Ferrari 308 QV GTSi (1983)
for sale
Price: US $102,000.00
Price: US $102,000.00
ZFFLA13B000044157
The most beautiful and the final evolution of the classic Ferrari 308 featuring the most powerful and modern engine.
You are looking
at a nearly fully restored Ferrari 308QV GTSi, the closet evolution of the 308
to the legendary GTO.
It features (1) the
small front and rear GTO style bumpers, (2) the white and amber turn signal
assemblies like the GTO, (3) a front grill with a prancing horse and (4) fog
lamps set in the grill similar to the GTO while also featuring (5) smaller more
graceful side view mirrors and (6) a deep dish GTO-style front spoiler.
The engine was
removed and refreshed by a Ferrari specialist at a cost of $14k (new rings, new
valve guides, etc.) The mechanical components were refreshed, cleansed and
detailed making the drivetrain pretty, show worthy and reliable. The entire process was photo-documented as well and of course this collection of photos comes with the car.
There is probably
no better interior in a 308 Ferrari on the planet as about the same amount of
money was spent restoring the interior as was on restoring the drivetrain.
If you’ve ever
wondered what it was like to sit in a new 308 this is probably about as close
as one can get now. Every part of the interior was removed and refinished with
materials of a higher quality than original. Premium quality leather and carpets were used.
From the floor to removable roof, the carpet, the door panels, the seats, the
center console, the entire dash, the trim around the rear window, etc., every
upholstered surface has just been beautifully restored.
Two shift knobs
are included, the silver knob and the traditional original black shift knob.
The Ferrari comes
with two sets of wheels and tires.
The wheels were
restored as well and feature brand new Ferrari center caps.
The Interstate battery
is new.
The Ansa exhaust
appears new or nearly new with shiny exhaust tips.
The AC blows cold
as in Ferrari 308 cold.
The windows go up
and down as they should in a 308.
Included is the
Ferrari Tool Kit, Ferrari Jack Kit, Ferrari Owners Manual and special Ferrari
manual pouch; the Ferrari emergency plug in light and the Ferrari lamp and fuse
holder.
Also included is
a binder filled with years of service records.
The paint shines brilliantly and with a mirror finish it is excellent condition and suitable for car shows and Ferrari events. Not a trailer queen but a stunning show and driver car.
Not only is this
the stunning looking 308 of all the Ferraris built, but only the last three
years of production had the four valve motors which make noticeably more
power. They are also the easiest of all the 308 Ferraris to maintain.
Spectacular and rare, this is the highly desirable Euro
spec Ferrari 308. According to the
Ferrari Market Letter, while there were 3042 308 QVs produced for the world half
of which are in the US (and far fewer in existence today) there are only
approximately 100 Euro spec 308 QVs in North America.
By
comparison, in just five years, Ferrari made 16, 000 Ferrari 360 and similar
numbers of the 430 and 458. The 308 was
truly an “Enzo Era” car from when Ferraris were handbuilt cars.
The
Euro cars are highly sought after because they are much faster, handle better, brake better, get better fuel economy, run cooler and last longer than regular
308s and look much better as well while featuring a much larger trunk. (The
Euro cars have a trunk that’s nearly twice the size of a regular 308. )
The
Euro 308 is the car that looks the way the designer, Leo Fioravanti (the
designer of the 246 Dino, Boxer and Daytona) intended—aesthetically pure!
First, the Euro 308 weighs, according to Ferrari, 273 pounds LESS than the US cars
(2956 lbs. V. 3229 lbs for US cars) so of course it is faster than the US
car. But that’s not all. This 308 also makes more horsepower and as a
result of its greater power and less weight, is much faster, handles better and
stops faster.
The
numbers? The Euro 308s were road tested
at 0-60 in a mere 5.7 seconds! That’s
faster than a US Spec 328! Top
speed? 154 mph! Those were pretty impressive numbers back in
the early 1980s.
As
mentioned, appearance wise this 308 is far prettier and more stunning than the
run of the mill 308. Directly from
Ferrari this 308QV features GTO Euro style bumpers, GTO style white and amber
turns signals and running lights and a more aesthetically appearing rear end as
it does not have a rear diaper to cover the unsightly exhaust system featured
on the US cars.
The
Euro bumpers which are smaller also permit the traditional Ferrari grille with
the Prancing Horse in the front grill. (The US cars large ugly black bumpers which leave no space for the
Prancing Horse in the grill, hence its absence from the American market cars.)
