I would really like to find out as much information about my '80 GTSI as I can. A few years ago, I researched an old English shotgun of mine and I was able to find out alot of interesting things about it. I even aquired a copy of the blotter page it was logged-in on when it left the London factory in 1910. Cool stuff. Knowing the history of this gun has given me a connection to it's previous life, and when I hold it in my hands and look at it, I think of all the story's it could tell. I would like to do the same with my Ferrari, and I am wondering if any of you here have, and if you did, how did you go about it. How far did you get? The door sticker says Sept. 1980, and the number is 33553. Thanks! Frank Campana
I only made it back two owners and about 15 years on my 78 308. Just seems to come to a dead end there. I know the dealer that sold it to the owner at that time but they have no records or recollection about where it came from. Good luck with your search!!
Mine car is 33963 but they probably weren't mates placing them 205 cars apart. Brings up a question, I've visited the factory but failed to count cars on the factory floor to know the s/n range from a car just starting manufacture to a car just rolled out the doors the same day. It's always heartwarming to see a Fcar accepted into your family as the newly beloved toy ...and you're doing a genealogy check to uncover additional previous owner celebrity DNA status or who knows which might be found. Well, it's certainly something 'red' to do on a cold winter day.
They work 230 or 240 or so days a year so divide that years production by that and you will have a daily production number. In 99 they were building about 16 or so cars a day. In the 308 days it was quite a bit fewer.
Cool stuff isn't it? I just wish I knew where to start, since I hear that Ferrari isn't much help. In the case of my shotgun, it was easy because lucky for me the company is still in business after all these years. They were bombed in WW2 and many records were destroyed by fire, but the blotter containing my gun was intact. For 50 bucks they sent me all the info they had including the origional buyers name. It's something to think of this proper, victorian guy shooting grouse with the gun on some fancy estate in 1910. He even paid for 100 shells and 2 shooting lessons when he ordered it. BTW I did a Car Fax on the 308, but it only told me where the car was inspected 4 times. Now if only Sophia Loren was the origional owner...
I was trying to do some research concerning this topic yesterday myself. Lets keep everyone updated on what we find. My car was sold at auction to a restoration company before I bought it a year and a half ago. Consequently, I do not know much about the car either. Fortunately, I have been documenting every step of the way since.
Furio, No help here for the car but I'm curious as to the double gun, was it a Purdey, Holland & Holland??? A friend of mine used to be an in house engraver for Purdey and I'm aquainted with the man that runs it.
Yes, Furio...this is very cool stuff! (gun and car). I have a Walther PPK in the original box that my grandfather picked up in WW2, and it has never been fired. As for my car, I have a list of all previous owners, and have been in contact with almost all of them for my 1983 308 GTBi QV as well as knowing the day it was finished in the factory and the day it went out the showroom door at Kroyman's in the Netherlands. Back to YOUR car... There were 1,743 total 308 GTSi produced from 1980-83. The serial numbers were 31309 - 43079. Take a look on the left side of the engine compartment (on the black area near the left strut bar). You will see a rectangle metal piece (unless it came off) welded to the area. Gently lift the closest end (toward the rear of the car) and undeneath you will see the production number stamped into the metal for your vehicle. With your full serial number, you and 4right may be able to find out more through some of the websites listed in the following url... (have fun!) http://www.r-design.net/308/index_e.html
I'm the 2nd owner, and I worked with the 1st owner's Fiancee: which is how I became aquainted with the car. Due to that trust, I received every piece of paper that the car generated including registrations. Neat! But I stopped wanting to know about the car shortly after I took posession. Seems I was giving it a thorough cleaning and came across some change, a couple parking receipts, and a pair of hot pink sunglasses which I turned over to my co-worker. The story about the glasses came back a week later when she told me they belonged to the PO's previous ditsy blonde girlfriend. My coworker thanked me, and said it was an entertaining story and the PO had blushed to my co-worker as he explained it and he had thought he had gotten rid of all incriminating evidence prior to turn the car over to me. Oh well.
Thanks guys, and I will look for the prod number today and let you know. Tim, the shotgun was made by William Evans in 1910. About 10 years ago I was in London and I visited Purdey's, H&H, and Evans. That is so cool that you have a buddy that worked for Purdey. I love the Purdey engraving...it is very fine and understated. He must be a master engraver to be employed there, since they are the best.
I am curious about mine as well and have wanted to research it back, but havent really gone through too much to do so. PDG
Something is odd, my serial number is already listed, however, all of the other information is not accurate. In the web site it indicates that the production was in Nov of 79 (mine was Dec of 79), The color states Azzurro Metallizato (mine is Rosso Corsa) and the assembly number is 983A (mine is 950). Possibly the individual that registered it originally listed an incorrect serial number?
I was fortunate that when I bought my car, it was only 10 years old with a few thousand miles on it. Last year, when I cleaned up the car and tried to put all the paper in order, I found out all names of the original owners, their business names, insurances, registrations, services....I put everything in order in a new binder with my new records. I also learned that not to store these in the car. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Neon, I checked out the link you posted, but it looks like it is for GTB's only. Am I missing something?? Frank
That is very possible. The most common change would be the color. Some people prefer a color different from the original and therefore have it changed to their preference. The original color would be on a sticker located at the top of the trunk lid when raised. I think you should contact the administrator of the website and correct the info. as well as ask more information about who gave him all the incorrect info in the first place...that may turn out to be a source of more owners. Well, you aren't missing anything at all. If you look at the particular page I posted in the link, it has other site references where you can start your search (which is why I listed that page instead of the home page). Also, I got the production information about the GTS from that website, so he does have some peripheral info other than GTBs. I also did a quick search of your serial number on the web, but didn't come up with any new info. This may sound simple, but try contacting the source where you got your car, and work backward from there. Another good source is the Ferrari Market Newsletter out of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Beverly is the contact there. I never tried, but understand they can research (for a fee) any Ferrari's history. I'm not affiliated with any of the suggested places, and only list them to help both of you with your individual searches. If you have a European version (serial number will tell you), then you might want to contact that country's Ferrari Club to ask more questions. Good luck with your search, and let us all know what you find.
Neon, Sorry about that...don't know how I missed your link! I am pretty computer illiterate, so I think that I will give Beverly a call and see how far back they can research and for how much$. I'll let you guys know what happens.
Exactly, I might give them a call too, or the previous owner of my car to see where he purchased it... This is cool information to know for those of us who didn't purchase the cars new.
Hi all, A few days ago, I already posted this in another thread, but for those who missed my offer: I keep a (private) database on all Ferraris and their individual histories, which includes approx. 83,000 cars so far. I do this just as a (very intensive) hobby and would be more than happy to check if I have any info on Ferraris owned by fellow Ferrarichatters. I have been adding information found in old Ferrari Market Letters, FOC membership rosters, Prancing Horse & Cavallino magazines etc, etc. Info like owners, which dealers had the car for sale, auctions, colour changes and such. Every week, new (old) info is added to approx. 1,000 cars, so if I can't find anything on your car at the moment, please feel free to check back with me in a few months time. I will gladly supply any info found for free, I just kindly ask you that you inform me about what you know on the car's history yourself, so that my database can grow further with new info Any owners who would like me to check if I have any info on their car(s), please send me a pm and I will be happy to try to help. For some cars I will have some info, for others still nothing. But maybe it's worth giving it a try Best regards Lars T.
