Hi all, Been rooting through the forum for a bit now picking up tips. I've just bought my first Ferrari which should arrive into the UK in about a week or so. The waiting is awful! Figured it was time to say hello. The car is a 308GTSi, registered in 83. I have a query. I've had a root about the forum, but I'm a little unsure so would appreciate some advice. I know the rough history of the car but there are gaps. My car spent its first 6 years in the US, probably CA, San Francisco area before being exported to Europe where it seemingly went into storage for about 30 years prior to being recommissioned a couple of years ago. It has very few papers with it. Is there any way to find out more about its time in the US? I have export papers from the US to Europe in 89, but nothing about its initial registration, to whom etc. Or is that all lost in the mists of time? Any guidance gratefully received Lloyd
Hi Mike. Mines a 2v car. I had a look in the GTSi register but there is no info. Hopefully I can add some. It’s a Euro car but seems to have only been registered in the US between 83 and 89.
Hmmm… Strange. It’s definitely a 2v car. I can find chassis numbers either side of mine in the 2v register?
As explained to me once by someone much more experienced in Ferrari history than I, Ferrari did not make all of the models in a linear fashion. What most likely happened was that they had enough parts left to complete a carbed car after they had already started production of the QV. Thus you have a carbed car that is numbered with the QV's. Very cool IMO.
Decode your VIN here: http://www.red-headed.com/vin.html If it's a US version 308i, it will have a model year assigned (which should be different from your "registered in 83" as there were no 1983 model year US version 308i-2V -- but know that your part of the world didn't require defining model year at the time and went more by when registered and just the model). If it's a euro (standard) version 308i that came to the US and is now back in Europe, the digit for model year will just be "0" (none).
Only a GTSi sadly although I’m far from sad!. It’s a European chassis number exported to the US which I presume isn’t uncommon? Perhaps that explains why the first registration seems late for a GTSi (1983). Still learning here. Are there any databases I can access in the US to get some info on the first owner? It’s never been registered since this first owner sold it in 89.
Hi Steve. Yes, the chassis number is clearly a Euro car. I’m just curious to know if I can find out anything about it’s first owner in the US. It was exported back to Europe in 89 and to this day has never been registered since. We’re using the US title to register it in the UK which is nice as I guess I’ll go down as the 2nd owner. I have the US export documents and the European import documents, and a rough idea of its European history so the only thing missing is who first bought it.
Registrations here are by the State of Residence. The only possible tracing might be Ferrari North America if some recalls were done. But "conventional wisdom" is they do not recall the Euro cars if they are here!! The other long shot would be any mention in the Ferrari Market Letter a kind of train spotting publication ere that does have an Ad Section.
Ok, it sounds like it will remain a mystery. Appreciate the advice. It’s my first foray into Ferraris so every day is a school day at the moment! I know it was sold back to Europe in 89 by Walnut Creek Ferrari in San Francisco but they shut down long ago. It had 29k miles on it by that point. Sounds like the first owner really enjoyed it. 32 years later it has another 5k miles, which the guy I bought it off put on. Shame it has no service book. I’ll try uploading a pic. Image Unavailable, Please Login
