Euro grille question

Went through this myself. The fiberglass spoiler from Rennspeed doesn't fit and will require modification. The grill dimension is completely different and so you need to find a euro version. Last I heard Ferrparts had a few. That's where I got mine. Not cheap. Then the lights. Those are Cibie and come in flavors, yellow,clear driving and yellow or clear fog lenses. Can be found on eBay and I would recommend setting up a search with notification when they go on sale or auction. I happen to have an extra pair but need rewriting. Then you will need to manufacture mounts for these lights since US cars do not have them. Last you need a euro bumper. Rennspeed has two types, warped and straight so be sure to ask for a straight one. And you will need to make mounts for this as well since the old mounts do not bolt right up. Good luck! I paid an expert to do this after sourcing the parts. After all this you will hate the look of the rear bumper and diaper as well. Another bumper, more custom mounts then the exhaust sticks out too far so some modification there will follow. So as you pop the tab on this can be careful not to shake or you can't imagine what will come out.
All this has been photo documented here by many including on my thread "Crowndog's Adventure"
Oh and welcome you bought a pretty ride enjoy!

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Are you talking about the grill or the front valance? All I can tell you is if you go with the Euro style valance it is much lower than the OEM piece. Everyone I have talked with that has one says you will be scraping it on everything. I went with the Euro bumpers and the standard valance. IMO the car is low enough.
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Newman makes the 2v euro grills. I have one on my car.
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The OEM Euro front spoiler was not deep. The deep version was an option afaik. See these beautiful period photos:

http://www.rolexencyclopedie.nl/dutch/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/f308-circuit.jpg

http://www.rolexencyclopedie.nl/dutch/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/f308gtbgts-lakeside.jpg

 

Agreed - I think the standard valance (ie not the deep spoiler) is the better way to go - as in the pictures in posts 1 and 2.

Also - I think you should source some euro QV mirrors as in post number 2, I have them on my 85 Euro QV and I much prefer them to the square upright earlier mirrors. They are Vitaloni mirrors and non-Ferrari ones (identical to the Ferrari ones except for the tiny badge) come up occasionally on Ebay or used auto specialists for a fraction of the cost of Ferrari ones.

 

Note that euro QV grills are different that the 2V cars (4 horizontal bars vs 3), so you need to find the one that is specific for a QV.

With regard the the euro QV style mirrors, I definitely prefer them, but last I heard they were pretty much impossible to find. True?

 

Yes - good to make that point 2V bumpers are thicker than the 4V bumpers. The 2V US grilles have less slats, then the 2V euros have more , then the 4V have the most.

 

Have you guys actually done this conversion ? The euro style mirrors are NLA at least motorized. There were a pair around for sale in terrible shape. Perhaps if a euro burns or crashes a pair will become available. I understand the flag mirrors present a better view with less vibration. It isn't a bolt on swap. Holes are different. Getting back to the front alteration, it's not simple but can be done the QV grill is not as wide to allow for the lamps. One could most likely shorten a 2v euro grill for the lamps. Valance depth is a personal choice. I live in an area that doesn't have flat enough roads to keep one on a car so opted to stay original. Still looks great IMHO. The euro QV grills sold by Ferrparts works with the Rennspeed euro bumper. The openings on 2v, QV are the same. the QV has 7 verticals the euro 2v only 5. Both have 4 horizontals if I remember correctly. If I am wrong in any point please correct me.


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Just as a suggestion, this is what I did to my 2V with Euro valance:
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If you think Euro front valance is too low, look at mine, the Koenig Special as some of you called it "snow plow" hahaha! I do someday would like to convert my front bumper to the Euro style too, right now it's just pushed-in.
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Mike, I love the look I just don't want to drive it on public roads.

 

Thanks George, believe me, I'm really carefull about driving it around specially on and off the driveway, pot holes and speed bumps. Other than that ist' not too bad.

 

There is a picture of the 2V conversion I did above to a rennspd front euro valance and euro 2V grille. It was originally the us "shallow" front valance and the us grille.

The QV grille has 4 horizontal bars; the 2V has 3. The size of the openings are also different because the QV bumper blade is thinner top-to-bottom than the 2V.

The rennsp euro bumper is a clone of the QV bumper, and is not "correct" for a 2V car.

I needed Newman's help to sort all this out : )

 

I stand corrected, thank you.


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Welcome! ...until someone tells me I'm wrong ; )

 

We have an '85 Euro 308 GTS (French) and it was lightly federalized with the US front bumper and a Euro rear bumper. I too ordered the Rennspeed Euro front bumper, fortunate to get a straight(ish) one. It ended up costing a little more than the bumper itself to have it installed and it probably should have cost more considering the amount of time it took the shop to clean it up, paint it, make the custom mounts, and fit it. I think it sticks out about 1/4-1/2 inch too much still. I think it looks better and I glad I already had the correct Euro front grille, turn signals and correct (for France) yellow fog/driving lights, sorry you can't see them in the picture. One thing is for sure, it weighs a lot less than the US bumper.

I'm thankful I didn't have to try and find the grille, fog lights, rear bumper, side mirrors and modify the exhaust to get the Euro look, although I'm sure it would be a fun adventure.
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Looks awesome Mike!!!

 

The youngsters call that "ridding dirty" ; )

I think it looks awesome...does certainly require a different approach at times to driving.

Personally, I'm not that worried about the fiberglass front...I dented a chassis cross-member a couple of months ago on a mini-boulder in the road! ha!

 

Rennspeed front will attach with no modifications if you are OK keeping the US bumper and grill. One thing no one has mentioned here, is that the fender liners do have to be modified when switching to deep front end. I just cut mine but there is still a small gap at the bottom where extra material is needed. Ideally you need to make new ones out of fresh aluminum, or maybe buy original ones made for the deeper spoiler?

The euro mirror conversion is much harder, if done correctly, because the bolt pattern is different. To go from US to Euro you have to weld a hole closed and paint the local area, because the euro mirror base is smaller. I made a black aluminum adaptor plate to adapt the US door pattern to euro mirror. It's not ideal, but its reversible.

 

FWIW the lights below the bumper are flash-to-pass on genuine euros, which is kind of useless if you ask me. When you install them, make sure to set them up as true driving lights, but you'll need something to switch them. I keep playing around with somehow using the stalk but haven't come up with anything yet.

Those lights are Cibies in most markets, occasionally Marchals in others. The original Cibies are hard to find and seriously expensive when you do. Mine were broken and I fitted a set of Marchals instead. One day I'll restore the Cibies and reinstall them, but this works well for now.

Also the deep spoiler was definitely an option, not a "euro" thing. My euro car has the standard valence from new and I greatly prefer it, much easier to drive around with.
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Hi for reference - my (original) euro.

As for the mirrors - my car came with the mirrors and I had to replace one about 4 years ago when the bracket inside the rubber sleeve snapped. Managed to find a pair of non horsey Vitaloni's on eBay (motorized) for about $40.

then I used the innards to repair mine - so they are available if you look
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I have a wiring diagram to set up the lights to both flash or stay on using the stalk and one switch.


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Sent you a pm but fee free to post it too. Thanks!