How are Ferrari's numbered ??? | FerrariChat
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How are Ferrari's numbered ???

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Artvonne, Jun 20, 2006.

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  1. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

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    #1 Artvonne, Jun 20, 2006
    I ran across something interesting, and am hoping someone can shed some light. I currently have two 77 308 GTB's. 21181 from March of 77, and 21645 from May of 77. I had the passenger doors off last week to swap them, and came across a number 277 from the early car, and a 311 from the later car stamped into the inner door panel. Today, out wrenching away on 21645, I notice a number stamped in the frame above the ignition coils, 311. Curiousity raging, I open the lid from the early car and find 277 stamped into it. So the door numbers match the chassis number, I can only assume other sections would have matching numbers as well. Oddly enough I found a parts tag stuck to the inside of the one door, still legible. Would anyone have any knowledge of what these numbers mean, such as 277th (or 311th) car built, or built in 77????
     
  2. Argento

    Argento Formula Junior

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    #2 Argento, Jun 20, 2006
    Paul,

    There is alot of debate about Ferrari internal numbering "systems" logical to them maybe, but from the outside it seems pretty random. The 277 number certainly does not pertain to the year of manufacture.

    A more likely explanation is that when Scaglietti delivered the bodies to Ferrari they were matched to a chassis at receiving, kind of like a big kit before going onto assembly ?

    So 277 and 311 may have been the 277th and 311th body sent for assembly, I probably don't have to tell you that VIN number's also have nothing to do with these numbers, although on earlier cars GTE SI's & II's are a good example, Pininfarina and Ferrari tried to maintain job # and build #, although RHD derivatives often interrupted this sequencing.

    Hope this helps ???

    Argento
     
  3. kare

    kare F1 Rookie
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    #3 kare, Jun 20, 2006
    They are assembly sequence numbers; believed to have been issued to show in which order cars were assembled so revisions can be traced back (for recalls and such). I have collected some, but too few to build a proper pattern that would show how they were exactly used. Are they just bare numbers or is there a suffix attached to these numbers?

    Best wishes, Kare
     
  4. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

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    #4 Artvonne, Jun 20, 2006
    Seeing as both of these cars are simularly numbered, I can only assume all early cars would be as well. The specific number is plain, no suffix. I found it stamped on the metal door inner frame, and the same matching number on the plate the ignition coils mount to. So your thinking these would be 277 and 311 of the 77 model year? I will try to get a picture and post it.
     
  5. kare

    kare F1 Rookie
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    #5 kare, Jun 21, 2006
    Yes, I think it is a running number of 308 GTB US/LHD-model version built since 01/jun/76 (start of model year 1977). 21645 seems to be a very late US/LHD for 1977 as 21819 (built in June 1977) was #1 for model year 1978.

    Best wishes, Kare
     
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  6. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

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    #6 Artvonne, Jun 21, 2006
    So if 21645 with a born on date of May 77 is number 311, they were already nearing the end of production for model year 77? Anyone know how many cars were built for model year 77? Also, would there be anywhere a person could find a list of serial numbers specific to the 308 line? I understand Ferrari went in progressive numbers skipping the even numbers, so Boxers, 2+2's, 308's etc., they all shared in the numbering sequence. IOW, 308 #21645 could have been followed by a Boxer with #21647 for example.
     

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  7. kare

    kare F1 Rookie
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    #7 kare, Jun 21, 2006
    I don't think I have ever seen production data quoted per model year; I don't think I have even seen it quoted for different specifications (EU/LHD; US/LHD, UK/RHD). Yes FWIW 21647 is a 512 BB.

    Can you report the engine numbers of these two cars? I think it is located on right side, on top of engine and consist of engine type (F106...) and a serial number (format: *01234*). Best wishes, Kare
     
  8. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

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    #8 Artvonne, Jun 23, 2006
    Yes. Chassis # 21181 (car # 277) has engine # 02238, and chassis #21645 (car # 311) has engine # 02395. I have heritage certificates from Ferrari on both cars, attesting that engine and gearboxes are original to these cars. I have also noticed that the main engine and gearbox castings have simular (although different) numbers that match each other.
     

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