One year with a 308

Last November, I bought a 1979 308 GTS on Bring-a-Trailer. It's the first Ferrari I've owned. Living in a rural area of the Midwest, it's probably been 20 years or more since I had even seen another 308. When I retired in 2020 at the early age of 52, I decided it was time to start realizing some of my dreams.

Buying a car without seeing it in person is a nerve-wrecking experience, and BAT auctions (and the comments) can amplify that experience! I followed several auctions prior to bidding, and scoured this forum and a few other sources to learn more about the 308 & what to look for when buying a car. I knew that I wanted a carbureted car that was structurally sound (no rust) with a good history. Although I always loved the black GTS in the movie "Against All Odds", prior experience with black cars made me look for the other color - red. And while GTBs seem to be the favorite among collectors, my car HAD to have a removeable top! I really wanted a dry-sump Euro car with those sleek bumpers, but they just don't pop up often.

So when this red GTS came up, I stalked the auction until it was time to throw down a few serious bids. And to my surprise, I won!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

It was late November when my father & I drove 2 days to pick the car up in Denver. The owners were 2 friends who were in the wine importing business, had only driven it 2k miles in twenty years of ownership. They had bought the car from the original owner, an attorney in Utah who also owned it 20 years, but who had enjoyed it considerably more, racking up 46k miles.

Because the car was basically a prop for the "wine brothers", it hadn't been maintained regularly, and was due for quite a bit. But it was straight, rust-free and only had one "bump" that had resulted in a cracked front bumper and a scuffed nose (which had been poorly repaired). There were no tell-tale oil stains in the heated garage where it had been hibernating, and it started, ran smoothly, and drove well on a test-drive. So, we passed over the cash, loaded it up on a trailer, and took it home.

The car was started once before I tore into it, and that was just to get it off the trailer & into the shop. Then I began a 3 month process that included (among other things) a timing belt change, new upgraded idler pully, new upgraded water pump, valve adjustment, new cam seals, new fuel lines, changing the jets & adjusting the carbs, new radiator hoses, rebuilding the radiator, new fuse block, repaired wiring issues, rebuilt blower motors, rebuilt radiator fans, replacing countless little broken or missing clips, brackets, and mounting points.... there must be more, but I can't remember at the moment. Haha!

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I really enjoyed the process. It was fascinating to learn the car's systems and immensely satisfying to fix the little gremlins that popped up as I worked my way through the car. The plan was to bring her back to mechanically reliable status, and then address the cosmetics. However, since I had the front end off the car, I took the opportunity to replace the U.S. bumper with a used Euro bumper, which required a little fabrication.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I also refinished the rims & replaced the tires with the correct Michelin XWX's. Oh, and I ripped out the 90's CD stereo, amp & speakers and replaced them with a period-correct Alpine cassette.

Although there's a few more things I want to address mechanically, and cosmetics in the engine compartment, it's a solid car now and I'm confident enough to drive it several hours away from home on weekend fun-runs.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

... even in the rain.

 

So here's my impression of the car after a year of ownership.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

I love it! It has character, amazing style and "punches" WELL above its weight class!

What do I mean about that? Honestly, I've never had a car that evokes such a response from people (so far, all of it positive). Auto enthusiasts know that there are much faster cars (even my new F150 could beat this thing), and there are other cars that have that sporty feel. I've owned a few Porsches in the past, and currently have a '78 Porsche 928 and a 2002 996 Turbo, both of which are quicker cars. The 928 is probably a fairer comparison, since they're approximately the same age, size and displacement. Forget the scene in "Against All Odds", but the Porsche wins I know; that was a 911. A manual 928 is a quicker car than a 911)

Image Unavailable, Please Login



Image Unavailable, Please Login


The Porsche is a much different driving experience. Not better or worse, but just different. It's a more reserved, conservative feeling and you don't feel as connected to the car. Shifting it is direct, but not as precise, and you feel somewhat insulated from the drivetrain. The 308 is mechanical in a visceral way, with the best manual transmission I've ever experienced. The engine of the 308 isn't as quick or responsive as the mechanical fuel injection of the 928, but it sounds so much better, and is indescribably more "fun". You sit much lower in the 308, and it feel like a wider car. Additionally, the small back seats of the 928 kinda break the "exotic" feel and move it more into a contemporary class. BUT, that wild pasha cloth interior in the 928 is pure 1970's funk and fun!

People don't notice the Porsche like they do the Ferrari. Maybe that's because of the color, but I'm guessing it's much more than that. Even here in rural America, we see Porsches on occasion, and they don't have that "rare" factor. Honestly, I have more work in the 928 and it's mechanically & cosmetically a MUCH nicer car (in a show-car way), but it just doesn't have that magnet that Borat describes. Lol!

I've only put about 800 miles on the Ferrari, but I've noticed a few things that I'd like to address. One is the exhaust - I'd really like her to "sing" when I accelerate without droning at cruise. Without having other cars with different systems to compare with the stock exhaust, it's not easy to find the right one.

And speaking of accelerating, the car seems slow to wind up and wind down. It's almost like a turbo spooling up, with a heavy flywheel that doesn't slow down quickly when you let off. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. I'm a novice here.

I also notice some of "float" in the lane as I cruise along at highway speeds. Perhaps it's the 14" rims & those tall vintage tires, but the 928 with 16" rims and period-correct Pirelli P7 Cinturato tires is a MUCH tighter feel.

Don't think I'm a closet Porche apologist here. I've owned this 928 for 6 years & have had 2 others in the past & they're outstanding (and highly underrated) cars, but I haven't put 100 miles on the 928 since I brought the Ferrari home. And honestly, when I want to go out and enjoy a spin, I'm always grabbing the keys to the 308.

I've found myself thinking about what a little more power would feel like in the 308. I know a trip to Carobu Engineering is expensive, but man... can you imagine how it would feel with another 100 horsepower and a few hundred pounds lighter?

Going back to what I started to describe earlier, people just react differently to the Ferrari. It turns you into a celebrity wherever you go. People want to look at the car, talk to you, and just absorb the energy it seems to radiate. As a first-time Ferrari owner, I've been truly amazed at this phenomenon. It really does add to the experience and makes you smile. I don't think I'll ever sell this car!

 

I will definitely have the alignment checked & play around with the tire pressure. As for motor mounts, that never crossed my mind, but it IS something I should probably have already checked, and I'll put it on the list. I'm also wondering about sway bar bushings.

Your comment about the car evoking a reaction from everybody, even people who aren't into cars, is spot on! I think it works even better on the ones who aren't enthusiasts. Today I went to the bank & the bank president & one of the bankers came out to the lobby to greet me.
Not quite the same reception I've received when I show up in my F150 Ford.

 

Additional power would be very welcome when accelerating, especially when passing a slooow Buick on a rural highway. Top speed isn't an issue I'm concerned with, but more & quicker response when engaged in "spirited driving" would be nice!

I'm also fortunate that in my very rural part of the U.S., there are no roundabouts. Only 4-way stop intersections, usually with clear visibility for miles in all directions.