First Ferrari

Hello out there in FChat land. I realized a dream come true last July when I purchased my first Ferrari. A '79 non US Euro 308GTS. #28693. Actually it was my second Ferrari purchase. The first one last May was an '82 400i. Though I only owned it for 6 days. Drove it only once. So I really don't count it. I like older cars wether it be Ferraris or any make. This is a great site from which I have already received very helpful tips and info. Ferrari people are one of a kind.
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I know you either love them or hate them but, the first time I ever saw a 400i back in '82, it took my breath away. I came across an ad for a 1982 400i for sale. It was my dream 400i. Red on Tan with red highlights in the leather. The car in the photos looked absolutely flawless. It had just had a major service, new TRX's, complete records, etc.. etc.. It was being sold by a dealer who had known the car for most of it's life. I sent the money sight unseen, signed all the paper work through the mail and could just not wait to go pick it up.
About a week later, I arrived at the dealer's warehouse with my truck and trailer. When he opened the door, all my excitement crashed to the ground. The car looked like crap. It was filthy, the interior was a 3 on a 10 scale. It was a major let down. When he started it, it smoked worse than a steam locomotive. Oil shot out of the exhaust and the engine had a rumble like a very tired 300 thousand mile chevy. The center valley of the engine was full of oil, vacuum hoses plugged, air ducts taped up, and it goes on and on. The car drove real bad. I was afraid it would stall every time I stopped. It smelled like burning oil all the time. The smell actually permeated your clothes. When I stopped, the radiator over flowed. Instead of green anti freeze coming out, a brown, milky, frothing liquid poured out. I could not believe the difference between the pictures and description of the car to the actual car itself. It was night and day. The dealer told me he would fix all of the problems I was concerned with. I told him I just did not feel comfortable with the car. Well, they say God protects drunks and fools. I don't drink. I was very fortunate to be in the presence of a reputable dealer. He did not have to, as I had already paid for the car and signed the "AS IS" bill of sale, but he refunded my money and cancelled the contract. I had paid him all cash in full. I looked at many ferraris after that and discovered that none of them looked like the pictures in the ad. I could not believe that people who owned these cars would let them deteriorate so. Again, I was very lucky. I still love the 400i. But, I REALLY love my 308!

 

It was more like dodging a nuke.
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Thanks for the complements guys. I really love this car. Although I don't think I would be able to ever have a car like this if it were not for this website and it's members who are so willing to share their knowledge and experience.