Retirement project

What's your budget? What's your goal?

Do you want to spend time wrenching for the sake of wrenching, or are you thinking of a buy-fix-sell pattern? Or do you just want to drive/own a Ferrari and think a project is a good inexpensive way into the badge?

The best DIY range is acknowledged to be in the 308-355 years, with the 360s also accessible to home mechanics as well. The newer the cars gets, the more you need specialized (and expensive) tools or the assistance of a shop. If you just like working on them, I'd recommend a 328 or a 3.2 Mondial.

For a similar price to the 328, you can get into a 1st generation California. Definitely not a home mechanic's dream, but a very useable modern Ferrari. Just watch the transmission.

 

Funny. My love for Ferraris started with a model car too.

Late 80's, I got a toy Testarossa. The lines were so different than anything I'd ever seen. Love at 1st sight.
I didn't know if I could ever get one, but loved Farraris from that day on.

Mid 40's now, and picked up a 430 in July.
Not sure what to recommend. I don't know your budget or preferences. But whatever you get, I imagine you won't be disappointed.

Fchat is such an amazing resource and the members are always there to help and go above and beyond.

Good luck!

 

Psst, hey mister. Can I interest you in a Jensen Healey?

 

I am thinking a 355. Plenty of needy cars out there. Not a lot of special tools or equipment needed if you stay away from F1 transmissions.
I know the Austin area well and will say there is a dire shortage of machine shops that you might need. Out in Llano is a good one though. The motors are in some ways a weak point and if it needs pistons and cylinders it can get a little spendy. Labor is a big expense for fixing the motors but you are going to dodge that.

 

Stay away you deviant.

 

Entire world: "nope"

 

It needs an engine out and belt replacement approx. every four years if you are into that. In my case it needed an engine out 2 years after its regular engine out due to the wiring harness on the fire wall .

 

360 is a great car but very few manual transmission cars and that gets away from a DIY project.

 

So would 5 figures be just the purchase price (doable) or including repairs, reconditioning, paint, etc. (unlikely)? A few years ago, there would be $20k Mondials or $30k 308s (even $40k 355s) but nowhere close now.

 

Solely from a cost, accessibility, maintainability, availability and parts-sourcing standpoint, I would think any 328, any fuel-injected 308, and any Mondial 8/QV/3.2. Transverse motors much easier for belt, water pump, and clutch work. Electronics mostly normal on these models as well.