Was larger deep front spoiler (valence) an option on early 308 fibreglass/GRP cars? | FerrariChat
Buy

Was larger deep front spoiler (valence) an option on early 308 fibreglass/GRP cars?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Ossie, Mar 16, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Ossie

    Ossie Formula Junior
    Owner

    May 20, 2009
    666
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Owen
    #1 Ossie, Mar 16, 2010
    Does anyone know if the larger deep front spoiler (or valance as they're called in some countries) was an option on the early fibreglass/GRP 308's?

    I noticed there's a picture of a couple of Euro GRP 308's with them fitted on pages 30 & 31 of Keith Bluemels "Original Ferrari V8" but further on (page 36) it states they were available as an option from mid 1977 which (I believe) is after GRP cars were replaced with steel.

    Does anyone have a GRP 308 with one fitted by the factory from new? If so is it Euro, US or other?
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #2 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #3 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #4 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ...I suspect the first photo above is a replica of the "show car" first adding the rear spoiler and deep valence, as you'll note the 390mm wheels and the louvered hood.

    The original 1977 "show car" is shown in the photo below........in the scrapyard.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #5 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. ramosel

    ramosel Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2004
    1,237
    Meadow Vista, CA
    Full Name:
    R Moseley
    #6 ramosel, Mar 16, 2010
    Not sure the car belonged there... but that paint job surely does!!!

    Rick
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #7 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    They have to crash test three of them to certify for US import........

    *shrugs shoulders*

    This may have only been a 'roller' to start with....the rear lip finally made it, on the 288GTO.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  8. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #8 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    That's not just 'paint" but aluminum extensions of the standard body panels.

    It IS the first appearance of the rear airfoil on the 308GTB, AFAIK, but the 365BB had one for years previous....
     
  9. Ossie

    Ossie Formula Junior
    Owner

    May 20, 2009
    666
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Owen
    #9 Ossie, Mar 16, 2010
    Thanks, yeah that's the "problem" as many had them fitted later that's it's difficult to know. I was hoping someone might have some documentation or something showing that it was an option.
     
  10. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #10 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Rifledriver might know, he's trying to recap The Mother of All 308s VIN list......
     
  11. bigodino

    bigodino F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 29, 2004
    13,138
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Peter den Biggelaar
    #11 bigodino, Mar 16, 2010
    The show car still exists today in Italy, so although the picture suggests a scrapyard, luckily this car didn't end up as scrap.
     
  12. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #12 BigTex, Mar 16, 2010
    Thanks Peter, good to know...

    You agree, the top photo is a later 308GTBi "replica" of it??
     
  13. rickyrybo

    rickyrybo Rookie

    Feb 4, 2009
    32
    Bellport, NY
    Full Name:
    Rick
    #13 rickyrybo, Mar 16, 2010
    This was not an objectionable "paint job" but a study in panel re-shaping. The silver denotes the new. The deeper lower valence and enlarged rear spoiler were eventually adopted, 288, etc., the pop riveted panels were modern (and attractive) re-contours that never got the nod.
    Rick.
     
  14. Ossie

    Ossie Formula Junior
    Owner

    May 20, 2009
    666
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Owen
    #14 Ossie, Mar 16, 2010
    Thanks Rick, that makes a lot more sense given the obvious mods made to the vehicle. Any idea when this study was done as that may indicate when the deep front valance first made an appearance (or may not)?
     
  15. rickyrybo

    rickyrybo Rookie

    Feb 4, 2009
    32
    Bellport, NY
    Full Name:
    Rick
    #15 rickyrybo, Mar 16, 2010
    Hi Ossie. Sorry, any further information I possess is a combination of conjecture and memory, though I believe the car was indeed modified and made public in 1977.
    Cheers!
    Rick.
     
  16. Ossie

    Ossie Formula Junior
    Owner

    May 20, 2009
    666
    Melbourne, Australia
    Full Name:
    Owen
    #16 Ossie, Mar 16, 2010
    No probs, just another part of the great mystery that is Ferrari manufacturing. I guess if it was all documented then we would have nothing to talk about!
     
  17. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #17 BigTex, Mar 17, 2010
    The original one was back in 1977....don't recall which 'show"......

    I only follow "the story" as of my three cars 1976-77, only the one that sat unsold thru Summer 1980 got the Rear Spoiler.

    I suspect the dealer 'added it" along with black front fender louvers, to update the car to match the incoming 'i' cars, which by then had the features.

    I thought the first pic was the original show car, until I noticed the wheels!!!
     
  18. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3

    Nov 30, 2002
    1,776
    Roermond Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Bert Kanters
    #18 bert308, Mar 17, 2010
    Not aluminium extensions, but GRP painted silver! I believe your first pic is the original show car, they were testfitting the then new TRX wheels.
     

Share This Page