Chassis 19367 - the first(?) steel 308 GTB

I'm shocked Ferrari would produce a RHD car before a LHD car. Seems odd to me as LHD was the predominant part of their market.

Are you speaking of the earliest serial numbered steel 308GTB or is their documentation showing this was the first car produced.

Not that I really care, just think it is odd it did not go to an Italian local.

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

I know about this 308 with the surprisingly low serial number for a steel car for a while. But I am still wondering if Scaglietti already was able (i.e. had the pressing devices) to build a steel body for a 308 GTB as early as July 1976.

In my opinion, we can only speculate if the car was delivered wth this body or has received it later in it's life, for whatever reason. I have no idea...

Robert

The Ferrari 308 GTB Register

 

Actually those seats are not unique to the QV. They were introduced when the injected series began in 1980

 

Make it Argento over Rosso again...then it will be really cool, first steel GTB or not.

 

It always makes me wonder why Ferrari made the fibreglass version in the first place. And why they changed it back to steel. I've never been able to find a definite answer. Anyone?

 

Um...

 

The common opinion is that there would be too much flex in the fibreglass body
and the targa top would be popping off.
Paul

 

Chassis 19367, but there is someware a number in the chassis
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I've long understood that the plastic 308s were rushed out as a stop gap following very disappointing GT4 sales. It was never intended as a long term solution and the switch to steel started as soon as the new model had proved itself in the marketplace and the tooling was ready.

 

This was my understanding as well.

 

Revieving an old thread, chassis 19367 was sold on May 15, 2006 in Sydney, Australia at the Shannons Sydney Classic Auction -price was $50 000 AUD. Was NSW Registration WLC 207. Had at least 3 owners in Australia . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Nice story to revive..and I learnt something new.

Was the car ever returned to Argento?

 

I hade a LATE 1976 production car, an early North American version #20405.

So this is an interesting thread, they were definitely "close to starting production" in the Spring of that year certainly.

 

I have 20817, North American steel. Door plate stamped January 77. Supposedly was part of the first dozen shipped to US. That would put it in that build time frame, so I bet you are right BigTex



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I have #20783 also with a January 1977 door plate but have seen US steel cars dating back to August 1976 meaning that many more than a dozen steel cars came in before mine.

 

Italian book keeping during that era is interesting.

I’m sure there were some steel cars prior to mine, not sure where they all shipped. Nuvolari, what date is stamped on your owners booklet, ie when did the owner take possession?

I would love to find all the January 77 cars.


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I have a December '76 production date US GTB Steel # 20583
I assumed it was one of the earliest North American steel cars....

 

My car also has a December '76 production date, US GTB Steel #20621

 

If you are really interested in this, you need to contact TripleBlack. He has all the numbers. He set me straight about my car.

 

I do not have the in service date for my car readily available (documents are currently in storage) but it is interesting to note that I have spent a great deal of time with #20621 and despite showing a door plate date of December 1976 (vs Jan 77 for #20783) EVERYTHING about that car indicates that it was built AFTER mine. Firstly my car shows an assembly sequence number of 96A while #20621 shows a number in the 100's. Secondly every casting on my car has a 76 on it while #20621 shows 77 on all of its castings.