of a finish date because things keep pulling me away from it so now im aiming for the spring rather than the soon to end summer.
     

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