Help purchasing 308

1975 308 GT4 is smog exempt in California. It's faster. Handles better. And is a better car for overnight trips, with room for a suitcase, and that case of wine you bought at the winery. Oh yeah... And the wine doesn't have to sit and boil in the boot either! It can fit very comfortably inside, on the rear shelf or seats, if you have them.

It also stands a good chance of appreciating more than the GTS/GTB, (IMHO) in the near future.

In either case though... A 308 should cost you little more than the maintenance expense to own, if you maintain the car. And if you're handy with a wrench, all the better. If not, make sure you get the best car you can afford and still have a few thousand in reserve.

Good luck! Let us know what you finally get and remember:

Threads that start "I JUST GOT MY FIRST FERRARI" and do not contain pictures.... Are worthless!

 

I have a '79 GT4, and I'll agree with what David mentioned about the GT4. However, the styling may not be your cup of tea. That being the case, your question was whether or not carbed (i.e., pre-80) 308s can pass SMOG testing in CA.

Yes.

They can. That doesn't necessarily mean they always do on the first try. You see, carbs set up to pass SMOG and carbs set up to run ideally are two very different settings. What it will most likely entail is having your mechanic set up the car to run optimally. You'll then have to go back to him every 2 years for a pre-SMOG "tuning" to get the car set up for that. Once you pass, you go *back* and have the settings changed back to ideal running condition.

It's certainly not glamorous, and it's more work than a standard EFI car would be, but the trade-off for me (the sound of the carbs) is worth the hassle!

Best of luck in your search. You've picked a great place to come for info, support, etc.

Take care -

 

Not to be the voice of doom here, but your 308 will be seeing a mechanic more often than every 2 years anyway.

(But Aaron's answer is consistent with what I was told by a couple of F mechanics out here.)

 

Is it the red one with boxer trim, wooden shift knob and euro bumpers?

 

I sometimetimes wish I had bought a GT4 instead of a GTB. Easier to get in & out since I'm as old as dirt now & aging. Less noticable so I wouldn't have to stare straight ahead at lights or drive so defensive as the gawkers try & photograph me with their cell phone. At about 10k less than a GTB or GTS with the right wheels, color, sunroof & maybe lowered a bit its a killer.
just my .02
Bill

 

Been there, done that. You are 100% incorrect.

 

That they are. A lowered GT4 with Euro bumpers is great looking. Make mine yellow.

 

That's not a Euro car.

Read this

And this

The seller is a "dealer"??? Hmmm.... That's interesting. ...very interesting.

Tow that car home. DO NOT drive it. It needs belts. IIRC: The current ones are over 10yrs old!

PS: Edit.... 16-17yrs old!!!

 

I think Vince from the other thread may be going there tomorrow to look at the car. Maybe you two should hook-up. I can't go with him tomorrow.

 

Dr. Jones,
From the sound of it, you would be best suited to a 308 QV (83-85). If you can get into a SMOG-exempt 308 GTx car, go for it. If not, I think you'll really get the best out of the ownership experience from a fuel injected car. Don't get me wrong - I love my GT4. I do understand that "tinkering" isn't for everybody, though, be it for time constraints, limitations in one's mechanical abilities, etc. The carbed 308s are rather simple, mechanically speaking, but there are enough "quirks" with the design to make a novice like me wanna scream sometimes!

Dollar for dollar, I don't think a GT4 can be beat in terms of all-around fun for your dollar. If the looks aren't for you, don't force it. Stick with a GTB/GTS, and find the best example you can afford.

 

For my 1st Ferrari, I was looking at a 1985 308 GTB. They are the end of the 308 model line and by far the best sorted out. They have the quatrovalves, higher Hp, cats, injection, etc. Better still, the market has not over valued them yet. The GTB's are scarcer in the US, hence I thnk the future appreciation prospects are superior to even the GT4's. It's a main stream Ferrari, Pininfarina designed and easily recognizable. Maintenance should be better and they have the best performance of all the 308's. Heck if u really want to show off, get a 328 GTB.

GT4's are "against the grain" since they are the only Bertone designed production Ferrari. They are an acquired taste and are not widely respected by the ferraristi. Sorry, I mean no offense to GT4 owners, but u guys just don't get any respect, IMO. But I digress. Take the '85.

 

I heard that jonesdds (is that Dr. Jones?) bought the GT4 in SB yesterday. Well, I guess it looked too good, eh? Sneaky dude bought my car out from under me. LOL. Congratulations and welcome the Ferrari ownership! I look forward to hearing about the car.

I still say the better choice was the 1985 308 GTB.

 

I'm just curious about this statement. There's little difference between the the 308QV and the 328 -- what additional maintenance costs do you expect on the 3.2?

 

Both 308 and 328 major services can be done with the engine in the car.

 

Actually, the 328 is just the last evolution of the 308 series. None of the 328s require an engine-out for a major -- that started with the 348 series in 89-90. The 308QV and the 328 are very similar, with the same injection system and essentially the same engine/transmission/chassis setup.
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Sorry u didnt buy the car - the seller told me that someone coming up from LA was looking at it and I thought it was u. That person ended up buying it, which I thought was kind of weird, thinking u might have had some questions before u pulled the trigger.

328 is one hot property in the 3x8 range. Personally, I think they have become expensive compared to quality last year '08's. Either way, I know the "S" model is popular, but those "B's" are just too rare to ignore from an appreciation standpoint. Also, if u r going to track the car with the club, u'd feel better in a closed cockpit, not to mention greater chassis stiffness.

 

Agreed... The 328 is almost too hot for my likes, all things considered. For essentially the same money, you can be into a 348. If the side stakes don't bother your and you don't mind an engine-out, you have a car that is low, wide, agressive looking, and will never cause someone to shout, "Hey! It's Magnum P.I.!" ....not to mention a half-decent performer, too!

 

Exactly!