Deciding between a 308 GTB QV and a Lambo Jalpa

I own a 308 GTS and a 1987 Jalpa

you can follow my history of ownership of the Jalpa over on lamborcheesy-talk.com

first a few pics:
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Ease of Purchase:

The old adage, buy the best car you can find certainly applies. With the 308, its easy. Tons of cars to choose from, and a few months of patient waiting and you can find the car for you. Not so with the Jalpa. There are only a few for sale, and most need a ton of work. My theory is that they were never taken care of, and the guys the do buy them with the intention of getting them running get pounded in the ground like a sissy girl in a pro rugby match. Then, they give up and sell the car passing the problems onto the next guy. Most cars out there “need nothing”. Hahahaha. Also, good luck on the PPI – not sure who you can take it too, I guess George Evans in Indiana……(by the way, he has two for sale that have been for sale for almost 3 years….)

Advantage: 308 by a long shot


Mechanicals:

On one hand, the baby lambo has chain driven cams that simply laugh in the face of the puny rubber band timing belts on the 308. What’s funny is they use the same 308 timing belt for the alternator in the Jalpa. For the 308, there are procedures written up on the internet to explain how to open the door, change the oil, etc. Plenty of good information, write-ups, so good news for the DIY’er. Not so with the Jalpa. I think I have written more than anyone as I have explored the car. The Jalpa engine is a beautiful design, but you can tell there was no R&D, and it certainly has a kit car feel. For the Jalpa, parts are insane, just insane. I did a clutch a few months back, go see what I paid for the parts. We adapted a clutch from a M6 of the same generation, some machining required. The Jalpa’s engine is a work of art, but it’s a pricey ***** to work on. Some parts are interchangeable others simply aren’t. Bend over.

Advantage: 308 is like a Toyota Camry in comparison to the Jalpa. If you can own and keep a Jalpa, you can own and keep anything!


Stupidity

The Jalpa makes no sense at all. It was made at a time when Lamborghini was at its lowest, and its shows. Every piece seems hand made. The cradle that holds the alternator is a work of art, no wonder they went out of business. The alternator, waterpump, distributor and AC unit all sit in the valley of the V8. Its loud, crass, had a big wing and owns the road. Prius owners will flip you off out of reflex. The car makes no sense at all. None.

Advantage: Jalpa by a long shot.


Aesthetics

The 308 is such a beautiful car, every curve, every line, every panel is a pure work of art. It nevers gets old looking at the 308, not matter how many I see, it always moves me. The Jalpa looks like a bad fart. Its like a one of those English bulldogs, only the owner sees the beauty.

Advantage: 308


Sound

My 308 has a tubi with test pipes, and I have the carbs tuned to give a little pop on overrun, and my god it sounds sweet.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Mqj1B1CfU]308 GTS Carb Compilation - YouTube[/ame]

Yeah but F sweetness, the Jalpa is a beast. I have hollowed out cats with a stainless exhaust and there is NOTHING that sounds better. It pounds the ground and tears through the air like Satan himself. There is a panel in the cockpit to access the rear bank of plugs. I sometimes remove the panel and drive out with the engine 5” from my ear just to hear the combination of engine and exhaust. Its amazing.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fatVYZG_JY0]Lamborghini Jalpa Exhaust - YouTube[/ame]

Advantage: Jalpa


Novelty:

No question here, the Jalpa takes it. Everywhere you go, people ask about it, stare, take pictures, gawk, etc. You would be surprise how many people know the car. There were only 410 made, and 1/2 of them have probably blown up.

Advantage: Jalpa



Summary: both cars are great, but you can’t compare them. I love both, and if it came down to having to keep one, it would be the baby Lamborghini, but bring your iron balls and your pocket book if you want to own one. For me, the Jalpa was a test to see if i could own, work on, and keep a vintage Lamborghini, and it turns out I can. My next car is a carb'ed Countach.


Geno

 

Jalpa 3.5L V8, 4 - 42DCNF
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Geno, your stuff is badass!

 

Patrick, are you coming to Monterey? Remember I talked you into entering the GT4 last year...

There was a low point in my Jalpa experience when I had the engine out doing the clutch and I thought i wouldnt make it.

