Back in love again !!! | FerrariChat
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Back in love again !!!

Discussion in '308/328' started by 19055, Sep 26, 2016.

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  1. 19055

    19055 Formula Junior

    Jul 19, 2014
    493
    Netherlands, Europe
    Full Name:
    Emile
    #1 19055, Sep 26, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yesterday was a great day in my country, lovely weather, sunny, warm (some 26 degrees C), has been for the last couple of days. So I prepared #19055 for a long drive.

    I actually have not driven the car since the respray last year, only some start-ups & letting the engine get to temperature. I was too afraid for bugs, fingerprints or even scratces/damage from road dirt on the lovely new coat of paint.. And my business and the Alfa Romeo challenge took almost all the "spare time".

    Also before the respray I did not drive the car that much. Too much traffic, way too much speedbumps, 60 kilometer/hour zones, and at the time I found the car "just" an old car, with not too much punch and an impossible driving position. My Alfa Romeo racers handle much better, my Alfa Romeo road car is much faster, even has a functioning airco !! Inspired by the surge in prices I had the car repainted, with the objective to prepare it for sale. "Missed" the top of the market (doubt if I regret it, I guess not..), decided to wait for another surge, since I don't need the money and I'm only going to sell the car once !

    So off for a long drive, yesterday morning. Took my girlfriend along. We know each other for over 4 years now, but so far she only experienced a small test drive when I took the car to Forza Service for a major.

    Somehow the car grew on me, again, with every mile we drove. That "poor man's Ferrari" I bought in 1995 has evolved in a true vintage car. It makes, as someone has said here before, all the right noises: lovely carb sound, classic-light wining of the drive train, and man, how cool a "real stick" is when shifting gears and double-clutching when downshifting. Music to our ears. Okay, driving position far from ideal, the air isn't exactly squeezed out of your chest when accelerating, but man, that dash, that atmosphere !! Karin enjoyed as much as I did, refused my offer to take the seat behind the steering wheel (oomphh..), she still has some litte flashbacks from a traffic accident the experienced a couple of years ago, but she knows I'm not exactly a novice behind the wheel, laid back, relaxed and enjoyed the tour.

    I planned to put back the 14" wheels, stock brakes and suspention (for the planned sale of the car) but all the goodie's are still on the car. And I find really powerful brake's almost as sexy as a bucketload of horsepower ! This combined with the overhauled Intrax shocks and the fresh set of Toyo's R1R tyres !? So nice, so lovely..

    So I guess we'll stick together for (quite) a few years more. And already I own the car for more than half of the time she exists !!! The new owner (if, before my death,there will be one in the first place) will have a heck of a challenge to better that now, won't he ??

    I overcame the barrier of driving a freshly painted car !!! As the appraiser once said: "drive the car !! You can have it repainted whenever you want !! ". He's right. And isn't she lovely ????
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  2. Dave MacLeod

    Dave MacLeod Karting

    Mar 22, 2008
    60
    Sydney, Australia.
    #2 Dave MacLeod, Sep 26, 2016
    Beautiful!

    Thanks for the share, 3x8's tick a great deal of boxes!!

    -Dave.
     
  3. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,244
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    #3 johnk..., Sep 26, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2016
    Funny you should post this. Here in the states, in New England, it was a little chilly out yesterday, too cool for the 355 spider. So we when out in the 308 GTB QV for a drive. I got the same feeling. The 308 is such a classic and to me. Such character and elegance. I just feel it says Ferrari so much more that the 355. The 355, a product of the 90s, iconic in its own right, just seems a little vulgar, crass. Performance wise, sure by comparison the 308 is a dog. But it doesn't attack you with the high strung exhaust note, just a quiet, low pitched rumble. No heavy clutch, and a nice smooth throttle. It's so drivable. It's elegance is in its simplicity. It just feels like a Ferrari from the old school, Enzo era. I've considered replacing the 355 with a 430 at some point, but the though of selling the 308 never crosses my mind. And after driving it again (only 200 miles this year) I've come to realize that if I sell the 355, I'll be happy with just owning the 308.
     
  4. TJsBeer

    TJsBeer Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2016
    409
    Valley Forge, PA
    Full Name:
    Jeff Miller
    #4 TJsBeer, Sep 26, 2016
    Beautiful description.
     
  5. are-jay-bee

    are-jay-bee Rookie

    Sep 11, 2012
    23
    Surrey, England
    Full Name:
    Robert Bruce
    #5 are-jay-bee, Sep 27, 2016
    Totally get where you fellas are coming from. I've been approached a few times to sell my '78 GTB and it can be tempting considering prices but every time I drive the car I fall in love all over again and can't imagine ever parting with it. Car has been in the family over 36yrs since I was a young boy so that makes it all the more special anyway. I use it as much as possible but try and do a long run at least once a month, though I'll use it for the school run or a trip to the shops too when possible.

    Even the start up procedure gets my hairs rising..

    Settle in, familiar interior smell with a hint of octane, turn the key, run the pump, quick check for leaks then usually fires 2nd attempt. No choke & I disabled cold start so my right foot holds a gentle slightly clattering idle whilst listening to the carbs clearing their throats and oil gurgling through the pumps (dry sump). Pull away not bothering with 2nd for a few miles though I will move off in that on a downward incline. Once temperatures are up the gruff rasp of the single pipe exhaust as the revs rise, Webers sucking away over my shoulder, heel/toe, double clutch just for the fun of it. Monitor the dials being careful not to over-rev, little 'safety check' prods of the fading brakes on harder runs, scuffing my finger nails on the binnacle, trying to see clearly through the dash reflection on the screen... ;) It's all totally intoxicating, visceral, a proper driving experience and you don't need to be going at warp speed to enjoy it. After a long hard drive letting the car cool down gently over the final few miles just drinking it all in. Stop, switch off, climb out rubbing the twinge from my left calf muscle, hot sweaty back, aroma of fuel/oil on me as much as the car, several looks at it just sitting there then a little tap on it's rump and smile as I walk indoors all the while glancing back over my shoulder. Its definitely love...

    Can't wait for my 6am run to Goodwood this Sunday...!!!!
     

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