Talk me down off the ledge! Why shouldn't I buy this!

Wrecked944 · 08-10-2005, 01:40 PM

I can't post a link but there is a 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB rolling chassis on eBay right now with no reserve starting at $4000 with no bids. The drive train and interior have been removed so it is a stripped down rolling shell (seems to come with OEM wheels, however). Here is a pic...

This car is calling to me and saying "Track car...light weight track car..."

So why shouldn't I buy this chassis, have it delivered to my home and then add the bare minimum to get it on the track? Motor, transmission, seat...lexan windows...roll cage...fire extinguisher...

I already have two splendid Porsches. So it's not like having a long term project car is going to deprive me of driving joy. In fact, it may distract me from performing ill-advised and unlikely "mods" to my p-cars.

So stop me before I bid. Why is this a bad idea??? It is calling me...I can't turn away...the siren song is toooo strooong...

Jamie79SC · 08-10-2005, 01:43 PM

Overspray on the right front tire. Can't buy it. (BTW, send me the link...

)

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-10-2005, 01:53 PM

L S 7

B I D

W I N

mikester · 08-10-2005, 01:54 PM

Dude.

Man.

thanatos69 · 08-10-2005, 02:40 PM

I've almost bought a couple of Ferraris in the past so I did research on the pricing of parts. Unless you want to spend as much if not more than what you get a running 308 GTB in decent shape for, then I'd pass on it.

If you're gonna go with a Ferrari drivetrain expect to spend close to $10-15k minimum for the engine and transmission. And that's for decent used items, not crated rebuilds. Then you need to get replacement radiators, cooling fans, coolant lines, ect for the cooling system. Another $2-3k. Don't forget the dual gas tanks and fuel pumps also. If you want a nice track car for low bucks, pick up a 308 GT4 and strip it out. it has slightly better balance than a 308 GTB and you can find them for under $18k now and then.

Now if you're gonna go with a hybrid, aka Chevy crate engine and a Porsche transaxle, then it might be worth it, but I'd rather have the Ferrari drivetrain myself. There's something about the exhaust sound of that V8 engine that's magical.

HardDrive · 08-10-2005, 03:07 PM

As above. If you are going to create a frankenferrari with mixed parts......big maybe...

Using OEM parts? No way.

Personally I would love to see a 3.6 vario in a 308 shell.....

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Run away!

RUN AWAY!

thanatos69 · 08-10-2005, 03:31 PM

And speaking of a decent deal on a 308 GT4, here's one for about $17k.

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/9/0/80275890.htm

The only things are its a '75 (not a '74 as listed) and the rims are aftermarket.

The '74's were never sold in the US market (32 of the 76 308 GT4s produced that year were privately imported into the US) and therefore didn't have the federalized bumpers nor the recessed sidemarker lights that started in '75 for the US only market. The stock rims would have been cast magnesium with Dino center caps for the '74 also, switching over to Ferrari center caps in '75. I believe the '76+ 308 GT4s used the cast aluminum rims used on the 308 GTB that came out in '76. Now if you want a light race car, find a '76 GTB. It was the first production year of the 308 GTB and all the bodies were molded fiberglass for ultralight weight (and a quick production cycle from concept to showroom). In '77 they introduced the steel shell for the GTB and introduced the GTS (targa top). These two years were some of the most powerful of the 308s as in '78/79 Ferrari introduced their first fuel injection system and the HP dropped.

Ok, sorry for the Ferrari history lesson on a Porsche board. :P A great car is a great car, even if its from Italy.

yellowline · 08-10-2005, 04:24 PM

Put a small-block Chevy in it.

Fixes the drivetrain problem, and you get a Ferrari shell. What you classify it as for racing, I really wouldn't know.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

SBC baby! (*push*)

greglepore · 08-10-2005, 05:34 PM

If you wanted a cool track car, semitube the thing with a small block. You'd likely be in it for 20k or so when done. You can buy a nice complete 914-6 vintage car for that, ask Mike Z.

If you must have a real Ferrari track car, buy a 20k beater and spend 5k stripping and caging it, then run it for a season and throw another 20k at it.

Victor · 08-10-2005, 06:34 PM

I've seen this place that turn old mini's etc into executive desks by slicing the roof off, removing a chunk from the mid section (so your legs can fit underneath) and installing a big slab of poished wood over the top.

Could be the best option for it and you could probably claim it on tax as office furniture.

M.D. Holloway · 08-10-2005, 06:44 PM

Would you go to a raw bar and order just the shells? Granted, the lines on that car are great but don't be fooled, that thing is barass to the wind for a reason...I bet someone got shot in that thing then some hoods stripped it down.

Reminds me of my first wife - exotic shell with absolutely nothing under the hood!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-10-2005, 07:25 PM

It's a Ferrari, thats reason enough.. although a built SBC would be pretty cool in there

kycarguy 935 · 08-10-2005, 11:49 PM

Looks kinda fun, but Im an optimist.

Wrecked944 · 08-11-2005, 08:43 AM

Okay, to you folks who helped talk me down from the ledge, I thank you. My hand was hovering over the "BID" button but I was able to step away from the computer and take a breather. To those of you enablers who told me to buy the car, all I can say is you are all very, very baaaaad men

So instead of bidding blindly, I sent an email to the seller asking for more pics and asking about the condition of the suspension, steering rack, brakes, title etc. I figure that can be a good excuse to stall and not BUT IT NOW.

Now as for making a Frankenferrari, I must confess that is an intriguing thought. I was assuming I'd park the thing in my back yard and slowly accumulate OEM parts to put it back together over the course of a couple of low stress years. But now that y'all mention it, an SBC would be a blast. Plus, I just happen to have a "spare" 915 transaxle in my basement. I have no idea what-so-ever what it would take to put a non-OEM motor in to Ferrari. Like wouldn't the motor mounts be totally wrong? Woudn't it need custom tranny moutns and wouldn't the half shafts be wrong? Then again, I suppose GM built the Mera and a zillion guys have built FieroFerraris. So presumably some of this knowledge is already available. But if you think driving to a Ferrari Club Meeting in a Fiero Kitcar will get you shunned, imagine what they would say if I drove up in a Ferrari with a Fiero motor...

I guess I've often dreamed of getting a 911 roller and outfitting it for speed. So the Ferrari didn't seem so far off the map.

greglepore · 08-11-2005, 09:50 AM

Its good to dream. I look at all the older Lola and March Champ Car rollers for under 30k and think Hmmm....

MFAFF · 08-11-2005, 10:55 AM

Buy it,

strip it to bare metal, polish it to mirro finsh, mount of wall....

Two years later sell to an art gallery for $250K.....

Any questions?

That's how to make money on Ferraris...

deanp · 08-11-2005, 11:03 AM

Janus....

If you've got money burning that kind of hole in your pocket I bet there's plenty of projects for the 964 and 944!

When do we get started?????

alf · 08-11-2005, 12:02 PM

Flintstones, its the Flintstone its a Yabadabaduda a Yabadabaduda a Yabadabaduda day. Julie!

Picture yourself powering the car Flintstone style, cause there is a reason why it is just a shell...