The Euro cars also have the pretty and aerodynamic mirrors with their Enamel
Ferrari badges. (The US cars have large
square “flag” mirrors.)
Finally, unlike the US 308, this car features 288GTO style passing/fog lights set inside
the grill under the front bumper.
A Ferrari
shop here in LA is currently doing a nut and bolt restoration on a Ferrari 308
and they expect it will bring around $250k when finished. They may know what they are talking about as
they did the Dino restoration that many say helped trigger the explosion in
Dino values as it sold for nearly $500k several years back.
The 308
was not only designed by the same designer as the Dino but underneath, suspension, brakes, drivetrain, it is also very similar (but with two extra
cylinders).
The 308
was designed by artists; cars today are designed by artists and then
dramatically altered in the wind tunnel and to meet stringent government
regulations. The 308 was the last pure
Ferrari whose lines are pure magic. The
last “Dino” series car built when Enzo ran Ferrari.
Classic
& Sports Car Magazine put it simply: “the sublime purity of this ‘70s design icon still enraptures, whereas
the intrigue of latter day Ferraris is expressed with extraneous styling
gimmicks, few will ever mature as favorably as the 308.”
Maintenance
on the 308 is nothing compared to the 355, 360 or any of the other later
Ferraris. The 308 is simple and rugged and parts are plentiful and not very
expensive.
Compared
to the 328, the 308 is a far purer and classic design. In the July 2002 issue of Classic &
Sports Car, the well-respected British publication stated that the 308 styling
was “corrupted” into the 328 while others say the 328 was “fiatized” (the 328
features a Fiat X1/9 style interior and gauges and plastic panels bolted to the
car in the front and rear.)
The
308QV is truly a classic. Can you
imagine what one of these babies would cost if its production numbers were as
limited as a California Spider?
As
noted by author Beki Adam: “Pininfarina
had relished the job, and excelled themselves: The look remains timeless, even today. The mix between the original Dino styling (those side-scoops and the
recessed rear concave window)and the 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer (that spliced
from bumper to tail bodywork, that wonderful nose and equally delightful
rear-end with its sail panels extending from the roofline down to the whisper
of a spoiler) was styling perfection. The lines are faultless.”
Germany’s
Auto Motor Und Sport called it “bella macchina.”
England’s
Car Magazine called it “poetry in motion” and “the doyen of exotic car
shapes”.
Forza
Magazine noted: “the four valves were
easily the best performers of the 308 series, noting Road and Track’s test of
308QV, Corvette and two Porsche’s ‘Ferrari fixed the criticism that its 3.0 V8
did not produce quite enough horsepower to match the car’s racy good
looks.” England’s Motor Car magazine
clocked a 308QV’s 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds!
Forza’s
tested a 308 QV and noted: “what was
most impressive about the 308s was their reliability. When we tested the two Ferraris, Northern
California was in the midst of a heat wave with temperatures in the triple
digits. Not once did either car hiccup, overheat, or act temperamental in any way. They simply shrugged off the 100 degree heat as easily as they would
your favorite twisty road. In short, these are Ferraris that you can truly use every day.”
I have
used a 308QV as a daily driver…for several years. On a drive to Monterey I averaged around 20
mpg while cruising 75-80 mph.
In the
same Forza article Ferrari expert Tom Shaughnessy noted: “A good 308, when properly serviced, will
easily last 100, 000 miles or more.” Shaughnessy also noted that parts for the 308 are affordable while parts
for the 348 or 355 are “absolutely ridiculous.” He went on to state of the 308: “It is the only Ferrari I would recommend as a daily driver. The V8 engine is virtually indestructible and
the model line has been around for a decade. This is Ferrari’s utility car.”
update: 2016-06-28
Condition: | Used | Year: | 1983 |
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): | ZFFLA13B000044157 | Mileage: | 44,040 |
Exterior Color: | RED | Make: | Ferrari |
Interior Color: | TAN | Model: | 308 |
Number of Cylinders: | 8 | Trim: | SPIDER |
Vehicle Title: | Clear | Engine: | V8 |
Options: | Convertible, Leather Seats | Drive Type: | MID ENGINED REAR DRIVE |
Power Options: | Air Conditioning, Power Windows | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
Sub Model: | QV GTSi |