Wanting to open up a chat about the following: Just purchased an '84 QV USA. It's been repainted (original color) and has around 50k miles on it. Apart from that (and a cat upgrade) the car is largely original. What, if any, value changes would be associated with converting it to euro look? Changing bumpers, mirrors, grille, and eventually swapping out the diaper for a rear valence. I suppose everything will technically be reversible except for if bodywork is required to change the rear valence... Thoughts?
I'm doing a lot of the same to the 77 GTB that I recently purchased. I've already updated to euro bumpers, etc. My strategy is that I have been bagging, labelling, and then boxing up all of my original parts. That way I can make the car the way I want it to be, but I (or someone else) could always restore the car to original condition in the future.
When done right I don’t think it affects the value up or down, but the weight savings definitely makes a difference you can feel. Easy to knock off some 150lbs in bumpers and a lighter exhaust. Those original mufflers are heavy!
I dunno, but my euro 328 was totaled April '22, and as I stressed to the insurance appraiser the fact my car was a (grey market) Euro (no cats, all the unadulterated aesthetics, etc...as Ferrari intended) he said here in the US that makes it less valuable. How much, he didn't say.
I love the look of my small bumper, little side marker 308. I think it influenced my decision to purchase mine with the euro conversion over non modified versions. I didn't think about the next guy who is going to buy my car when I was buying my car, I was thinking of me.
Anything I do that might reduce the resale value of my car…. That’s a problem for the executor of my will not me.
Euros simply look way better...someone will prefer it if you ever sell. Keep the original stuff if you can.
People may forget, but European manufacturers were forced to make modifications to the original (European spec) design. The Euro specification is what the car is supposed to be, meaning the US spec additional garbage is just that, garbage. Everyone has their own opinion on this, but it's my personal position that any car from that era from Europe that has that forced garbage removed is valued higher as it brings the car to what it was originally intended to be.
" it's my personal position that any car from that era from Europe that has that forced garbage removed is valued higher as it brings the car to what it was originally intended to be." If by "valued" you are referring to money, I don't think the market will agree with you. Unmolested cars sell for more than modified cars, regardless of what those modifications may be. That's proven literally every day in the used car market. OTOH, if, by "valued" you mean it in psychological way - "I value my travel experiences" - sure!
Converting US-spec 308's to Euro-spec has been going on for many, many years now in the USA, so what is the general price differential between "unmolested", still factory US-spec 308's, and "modified" to Euro-spec 308's?
Here's the bottom line. If you're going to buy a 308 and constantly worry about it's "value" you're barking up the wrong tree. How can you possibly enjoy a wonderful sport car with that weight constantly hanging over your head? Buy it, own it, drive it and make it whatever you want it to be.
I totally agree - I have modified brand new cars the day AFTER driving them home from the dealer. My most extreme case was probably driving one home and pulling the engine to install different pistons, cam, intake/exhaust system, etc! But the point was made about "value" and most mods reduce the "value" of the car to a future buyer. IF that's important, don't make mods that can't easily be removed/returned to OEM. Re mods that aren't easily returned to OEM: I would not buy a modified car even if I had planned to make those same modifications. Unless I was involved with making those mods, I have no idea if the modifier actually knew what he was doing. IOW, I'd have to tear the engine down myself to be sure it was OK so I'd rather make my own mods.
That’s nice but I honestly think there are people who would jump on a cleanly updated early US steel GTB that had outwardly perfectly positioned and installed euro bumpers and front side markers, deleted rear side markers, and a clean outwardly stock 3.6L wet sump and dual exhaust running on nice 16” speed lines with or without a deep front spoiler. I know…I am one of those. Would love not to have to spend time and money to do it or have it done and would pay more for said car. It could all be easily undone in 50 years when a US wet sump GTB is the “in thing.”
The 308 is a hard car to buy. There are never that many up for sale and they always seem to be across the country from where the buyer is located. To me, this means the condition of the car and the confidence the buyer has in the seller (communication transparency, vehicle maintenance documentation, etc.) far outweigh details such as mirrors style or crash safety specifications. Those things can be customized, and customizations reversed, according to the new owner's preferences. The 308 is in a funky place in the automobile Pantheon; it is a $100k car when it should be a $250k car.
