The 308 dream, realized

Happy New Year all. A note and some photos to tell a bit of the story of my newly-arrived 1985 308 QV. It all happened yesterday, so it's still a blur

I flew down to Daytona Beach on an early flight. Gary picked me up at the airport and we headed to the house. When he opened the door to the garage, I was speechless. I flashed back to when I sat with books and issues of Car & Driver (my addiction back then) for hours and hours...and how unattainable it looked then. Photos are good, but as you know, they never do Ferraris justice, certainly not the 308. I'd checked them out in countless parking lots. I had to tell Gary "you know, I've never been in one that's moving?". He started the car and it was sweet, sweet music. After having HIM back it out of the garage (there was a reverence for this car, I wanted to soak it all in...and certainly not mash it into anything), we went out for a drive around the neighborhoods there. Man, it felt great. No grinding of gears or anything that I'd worried about. You know instantly that "wow, this is a road-eating beast", in the greatest way.

After orientation, we put paperwork together and headed for the FL Tax Collector's office, so that I could get a temporary tag for the drive back. Gary and I shook hands and said our goodbyes, while he shot a couple of final photos of the car. The FL office staff couldn't have been kinder. I was in and out in about 30-40 minutes to unroll the tool kit and install the tag. I didn't even get moving out of the lot before a very nice bloke came over to tell me "this is the NICEST 308 that I've seen in a long time". I looked over to where he'd come from, to see a brand-new, loaded Carrera. That is a compliment to the car and to Gary. He's clearly got the love and the spirit and has given me the opportunity to own one of the most beautiful 308s that I ever could have found. I can assure you that the love and the spirit around this car will carry on.

Long story short, the car was a highway cruising dream, all the way up from Palm Coast to Mooresville, NC. I never turned the stereo on once, as I never tired of hearing the engine. I kept the top on and the window down and just rode along in pure joy. These cars are mechanical works of art....but I know now, more than ever, to DRIVE THEM. The gauges held steady, as did temperatures. I drove in the dark for about four hours with the lighting doing a great job for me. When the night got cold, I bumped the levers up, opened the dash vents and enjoyed the toasty warmth inside and the V-8 Italian symphony behind me. Well along in my trip, I realized that I'd completely forgotten to EAT, being so caught up in the afternoon and the drive. I broke off at Brunswick, GA for some food and some photos, which I sent to my parents. They were ecstatic to see what I was doing. From another dear friend came a text message....."you are crazy.....but good crazy" I agree with her. We only live once, and have to grab the dream when it presents itself.

I arrived home late and thought about how my neighbors were going to wonder about "that engine rumble coming down our street", then I thought, let 'em ask I tucked her into the garage for the freezing night, followed by two more trips to the garage before bed, to be sure that the car was real. When I woke up this morning, I had to check again. She's real.

Sincere thanks to Gary (ferrari308gtsi), his family and the heart and soul that he's put into this car. It's everything that I'd imagined, and more. The love will continue. If you meet or deal with Gary, he's pure class...one of the nicest guys you'll meet, and I'm glad to now count him as a friend. I'm off for now, out to check the engine again

-Matt
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Throughout the trip, guys walked over to talk about the car, which was a joy. It's great to be able to share it with everyone. A true classic is just that. My favorite was a young chap I met when I stopped to gas up and check fluids in Rock Hill, SC (my last gas stop of the trip). He was at the pump behind me and walked over. A 20 or so guy:

"Is that a Ferrari?"
"It sure is"
"I saw the horse and though man...that's got to be a Ferrari. What year?"
"1985. I'm just bringing it home from FL. I've wanted one for over 30 years."
"30 years!?"
"Yep"
"That's my favorite car, too. Just the way it SOUNDS!....(with hand gestures)."
"Yeah, I agree. I think that the Italians know how to make a car properly roar."
"Yeah."
"Wow....beautiful."...as he walks into the convenience store.

This was before a guy pulled up in a Chevy van to tell me how beautiful it was.

Wonderful kid. I'm looking forward to many years of these encounters, as they all remind me of when it was me. There's nothing like automotive magic.

The last photo is my last check of the garage last night, making sure that I hadn't dreamed it all up.
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That I will, Steve.....you're on the job, man! Thank you all for your comments and messages of welcome. I'll keep the pics coming.

 

Thanks all, for the ongoing comments and wishes. HA! I wondered if anyone would spot the golden arches. I was so far into the trip when I suddenly realized that I hadn't had a meal all day. It's pretty cool when you're enjoying a drive so much that you aren't even paying attention to time or the need for food I too got great mileage during the highway ride. I also thought that the gauge wasn't moving.

Yes there was much touching around the engine compartment today, and with the beautiful sunshine, I pulled back into the driveway for a complete wipe-down for all of the road dirt. More photos below, including interior and engine, as promised. I have an external squeak happening, which seems to be coming from the a/c compressor or the belt/pulley. It's silent on cold start, then slowly comes up to audible as the engine bay warms up. I'm going to break out my books, this search engine, and dig into it. It's not coming from the engine itself though, that continues to run beautifully. After the wipe down, I popped the top for the first time and took a short cruise through the neighborhoods for a full warm-up. Man, that engine sounds beautiful with the top off. Beautiful exhaust note.

As for the Carolina BBQ, I won't miss that celebration..trust me. I'm going to take a nice weekend drive out to Hendrix in East Spencer NC, my favorite.
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And...the rest of today's photos.
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Thank you, Greg....and thumbs up on all points. Garage visits may be a regular thing, but I'll keep it to myself Today, while the car was in the driveway after cleaning, I opened a beer, sat in a chair and grinned.

 

Anytime now