First older Ferrari. Fix it or get used to it?

I guess the switches could be replated or maybe find some replacements if severely worn. I would not try to fit something not original.

The leather should be refurbished and fixed. It is at least a good idea to clean it and give it some fresh leather cream to prevent cracking.

 

I had the leather on my seats replaced after a dye job that I was very unhappy with. They look factory - you wouldn't know they weren't if I didn't tell you.

l always like to clean up stuff that doesn't look nice. I mean - patina is one thing, but "looks clean" is another.

Not sure on the Injected cars on what to look out for. One of the universal things is - keep all your rubber goods in good shape (hoses). Also - check your bushings around the front end - they get neglected and make a difference.

They are not fast, but I love the looks and sounds out of mine.

Have fun and welcome!

 

Collectable watches are worth preserving as "investments." 3x8s are not. Do whatever YOU want to do to make the care enjoyable for you.

Re watches - I once owned a Rolex Submariner "red label." At the time that meant nothing to me and I sold it for about what I paid for it and was pleased to get that - around 700 bucks - it was just a used watch. Now they sell for 20K plus. My 328 would currently sell for less then its original price in dollars, ignoring inflation. If you factored in inflation, it would have to sell for around 140k to "break even." The rolex would have to sell for around 2500 USD to break even. Since it brings around 10X that, it would have been a decent investment.

So...buy old watches, not old 3x8s!

 

Congrats !
With rhe older cars I’d say it’s all about preservation : seats, sticky, mechanical aspect. Don’t try to make them be what they are not and u I’ll
Enjoy them a lot!


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The 308 and most cars -- even the million dollar '50s and '60s Ferraris -- don't usually attract a premium for being ratty. There are a few "survivors" which collect a premium but there needs to be a documented story why they are ratty (e.g. Gilles Villeneuve was the bad boy who ripped the interior). The most valuable 308s, aside from "zero" miles museum pieces, are the ones in perfect concours condition.

 

Go ahead and fix, repair, replace whatever is needed. Just be mindful of the dreaded project creep. Once you replace the leather seats, the center console will look in need of replacement, then the door cards and the carpet and the console switches and so on…………..

 

Depends on definition of ratty. 50's and 60's Ferraris that are all original are very attractive in the market place even in pretty tattered condition. Originality is becoming far more prized. Right now a very famous one off Ferrari is being done by a well known restorer. The delaminating glass is being reused as is the entire original interior. Do not forget Manny De La Rossas Barchetta. This was it after a full mechanical restoration. To the greatest extent possible the patina of the mechanicals was preserved too.
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The first thing I would have to do with that car, is swap the tail lights/indicators over - Indicators on the outside/tail lights next to the licence plate, as it left the factory

Not sure why (possibly automotive OCD! ), but the rear lights being reversed just bugs the life out of me!

 

What exhaust do you currently have? There are plenty of options, I personally have an ANSA and think that it produces a great Ferrari sound!

 

" I enjoy driving a slow car fast but wish the 308 sounded more like a modern Ferrari."

But it's not a modern Ferrari and by current standards, you will be driving a slow car slow - pretty much any current SUV will embarrass it. Today an Escalade ran off and left my 328... Yes, if the road/traffic allowed us to reach 130+ MPH, I would have overtaken her. But it didn't so she's probably bragging to her friends that she smoked a Ferrari!

 

I have to admit that I don’t get a lot of people trying to race. Most are going slower than me because they want a good view of the 308.

 

You won't hurt the value on that car if you renew some items here and there.

Believe me.

 

If it’s stock, then is most likely an ANSA. There is a Sport version that sounds more aggressive!

 

Get the mechanicals up to snuff and working as they should..especially the fuel system, you might be surprised how this old QV will wake up.

 

Had a guy drive up next to me in a new 5.0L mustang and rev like he wanted to race. I just laughed.

Yeah - a Camry can take my 308 - but no-one drools at the sound of a Camry driving by.

 

I don't have that strength of character I'll race anybody off a stop light, traffic permitting. It's a character flaw that even after all these years I have still not overcome.

But, of course, you are right. I drive the car very regularly and every time I am out at a gas station, supermarket, hardware store, wherever, somebody (or several somebodies) will stop/talk or take pictures of the car. One guy in a PU truck drove by as I was loading groceries into the passenger side yesterday and hollered, "HEY MAN, COOLEST CAR IN THE WORLD!!!" They don't do that with a new Corvette!

 

I would say that the seats need to be redone - try to keep the original leather - strip and recolor. the piping needs to be done. at that time the door cards and center console will then stick out so need to re-color those as well. new leather that can work too but seems very $$ way to go. the switches in 308/s are getting pricy and difficult to source - so restoration is the way to go. if you want to maintain value - Classiche is the way to go, and document the preservation. I'm in the minority that think 308's will appreciate... especially since I don't have one any more.... GTB's much faster but I think they will be $100K cars soon....

 

I have an '83. 100K on the odo. The driver seat had a large crack down the center of the back which pushed me to look into replacing the leather. I looked at several shops. I looked at GAH(?) skins too.
I had it done at Bradan (a sponsor in the tri-state)
and couldn't have been happier. As I understood it, his aunt stitched the seats together. (He now has another source as he couldn't yell at a family member to "get it done" ) He warned me the leather ages differently and I"d be unhappy with just a seat or two done. He was right. I saw the old leather
compared to the new. While he was in there, he replaced the door leather, center console & carpets. The head rests have the embossed stallion.
The only trivial issue is the replacement zipper used at the hand brake. it is plastic with a large handle. yep, trivial.
I do need new banana vents. And the dash has what looks like staple impressions so it should get replaced. My switches have been fine, including the warnings about the light stalk.
I do have the birdman fuses as the original boxes (I have) were melting from the gas pump current flow.
She hasn't had a complete repaint, but has had large chunks done over the years. Recently, the lower doors were developing bubbles so Bradan did some work on them as well as rusting lower fender wells and runner metal.
I was concerned about originality, but it was let her go or get her put back in shape and enjoy her.
Sure, she always has things that should be done. A leaking quarter side window just revealed itself yesterday during a wash (lots of pollen around here this time of year)

Just yesterday the gas station attendant (we still have them in NJ) was floored it was a manual. And then his jaw dropped when he found out she looked incredible as an '83.
Fix her. enjoy her.

 

If you redo the seats, my advice is to make sure that you maintain a factory looking horse imprint in the headrest. That is an instant "seats redone" giveaway.

 

You ought to take a look on You Tube, for number27vids, Jacks 308 Influenzo, He bought an old carbed 308 site on seen except for the pics from the auction. You will be amazed at how he brought this car back to life. There are 30 videos so far, I have watched all of them, and they are fantastic.

Thank you

 

The influenzo project is interesting, and he is a nice guy.....but I would be running for the hills if my car had that many issues.