I made a video poem to capture the moment....not so badass, but I figure I can share with you guys. I think I was losing my mind.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xIArDaEWk]Lamborghini Hell - YouTube[/ame]

 

I have a clip from a TV movie from back in the 80's. The scene was filmed in Rome and it was a street race between a Jalpa and a 308. The 308 flipped at the end.

I wonder if I can load it up on Youtube and post the link. Never tried that before.

 

Geno, great comparison and your cars look awesome.

 

I can't speak about the Jalpa, but I know the QV now. I've had a bunch of old cars including a track 914 with twin Weber 44s (which was bulletproof and faster than it had any right to be), and my QV is right up there with the best cars I have ever owned. I went for it because of the reasons you mentioned - last of the breed, reliable fuel injection, lots of little improvements. I bought a solid car, invested the money on day 1 to go through it and address anything it needed, and it's been a fabulous car for three years requiring little more than oil and gas. Just jump in and go. I absolutely love it.

 

I have had 2 Jalpas, 1 USA spec, one Euro spec, and a Uracco. I have had 9 Ferrari's, all 308 /328 series.

The Jalpas i think needed to be sorted when new, and some cars are good cars, some cars are not. I had nothing but problems with my Jalpas, the Uracco was unstoppable for some reason. Like the little engine that could!

Like Sledge says, its very important to get a well sorted car.

DO NOT BUY A CHEAP ONE.

They can be fun, and sound cool. I would vote for a Euro car with the easier to live with air boxes. The USA cars had sealed air boxes that suck to work on or around. The bumpers and lights on the Euro are more elegant also.

One of my old Jalpas is in California for sale. Guys name is "Surrender". I think he whats $35k ish for it, and it should be well sorted by now. It was red with white interior, VIN *12250* USA spec.

(The vins of the cars I have had are in my profile. Otherwise i would never remember them
)


Get an inspection done by someone who knows older Lambos. Fly someone out if you have to, trust me its worth it.

 

+1


OK seriously -- I can't add anything to this. I will say, as a former 328 owner, that one of the nicest attributes of the 308/328 series is that they aren't all that intimidating to own. Every time I went out to the garage to take the 328 for a drive, it started right up, ran fine, got me to my destination. The 328 is more reliable than a 308, generally speaking, but in either case you get a car that has exotic looks, sound and exclusivity (which a 911 doesn't offer) and reasonable reliability -- not as life-and-death important in the age of the mobile phone, but being stranded at the side of the road in your exotic Italian car sounds less than fun to me.

Also, and I'll add this only because Geno already admitted it, the Jalpa isn't one of the all-time beauty queens of the exotic car world. I think it was a drug lord's kid's car in Miami Vice at one point, and IMHO the styling is sort of stuck in that era. The 308, OTOH, looks better every year, as new Ferraris (and Porsches, and Lambos) get bigger and rounder.

 

Remember, the Stallions can always run faster than the Bulls.

 

But bulls have bigger balls.

 

Horse**** or Bull****
Take your choice.

 

LOL!

 

If you are brave and fearless (to the point of near character flaw) --- get the Jalpa.

Otherwise, get the 308

 

No question a 308. Send a PM to GBobileff and he will tell you the same thing. I wanted a 355 for my first Ferrari and thank goodness he talked me out of that. Ended up buying a 348SS but he recommended that or a solid 328 for a first exotic - let me know if he says otherwise. I would be stunned.

I now own a 308QV and I have enjoyed it a great deal.

I actually looked at Jalpa's recently, but as Jon said the 308 will (and is) aging much better over the course of time.

Just my .02

 

The Jalpa is a street corner whore, you shouldnt think about it but sometimes you cant help but wonder.
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I think the Jalpa should value well over time, there just arent that many of them around. the 308 has a long way to go before values increase substantially.

 

Sometimes it's not the production numbers, but more the beauty of the car

I like the jalpa, but come on.....even you have to admit the 308 is Stunning

 

right now i am equally upside down on both cars.....but yes, as I said in my original post the 308 takes the beauty contest hands down!
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A 308 is a more easier car to own, I never thought I would live to the day when I can hear that. But compared to any lambo, I think that is right.

I always have a minor itch for a bull but never enough to scratch it. That is why there are three prancing horses in my garage, sharing space with a Porsche GT3, but not a single lambo.

Good luck with your decision. Remember a 308 is an easier car to own...