New guy from Long Island.

Mr. Angry, welcome to FerrariChat... i used to be angry, too...

...but then i moved away from Long Island.

 

welcome and good luck in your search! i am sure you will find you first ferrari to be a very rewarding purchase...I would love to see some pics/stats on your charger.

 

I think you'll find the 328 a bit confining for your stature. I am 6'2", 220 lbs and barely fit in my 308 which is about the same dimensionally.

I fit in a Testarossa MUCH better though.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Welcome. I doubt you'll find a 328 comfortable, but try it. (I couldn't move the seat back far enough unless the roof was removed in the 89 GTS i owned briefly and i'm only 6'1''. On the other hand, the Berlinetta Boxer was fine, and is similar in classic style, but don't let me try to convince you of too much, too soon). You might also want to post to the local NY board here, but i'd be careful with your chosen board name, "Mr. Angry." We just had a few spats about how we behave over there, and somebody might lose it if a new guy posted under that handle. Anyway, you are in the right place, and if you have the chance, go to the Greenwich Concours this weekend. There will be a number of F-Chat people there, i'll be there Sunday with a 6.0 Diablo.

(oh yeah- i'm smitten with bikes these days, and just got a MG V11 Le Mans Nero Corsa, which i love; there might also be some vintage bikes at the Greenwich show).

 

Hi, and welcome. No better dream car choices than 68 Charger and Ferrari 308!...well, maybe a Superbird and 365 GT4/BB. LOL

 

Welcome aboard.....!!

Nice Charger.....back in the late 70's I owned a 1969 Charger R/T 440 6-pak.....still miss that car today.

 

Here is the website for the Greenwich event: http://www.greenwichconcours.com/index.htm

I don't know if you were asking about entering your car- you'd probably have to do some fast footwork at the last minute, but the event, generally, is staged as Sat.-preWar (if you have to ask which one, you won't be interested in those) and postWar, but both days have exotics, modern and otherwise. I'll be there on Sunday, Rosso Vik 6.0 Diablo.
BTW, the parking lots are usually as much fun as the 'green.' Lot's of car owners bring their toys out and, in Greenwich, Bentleys, Rollers and Ferraris are considered pedestrian transportation anyway.

Hope to see you there.

woops, got it wrong as to staging. Here's the scoop from the site itself:
Saturday's Concours d'Elegance will feature pre-WWII and post-WWII domestic cars. Sunday's Concours Europa will be devoted solely to pre-WWII and post-WWII European sports, touring, and competition cars.

I think they do the 'supercars' both days, but i'll only be showing on Sunday.

 

I'm in Port Washington a couple of times a year. My brother-in-law is restoring a '68 Roadrunner. Good lookin' Charger!

KevFla

 

That Charger, that's Darth Vader's car! Have not seen one as BAD ASS! more pics?

 

you will be very uncomfortable in a 328. why don't you opt for a 355?

 

He said he wants to stay in the $40-$50K range. 355s aren't there yet. How about a Mondial cab or 400i?

KevFla

 

The market has changed in the last two or three years-MIke Sheehan's column in the July 2005 issue of SportsCarMarket captures the essence of it: that until recently, 250 pf coupes, 250 GTEs and 365GTC/4s were pretty cheap, and not worth the cost of restoration, but now, any vintage Ferrari is increasing in price, even if unloved. (Look at the Lusso, which has doubled, and the price of 275 GTBs- the price of short nose two cam cars is now where the 4 cam cars were a couple years ago, and the latter are still climbing; Daytonas are out of their slump, not astronomically, but climbing for the first time in a long while, etc.).
So, I guess i would have said look for an already restored 2/+2 from the 60's but those are no longer a bargain.
Someone else here posted a 'Buyer's Guide' in another thread- i haven't looked at it yet, but would assume it covers the "non-vintage" but not "modern" cars, ie, late 70's and 80's. I suspect that the 308 GT/4 Bertone car might have more room than the pininfarina 308 and you could probably buy a superb one, with more than pocket change left in your budget. Those cars were truly unloved when new, but now, as a "retro" car they look pretty cool.
I actually found the 246 Dino to feel more comfortable than a 328; maybe it's the shape of the seats, but there have been some pretty large owners of them who didn't have a problem. Good GTS versions still go for big money in the States, but the coupes aren't nearly as favored here- if you could fit into one, and find a restored one at around 60k dollars, you'd be good to go.
Gotta go, but i'll post more ideas when i have time...
Oh, one more thing- the 400i has the maintenance costs of the big dogs, and you are driving a pretty square sedan. I'd much rather have the Boxer now at market prices, rather than buying a 400i and doing an engine or whatever which will put you into hock.
I know there are some Mondial owners here, and i don't want to diss anybody, but frankly, they are not the high water mark of Ferrari design or construction; while the later cabrios were an improvement, i'm still not sure i would sink 50k into one.
Postscript- don't go buying some bargain Ferrari with needs, because unless you have a good cheap source for parts, and do all your own work, and don't mind losing money, you will not come out ahead; as with any other used special interest car, let the prior owner spend the money- an extra 5 grand in purchase price now may avoid double or triple that cost in repairs of a 'bargain' car.
PPS: how about the Queen Motha' restored?, ie 365GT2+2- looks classic, at least from the front, Dean Batchelor regarded it as a 'modern' drive; it's big, roomy, and the interior screams Euro-lux from the sixties. Tis a barge, but a sexy one.
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I had a 85' 308 and currently have a 88' 328. The 308 was more comfortable, the seats are the main difference. A bit wider. I am 6'3'' 215lbs. I can notice the performance difference with the 328 but the 308 was a great car.
DLA

 

I bought my 328 from Long Island last year. Searched the nation for the right one & found it at the dealership in the city of my birth. Karma.
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I love 328's but there is not enouph space inside for me and I am only 6'1. The pedal off set to the center of the car only adds to the problem. 355s and 348's have more room but they are more money and also more money to maintain. I find that there insnt a perfect starter Ferrari for big guys.

 

Ah, I always loved those Italian sailors I met on River Street w/ the buff, tight asses in european black designer pants...

 

Karen, hate to break it to ya babe, but those weren't sailors....