308/328 Values

[Nmj]

Behemoth said:

Being the first out, they are the purest design.

Whilst some try talking up performance benefits, it's largely nonsense after 30+ years. A wide range of standard eurobox saloons can outperform any and all 308 variants.

Ultimately the vetro 308's value is down to bar bragging rights, perceived rarity and the collector mentality.

thank God for that

[bertie]

Being on holiday in Florida, I thought I'd browse cars for sale here as you do, so how about these.....

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledet...

In case the link doesn't work, That's a black / tan 1983 308 GTS, 51k mikes for $39k....let's call it £23k

Or.....

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledet...

That's a 1995 F355 spider, Red/ tan, 20k miles for $50k...call it just under £30k

Or

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledet...

1989 Testarossa in black/tan with 19k miles for $74k

[sng45]

The 308 in Miami looks interesting - does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be to change the bumpers etc to make it appear as a UK/European car ? Are there any other areas that would need changing emissions etc ?

I've imported a few cars from the states previously - mainly early Porsche 911's and 356's so am aware of the process - as they were very early cars there was either no or minimal VAT to pay ( as far as I can remember ) anyone have any ideas on the VAT/import duty on this car ?

Thanks

[paul0843]

I think there's a special rate for cars over 30 years old...
Does anybody have the exact information..?

I could with finding out..
I have an early 308 turning up next week,bought in California a few weeks ago.

Paul

[sng45]

Just looked this up

http://carshipping.locum-services.com/classic-car-...

could be useful

[Behemoth]

sng45 said:

The 308 in Miami looks interesting - does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be to change the bumpers etc to make it appear as a UK/European car ? Are there any other areas that would need changing emissions etc?

I have a US 308. There are two things you can do with the bumpers. The easy step is to let down the pistons and push them in. They will go quite a distance and the result is to make their prominence disappear to all but the knowledgeable.

The harder step is to switch to Euro bumpers. These are readily available but not a straight swap. A change of bracketry and cuts to the grille are needed.

The other thing you may want to do is switch rectangular markers for round. The rear markers can be removed and then holes here and at the front need filling (the front rectangular mounts are too widely spaced for the European round markers to use them).

The US cars will have cats, which you don't need for UK regs. So emissions is more about the joy of taking stuff off.

[paul0843]

sng45 said:

Just looked this up

http://carshipping.locum-services.com/classic-car-...

could be useful

Thanks Stephen

That's in line with my thoughts..
0% duty and 5 % vat ..

[Andy 308GTB]

Behemoth said:

sng45 said:

The 308 in Miami looks interesting - does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be to change the bumpers etc to make it appear as a UK/European car ? Are there any other areas that would need changing emissions etc?

I have a US 308. There are two things you can do with the bumpers. The easy step is to let down the pistons and push them in. They will go quite a distance and the result is to make their prominence disappear to all but the knowledgeable.

The harder step is to switch to Euro bumpers. These are readily available but not a straight swap. A change of bracketry and cuts to the grille are needed.

Quite a bit of information on FChat about converting US cars to Euro bumpers:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/236399-78...

[Jonty355]

Nmj said:

Behemoth said:

Being the first out, they are the purest design.

Whilst some try talking up performance benefits, it's largely nonsense after 30+ years. A wide range of standard eurobox saloons can outperform any and all 308 variants.

Ultimately the vetro 308's value is down to bar bragging rights, perceived rarity and the collector mentality.

thank God for that

In that case then, the GTB 'i' cars should be worth more than Vetro's, as there are less of them!

[Nmj]

Jonty355 said:

In that case then, the GTB 'i' cars should be worth more than Vetro's, as there are less of them!

"Perceived rarity"

[Nmj]

Jonty355 said:

In that case then, the GTB 'i' cars should be worth more than Vetro's, as there are less of them!

"Perceived rarity"

[bertie]

sng45 said:

The 308 in Miami looks interesting - does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be to change the bumpers etc to make it appear as a UK/European car ? Are there any other areas that would need changing emissions etc ?

I've imported a few cars from the states previously - mainly early Porsche 911's and 356's so am aware of the process - as they were very early cars there was either no or minimal VAT to pay ( as far as I can remember ) anyone have any ideas on the VAT/import duty on this car ?

Thanks

On the same search it threw up "euro spec" cars.

The rise doesn't seem to have hit the USA yet.

[sng45]

"Euro-spec" 308 here - the advert originated from "Ferrari Chat" so you would imagine an educated seller who's checked it thoroughly

http://www.mbrandonmotorcars.com/web/used/Ferrari-... - about £33,000 !

worth a punt ?!

[Behemoth]

bertie said:

The rise doesn't seem to have hit the USA yet.

Quite right. This is the point where those with the time and a bit of spare cash to invest get into the arbitrage game and we see cars crossing the Atlantic. The pound is also relatively strong, though still nowhere near what it was pre-crisis.

[Aero8]

Behemoth said:

bertie said:

The rise doesn't seem to have hit the USA yet.

Quite right. This is the point where those with the time and a bit of spare cash to invest get into the arbitrage game and we see cars crossing the Atlantic. The pound is also relatively strong, though still nowhere near what it was pre-crisis.

True. Depends how much someone is prepared to pay for a US car, even if it is changed to European spec. Wasn't the compression ratio lower on the 308 for Federal cars?

[Behemoth]

Aero8 said:

Wasn't the compression ratio lower on the 308 for Federal cars?

I think there are small compression differences with 328s, I don't know of any with 308s. The biggest difference is in timing advance, which can be changed to Euro by switching out the Digiplex module (very simple to do). I think the US timing helped with emissions. The gearing was slightly different, too.

But to all intents and purposes, these nuances are tiny after more than 30 years. It's really splitting hairs compared to looking at the overall condition and clear evidence of recent regular use and maintenance.

[Jonty355]

Nmj said:

Jonty355 said:

In that case then, the GTB 'i' cars should be worth more than Vetro's, as there are less of them!

"Perceived rarity"

Ah, yeah good point. Was thinking after that, 208 turbo cars should be worth more than a Dino if it was actually based if factual things rather than hype by the odd motoring journalist!

[Aero8]

Behemoth said:

Aero8 said:

Wasn't the compression ratio lower on the 308 for Federal cars?

I think there are small compression differences with 328s, I don't know of any with 308s. The biggest difference is in timing advance, which can be changed to Euro by switching out the Digiplex module (very simple to do). I think the US timing helped with emissions. The gearing was slightly different, too.

But to all intents and purposes, these nuances are tiny after more than 30 years. It's really splitting hairs compared to looking at the overall condition and clear evidence of recent regular use and maintenance.

Fair points. Strange that dealers aren't already doing it.

[AndrewE]

Nmj said:

yes the silver/beige gts carb and after much thought my red/beige gts carb as well , have put the money in another Ferrari

Wow - I saw the silver one (wasn't that a vetro?) but the red one? the one you had a Bromley earlier this year.....

the amounts scare me as agreed values cant keep up with this spike

[springfield27]

Jonty355 said:

In that case then, the GTB 'i' cars should be worth more than Vetro's, as there are less of them!

But a lot less bhp/ The "i"cars are the least desirable. Probably why so few of them were built!