Is this 308 on the up&up

Interesting car. Can anyone talk about the side mirrors? Are they original and when did 308's go to mirrors on both sides? They look identical to the single on my '79.

Thanks.

 

Somebody was done talking. It's sold.

 

anyone here get it?

 

The Ferrari claiming S/N 20757 was offered in 1999 by Ferrari of Los Gatos as a 1980 [sic] 308 GTS [sic] European Prod. Red with tan interior. 40,000 km. Recent major service including belts. When queried about the discrepancy of S/N, date and model (20757 is a 1977 production and earlier than the first 308 GTS!) Ferrari of Los Gatos provided a copy of the New Mexico title in name of John LoGuercio., Rio Rancho, NM/USA.

The REAL 20757 was a steel-bodied USA specification 308 GTB sold new by DeMaria Porsche-Audi in Maimi, FL/USA. Black with tan interior.

So my guess is the 308 GTS claiming S/N 20757 is probably a stolen and renumbered car.

Ciao,
Gerald

 

So there are TWO cars claiming 20757? Holy ****.

This CAN'T be the end of the saga. . . What is the story on this car? Is it really something special? Will we ever know?

 

This is the same story NNO relayed to me in PMs but I did not want to post it without his permission.

However, NNO's response was more positive, not thinking it was cut up and renumbered.

I would say that if its a chopped car, someone really got it right. Who would think to change the chassis number from F106 FB to F106 AS? I can see doing that with the aluminum badge on the door frame, but on the frame?

Very weird history car, who can email Ferrari and ask?

James in Denver

 

Well, someone got a nice "1980" "Euro" "Ferrari" 308 "GTS".

 

My 1978 built, 1979 titled GTS is 25521.

This car on ebay is a sure sign the 308 prices are on the rise.

Fakery.

Have seen it in the Corvette market for 20 years. Started with clone cars/fake big block mid '60s cars.

Turned into be a cottage industry, jack up the number plate, slide another car underneath, lower VIN plate and re-rivet; perhaps on a stolen vette or built-from-salvage vette. Or try and build a BB car from an original SB car, though lots of subtle diffs are between the two that some don't or can't change. Early attempts were good but not great. Later attempts have gotten fake VIN tags and trim tags and attaching rivets so good that it takes an experienced expert to tell a real factory car.

I would say this is a VIN tag swap from an early 308 onto a later car/chassis. Weld over the old VIN in the frame and do a restamp also.

Doug

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! + 1 wow!

308 chassis are stamped in 5 places. they would also have to change the steering column too!

this is like the 2nd 308 with a weird vin in the last few months. another fchatter has a 308 GTB with an even chassis number in Europe! ( they are all supposed to be odd numbered).

 

A couple of observations: Judging by the spare wheel/tire combo (16" w/Pirelli), this car may have had the early optional 16 wheels with P7s available during late Euro carb production. Outside mirriors are not original for US or Euro.

 

Which car are you talking about? Do you know the number? Even numbers on racing cars....

 

have not looked for the thread, but some one in Europe ( France?) has a 308 that ends in a 0.

 

During the height of the gray market (1980s) the stealing of high-dollar cars (not just Ferrari) and selling them to naive Americans was a big organized crime business.

Yes, they changed all the serial numbers. Supposedly there was someone with contacts that could supply a serial number that even matched the description of the stolen car.

Yes, they had access to new steering columns (at least the part with the S/N on it) that were still blank.

Yes, they had the capability of forging the paperwork.

I knew of one very detailed instance where the USA buyer did all his homework. He checked the S/N with Ferrari and it belonged to a car that matched the one he was being offered. He received photographs of the car and all the stampings. He received copies of all the paperwork, which showed the car was sold new and had always been in Italy. He had the documents translated and verified as being correct for a car from Italy. So he sent the money and the car was delivered to Los Angeles.

As soon as he saw it he knew he had been had! At that time there was a very obvious difference between a German-spec car and an Italian-spec car and the car he had bought was definitely German-spec! He called the FBI and they quickly determined that the stampings had been altered.

Ciao,
Gerald

 

Even at this time there is an obvious difference. I have a Ferrari friend with a German car. It has screens at the side intakes.

 

So, in closing, a 1980 Euro GTS with an older VIN from 'somewhere"....

They did a nice job with the frame stamping....

That also explains the later style washer bottle in the spare tire.

So someone 'in the know" needs to inspect this car, and look for the 'production numbers' we all know about.....thanks Gerald, for joining in on the conversation.

 

If someone truly believe 100% that this is a stolen car and a crime has been commited, give FBI a call and provide your tip:

http://www.fbi.gov/contactus.htm

And also contact Ebay.

I did this once when I was collecting Rolex, I thought that someone was trying to pass a fake Rolex as a real one, turned out I didn't know enough about Rolex.

 

my euro 308 GTS is a 1978 and the VIN is F106AS24081. single dizzy - no points - electronic ignition. I think it is a wet sump - lol!!!

 

what would happen to this car if it was in fact stolen long ago?

is there any statute of limitations?


would the car be seized and destroyed for being euro with no papers?

 

It's Track Use Only if no DOT papers, and better not get caught on the road, but the fact it's rolling on a Title may be enough......I have never seen anyone in Texas challenged for DOT compliance....anyone else?

We should get Dick Merritt to LogIn here sometime..

As to theft there is no time limit there was a high dollar Vintage Ferrari recently sized on the East Coast and retuned to Europe, so that's another story.....and a very serious accusation to throw out I might add, given the burden of proof required.

I prefer to believe this is a special car of some sort, that's actually more plausible in my mind given the "collector" story....OTOH maybe it's been "hiding" all this time for that very reason!!But be careful with that kind of musing.....

 

It was the screens in the air intakes that alerted the USA buyer to the fact that the car was not as represented!

Ciao,
Gerald

 

Im not sure what the rules would be for this car but when I was looking at bringing a euro countach into the states from Canada it had to be 26 years old before I could import it and if it was 26 years old then it was EPA and DOT exempt check with the US Customs they are the ones who would know.

 

yep. but the laws were different in the 80s and 90s. i have the US Customs, EPA and DOT papers for my euro GTB QV. the car failed the emissions inspection ( it had no equipment) and was brought in on a bond, and then given Federal DOT and EPA exemption letters and US Customs importation papers. i have scans of the documents ( i do have the originals too) but i have not wanted to post them out of fear they could be copied and used for bad things.

seems like it would take alot of work to re vin a Ferrari. American cars would be easier, hence all the fake "rare" musclecars.

 

this is getting good